Newb question - power bills

[gvibes]

Hey, sorry for asking such a basic question, but the search function doesn't seem to want to work for me.

How much is the electric bill for running a ~90 gallon reef setup, monthly? I want to get a better idea of the TCOA before going ahead with this.

I'm thinking something like the following setup (still really early in planning stages):
90g tank
20g under-tank sump
dual 250W MH/Dual 50W CF
A couple pumps, for return and skimmer
Appropriate powerheads


I realize this is a horribly broad question, but I'm just looking for a ballpark.

[kraze3]

try this

http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/tank_elec_calc.php

[crumbletop]

Here is what I came up with trying to estimate stuff for my aquarium:

Electric rate this is based on is $0.07086 per Kilowatt Hour (kwh).
Water/sewer rate this is based on is $8.16 per 1000 gallons.

Lights x 14 hours per day (360 watts) = 5.04 kwh per day.
Pumps x 24 hours per day (122 watts) = 2.93 kwh per day.
Skimmer x 10 hours per day (20 watts) = 0.2 kwh per day.
Heater x 12 hours (400 watts) = 4.8 kwh per day.

Total = 12.97 kwh per day x 30 days = 389.1 kwh per month.

Electric Cost per month = $27.51 (389.1 kwh x $0.07086/kwh)


Water at 100 gallons per month (RO/DI water) at 1 gallon out for every 5 gallons in = 500 gallons/month total used.

Water/sewer Cost per month = $4.08 (500 gallons of water in = $2.04 + 500 gallons of sewer = $2.04).

Total cost per month = $31.65


This is conservative because I won't run the lights that long, the heaters probably will not be on that much (especially in the summer), and I will not likely use 100 gallons per month of RO/DI – probably closer to 50.


Jack

[gvibes]

On the electricity calculator, I did a worst(bad?)-case scenario and ended up with just under $40 a month in electric bills. Crumble, your numbers confirmed my thoughts.

Thanks guys!

[crumbletop]

Great! Good luck on the tank. and


To Reef Central


Jack