how much does your tanks cost to run monthly?

Brad Black · 02/03/2007, 02:00 PM

I was wondering if anyone has calculated how much thier tank costs thaem a month to run. Has anyone out there figured it out? I have a 100gal with 440W of VHO (plus return pump, skimmer, 2 powerheads). Any ideas on cost? Thanks.

DiverDown80 · 02/03/2007, 02:52 PM

Last week a friend with a 100 gal tank had an energy survey performed by our local power company and the estimate was approximately $25.00

As for you - how long are your lights on - and how much does your electric cost per kwh?

ChemE · 02/03/2007, 02:58 PM

My 55 uses 86.38 kWh/month which runs me $8.81/month at $0.102/kWh (our rates just went up). Big keys to low consumption are no heater, no chiller, super efficient T5 lighting, and a CC airstone skimmer. 12" wide tanks are impossible to light efficiently with MH and T5 will spank MH in terms of efficiency. Now make a tank 24"+ wide and MH becomes reasonable again because of its spread.

TandN · 02/03/2007, 04:17 PM

My 120g cost me roughly about $100 a month. I have 200w total running the system 24 hours and 2 400w MH 7 hours and 2 54w T5's 11 hours

Brad Black · 02/04/2007, 01:24 AM

i run 440w t-12 VHO's for 10 hrs/day. not sure of kw prices in my area, i will have to find out and get back.

michaeldaly · 02/04/2007, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brad Black
I was wondering if anyone has calculated how much thier tank costs thaem a month to run. Has anyone out there figured it out? I have a 100gal with 440W of VHO (plus return pump, skimmer, 2 powerheads). Any ideas on cost? Thanks.

You can use the cost calculator on RC.

law086 · 02/04/2007, 10:14 AM

I estimate my tank to run me around $80-$100 per month in energy. In the winter I use almost 1000 watts to keep my tank at 77, and they run almost 24/7, so that hurts. Cost in the summer is a bit better since I don't run a chiller.

Ron

Joshua1023 · 02/04/2007, 05:18 PM

Mine has increased my power bill by an average of 30 bucks a month. Specs are listed below.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 02/04/2007, 05:32 PM

~$60/month for electricity and another $40-50 for upkeep.(no new purchases figured in)

58g sps with 20g sump

jkable · 02/05/2007, 09:43 AM

I have a hunred gallon tank 50 gal sump. I use 800 watts of halide. From what i have figured the whole tank costs about 45 bucks a month, this does not include running the ac more to compensate for the heat given off by the mh.

jayo · 02/05/2007, 11:36 AM

When thinking about maintenance costs be sure to factor in other things than energy!

salt for water changes
RO replacement membranes/filters
on big tanks, water bill
replacement light bulbs
food
carbon/kalkwasser/aragonite/phosphate removers
CO2 refills if you have a calcium reactor
other?

it can really add up.

jayo

RichConley · 02/05/2007, 11:38 AM

about $50 a month for my 58 with 20g sump, and 2x250 HQI.

king_Neptune · 08/03/2012, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua1023

Mine has increased my power bill by an average of 30 bucks a month. Specs are listed below.

Not bad at all for that set up

jerpa · 08/03/2012, 01:27 PM

I spend about $50 a month at $.12/KWH for the system below.

king_Neptune · 08/03/2012, 01:33 PM

Also not bad. What lighting you using for frag tank and your display?

karsseboom · 08/03/2012, 02:10 PM

About 40 bucks a month.

jerpa · 08/03/2012, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_Neptune

Also not bad. What lighting you using for frag tank and your display?

I have 2 Kessil A350's over the DT. The frag tank has a Kessil A150. I have a Reeflo Blowhole for my return pump and its only pulling 120W. My single biggest year round draw is my refugium lighting, its about 300W. When I get LEDs over that it should cut an additional $15 dollars off the bill. I tried to minimize energy usage when buying equipment and it has paid off so far.

Mmiller40gt · 08/03/2012, 03:19 PM

Here is the RC calculator. http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/tank_elec_calc.php

What it does not account for it that all the heat used is moved into your house. So in the summer you can almost double the result. In the winter your tank will likely heat your home so you can subtract a little.

sirreal63 · 08/03/2012, 04:42 PM

A little over 20 bucks a month at last calculation, it may be a little more now, no more than 25 a month for electricity and water is negligible. By the way, this is a thread from 2007 but always fun to revisit old threads.

Rockys_Pride · 08/03/2012, 04:47 PM

About $5 not counting salt and food. I think my electrician wired my outlet wrong, not that I'm complaining.

EnV · 08/03/2012, 05:03 PM

$15-20/month in electricity!

planedoc · 08/03/2012, 05:20 PM

Add in the hidden costs. How about gas money and car maintenance driving around buying fish stuff. How about the extra money spent cooling your house while running 80 degree tanks and heat generating lights. Winter is a bonus on heat gain. Than there is water bill, it takes 4 gallons of city water to make 1 gallon of RO. Not to mention washing socks or spraying off filters. Are you adding in food. My 240 my 110 and my 75 combined cost $38.75 in summer and $31.08 in winter. Just ask my wife....(more like 100 and 75) bottom line don't worry about it unless you don't have an extra $500 a month to spend on saltwater animals if you don't than well you might want to look into bettas

Nanook · 08/03/2012, 07:17 PM

$220/month electricity in the summer, $150 the other 8 months.

Food is about $40/month

Salt and RODI about $125/month

Carbon and GFO about $60/month

James77 · 08/03/2012, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by planedoc

Add in the hidden costs. How about gas money and car maintenance driving around buying fish stuff. How about the extra money spent cooling your house while running 80 degree tanks and heat generating lights.

How about money lost daydreaming about stupid fish tanks when I could have done some work?

James77 · 08/03/2012, 07:28 PM

Electric between my 2 current tanks is about $30-$35 without heat, with room for a few dollars of savings if I went with more efficient pumps. Both lightings are HQI halides. Heating in the winter is about another 25 bucks or so.

Water is super cheap around here, 725 gallons costs $2.25, maybe a total of $4 with sewer costs. Salt is $37 for a 200 gallon box for me, food is not terrible at all. Once the tanks are up and running, they are pretty cheap to maintain.

02/03/2007, 02:00 PM	#1
Brad Black Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cleveland-proper Posts: 465	how much does your tanks cost to run monthly? I was wondering if anyone has calculated how much thier tank costs thaem a month to run. Has anyone out there figured it out? I have a 100gal with 440W of VHO (plus return pump, skimmer, 2 powerheads). Any ideas on cost? Thanks.

02/03/2007, 02:52 PM	#2
DiverDown80 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Stuart Florida Posts: 12	Need a lot more info Last week a friend with a 100 gal tank had an energy survey performed by our local power company and the estimate was approximately $25.00 As for you - how long are your lights on - and how much does your electric cost per kwh?

02/03/2007, 02:58 PM	#3
ChemE Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Nashville, TN Posts: 1,607	My 55 uses 86.38 kWh/month which runs me $8.81/month at $0.102/kWh (our rates just went up). Big keys to low consumption are no heater, no chiller, super efficient T5 lighting, and a CC airstone skimmer. 12" wide tanks are impossible to light efficiently with MH and T5 will spank MH in terms of efficiency. Now make a tank 24"+ wide and MH becomes reasonable again because of its spread. __________________ Holding it down on the engineering tip y'all Current Tank Info: 190G

02/04/2007, 10:14 AM	#7
law086 Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Tripoli, PA Posts: 1,306	I estimate my tank to run me around $80-$100 per month in energy. In the winter I use almost 1000 watts to keep my tank at 77, and they run almost 24/7, so that hurts. Cost in the summer is a bit better since I don't run a chiller. Ron __________________ "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year." Current Tank Info: 180 RR ~ 150g sump ~ 100g fuge ~ 30g frag tank ~ Bermuda Aquatics 8C on Mag18~ GenX 55 return ~ 3 SureFlow MaxiMods, Tunze 6000 ~ 40w Gamma UV ~ 175w x 3 MH ~ 160w x 2 VHO

02/04/2007, 05:18 PM	#8
Joshua1023 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reading PA Posts: 1,526	Mine has increased my power bill by an average of 30 bucks a month. Specs are listed below. __________________ Only bad things happen fast. Only bad thing happen fast. Only bad things happen fast. Man,I'm friggen hard-headed!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl tank,Coralife 14K MH lights,2 Current dual daylight/actinic 40 watt fixtures, tidepool sump,Coralife SS 220 protein skimmer,six inch sand bed w/ plenum, Current Prime Tower 1/3 hp Chiller,RedSea ozonizer w/ orp

02/03/2007, 04:17 PM	#4
TandN Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 2,009	My 120g cost me roughly about $100 a month. I have 200w total running the system 24 hours and 2 400w MH 7 hours and 2 54w T5's 11 hours

02/04/2007, 01:24 AM	#5
Brad Black Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cleveland-proper Posts: 465	i run 440w t-12 VHO's for 10 hrs/day. not sure of kw prices in my area, i will have to find out and get back.

02/04/2007, 05:32 PM	#9
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	~$60/month for electricity and another $40-50 for upkeep.(no new purchases figured in) 58g sps with 20g sump __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

02/05/2007, 09:43 AM	#10
jkable Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: fort wayne IN Posts: 153	I have a hunred gallon tank 50 gal sump. I use 800 watts of halide. From what i have figured the whole tank costs about 45 bucks a month, this does not include running the ac more to compensate for the heat given off by the mh. __________________ i like girls, fish, and beer. Current Tank Info: 150 gallon reef/ 30 gal frag tank

02/05/2007, 11:36 AM	#11
jayo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 345	When thinking about maintenance costs be sure to factor in other things than energy! salt for water changes RO replacement membranes/filters on big tanks, water bill replacement light bulbs food carbon/kalkwasser/aragonite/phosphate removers CO2 refills if you have a calcium reactor other? it can really add up. jayo

02/05/2007, 11:38 AM	#12
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	about $50 a month for my 58 with 20g sump, and 2x250 HQI. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

08/03/2012, 01:27 PM	#14
jerpa Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 2,174	I spend about $50 a month at $.12/KWH for the system below. __________________ Jer Current Tank Info: 40b basement sump, 40b refugium, 30g frag

08/03/2012, 01:33 PM	#15
king_Neptune Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern california Posts: 135	Also not bad. What lighting you using for frag tank and your display? __________________ Trying to expand my knowledge daily Current Tank Info: 75g bowfront reeftank lps & sps,true & false percula clowns,yellow tang ,yellow tail damsels,firefish

08/03/2012, 02:10 PM	#16
karsseboom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,183	About 40 bucks a month.

08/03/2012, 03:19 PM	#18
Mmiller40gt arrogant reefer Join Date: May 2012 Location: N Texas Posts: 687	Here is the RC calculator. http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/tank_elec_calc.php What it does not account for it that all the heat used is moved into your house. So in the summer you can almost double the result. In the winter your tank will likely heat your home so you can subtract a little.

08/03/2012, 04:42 PM	#19
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	A little over 20 bucks a month at last calculation, it may be a little more now, no more than 25 a month for electricity and water is negligible. By the way, this is a thread from 2007 but always fun to revisit old threads. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

08/03/2012, 04:47 PM	#20
Rockys_Pride Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: colorado Posts: 490	About $5 not counting salt and food. I think my electrician wired my outlet wrong, not that I'm complaining.

08/03/2012, 05:03 PM	#21
EnV Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 68	$15-20/month in electricity!

08/03/2012, 05:20 PM	#22
planedoc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 535	Add in the hidden costs. How about gas money and car maintenance driving around buying fish stuff. How about the extra money spent cooling your house while running 80 degree tanks and heat generating lights. Winter is a bonus on heat gain. Than there is water bill, it takes 4 gallons of city water to make 1 gallon of RO. Not to mention washing socks or spraying off filters. Are you adding in food. My 240 my 110 and my 75 combined cost $38.75 in summer and $31.08 in winter. Just ask my wife....(more like 100 and 75) bottom line don't worry about it unless you don't have an extra $500 a month to spend on saltwater animals if you don't than well you might want to look into bettas

08/03/2012, 07:17 PM	#23
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	$220/month electricity in the summer, $150 the other 8 months. Food is about $40/month Salt and RODI about $125/month Carbon and GFO about $60/month __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

08/03/2012, 07:28 PM	#25
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Electric between my 2 current tanks is about $30-$35 without heat, with room for a few dollars of savings if I went with more efficient pumps. Both lightings are HQI halides. Heating in the winter is about another 25 bucks or so. Water is super cheap around here, 725 gallons costs $2.25, maybe a total of $4 with sewer costs. Salt is $37 for a 200 gallon box for me, food is not terrible at all. Once the tanks are up and running, they are pretty cheap to maintain. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater