Reef cost question MH cost per month?

Ehaze · 09/25/2008, 06:47 PM

I am using T-5, I keep hearing so many people cry, and say the bill is so high. about how much higher is it?? lets say two 250watters (500wts) how much would that be a month??

I only notice like a 5$ diff, with my t5 tek light 6x 54watts.

thanks in advance.

Yea, I know this has been brought up, plenty of times!

Rendos · 09/25/2008, 07:12 PM

Cost depends on how much you pay per kilowatt hour in your area.
Power consumption - check the ballast specs on how many amps it uses versus the ballast on the other lights. You can figure your usage by comparing the two.

da1jewfish · 09/25/2008, 07:17 PM

you probably need to remind me (like a pm) but I can put my kill a watt EZ on mine and let you know how much it costs/month. Like Rendos said depends on how much your killawatt/hour is? My halide is a little older, so it probably eats more.

dickhordishay · 09/25/2008, 07:35 PM

Well, if you have 6x54 watts then that would equal 324 watts.

You are asking about the cost of 500 watts, so it would be somewhat less than twice the amount of your current lights.

abulgin · 09/25/2008, 07:39 PM

You'd be increasing your power consumption by approximately 176W per hour. That's pretty negligible IMO. I think people who complain about power consumption don't know what they're talking about. A watt is a watt. If you're running 250W of T5s, your basically using the same amount of energy as if you were running 250W of MH. The one potential downside to MH that may cost you more if you have to cool your tank. Most times you can deal with the heat using a few fans.

gookster · 09/27/2008, 01:23 AM

its really not that much. maybe <100 bucks a year

Chihuahua6 · 09/27/2008, 02:18 AM

I think in the end the halides are more economical when you consider bulb replacement costs. SE bulbs can last a very long time. My Ushio 10Ks are going strong for well over a year.

manofcoral · 09/27/2008, 06:04 AM

My wife hates my MH. She says none of her friends elect. bills are as high as ares. She is sure is it way over $100/mo more. I suspect she is right

. I have two 400w mh and a six bulb 48" t5. On the other hand my tank looks fantastic. IMO

09/25/2008, 06:47 PM	#1
Ehaze Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 1,259	Reef cost question MH cost per month? I am using T-5, I keep hearing so many people cry, and say the bill is so high. about how much higher is it?? lets say two 250watters (500wts) how much would that be a month?? I only notice like a 5$ diff, with my t5 tek light 6x 54watts. thanks in advance. Yea, I know this has been brought up, plenty of times!

09/25/2008, 07:12 PM	#2
Rendos Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 5,380	Cost depends on how much you pay per kilowatt hour in your area. Power consumption - check the ballast specs on how many amps it uses versus the ballast on the other lights. You can figure your usage by comparing the two. __________________ Richard Rendos - Founder WTMRAC It can't rain all the time. Current Tank Info: 92 gallon corner bowfront

09/25/2008, 07:35 PM	#4
dickhordishay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 214	Well, if you have 6x54 watts then that would equal 324 watts. You are asking about the cost of 500 watts, so it would be somewhat less than twice the amount of your current lights. __________________ J Current Tank Info: corals: xenia, red mushroom, German blue polyp

09/27/2008, 02:18 AM	#7
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	I think in the end the halides are more economical when you consider bulb replacement costs. SE bulbs can last a very long time. My Ushio 10Ks are going strong for well over a year. __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

09/27/2008, 06:04 AM	#8
manofcoral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: socal Posts: 355	My wife hates my MH. She says none of her friends elect. bills are as high as ares. She is sure is it way over $100/mo more. I suspect she is right. I have two 400w mh and a six bulb 48" t5. On the other hand my tank looks fantastic. IMO __________________ It is never to late to do God's good work. Paul<>< Current Tank Info: 260gal Starphire Reef

09/25/2008, 07:17 PM	#3
da1jewfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Palm, FL Posts: 990	you probably need to remind me (like a pm) but I can put my kill a watt EZ on mine and let you know how much it costs/month. Like Rendos said depends on how much your killawatt/hour is? My halide is a little older, so it probably eats more.

09/25/2008, 07:39 PM	#5
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	You'd be increasing your power consumption by approximately 176W per hour. That's pretty negligible IMO. I think people who complain about power consumption don't know what they're talking about. A watt is a watt. If you're running 250W of T5s, your basically using the same amount of energy as if you were running 250W of MH. The one potential downside to MH that may cost you more if you have to cool your tank. Most times you can deal with the heat using a few fans.

09/27/2008, 01:23 AM	#6
gookster Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: DC Posts: 67	its really not that much. maybe <100 bucks a year