How Did You Do it
- Thread starter RGibson
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jlehigh
Hermit D Crab
Design design design.. equipment equipment..
I have no idea what my electric bill WOULD be, but I am confident good design and efficient equipment choices save me big time.
Skimming: Counter current airstone skimmers use less electricity and produce more air bubbles but require more space. Venturi styles are probably the next best. Even though Beckett skimmers can work really well they do require larger preassure rated pumps which require more power.
Lighting: Use the best reflectors for your application. The larger the spread of light, the fewer lights you need. 14 and 20K MH bulbs are a good alternative to yellower lights that look better with actinics requiring more electricity.
Water Movement: Calculating headloss and thinking through plumbing design and outlet placement will go a long way. Even though I do not use them myself Tunze streams are by far the most electric efficient (rather large in-tank pumps and can be unsightly). I use one closed loop pump fed through 14 outlets via an oceans motions wave maker. Without the OM unit I would probably have needed another pump or two.
Cooling Instead of running a 1/2 hp chiller requiring 15 dedicated amps I added an in window dual fan to the room and a strong fan blowing over the dispays surface. This keeps the room around 75 degrees on the hot days.
I have no idea what my electric bill WOULD be, but I am confident good design and efficient equipment choices save me big time.
Skimming: Counter current airstone skimmers use less electricity and produce more air bubbles but require more space. Venturi styles are probably the next best. Even though Beckett skimmers can work really well they do require larger preassure rated pumps which require more power.
Lighting: Use the best reflectors for your application. The larger the spread of light, the fewer lights you need. 14 and 20K MH bulbs are a good alternative to yellower lights that look better with actinics requiring more electricity.
Water Movement: Calculating headloss and thinking through plumbing design and outlet placement will go a long way. Even though I do not use them myself Tunze streams are by far the most electric efficient (rather large in-tank pumps and can be unsightly). I use one closed loop pump fed through 14 outlets via an oceans motions wave maker. Without the OM unit I would probably have needed another pump or two.
Cooling Instead of running a 1/2 hp chiller requiring 15 dedicated amps I added an in window dual fan to the room and a strong fan blowing over the dispays surface. This keeps the room around 75 degrees on the hot days.
NaH2O
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2004
- Messages
- 8,568
Good post! I was actually thinking that I probably use more and more electricity with every item I purchase.
On pH monitors, use batteries instead of plugging in.
Also, I imagine using a controller like the AquaController to turn things on and off as needed, instead of running them all the time (like I do with my fans) would help in keeping usage down, but I don't know by how much.
On pH monitors, use batteries instead of plugging in.
Also, I imagine using a controller like the AquaController to turn things on and off as needed, instead of running them all the time (like I do with my fans) would help in keeping usage down, but I don't know by how much.
clayswim
Well-known member
Conserving energy? What's that? 
Even if you're running a chiller, fans help a lot to prevent the chiller from coming on in the first place. The only drawback to fans though is water evaporation, which in my case means running a dehumidifier to keep my room halfway dry. Since it runs the same kind of compressor an A/C uses, it doesn't help much with power consumption.
There are also things that don't need to run 24/7, like UV sterilizers. Run them a few hours a day instead of all the time, you'll end up with the same result but less electricity.
The biggest users of electricity in most tanks are the lights and the pumps. Most people don't run chillers, and with the massive lighting and pumps; our tanks rarely need much heating, aside from the colder areas in the winter. Something else that can help with lights is electronic ballasts. As for pumps, using fewer large pumps can cut down in power draw and heat compared to using numerous smaller pumps. For example, instead of using separate pumps for your refugium, calcium reactor and carbon filter, just split the water off of a larger single pump.
I'm not one to talk though; I really don't pay a lot of attention to conserving power. I suppose I should though... Nah...
Clayton
Even if you're running a chiller, fans help a lot to prevent the chiller from coming on in the first place. The only drawback to fans though is water evaporation, which in my case means running a dehumidifier to keep my room halfway dry. Since it runs the same kind of compressor an A/C uses, it doesn't help much with power consumption.
There are also things that don't need to run 24/7, like UV sterilizers. Run them a few hours a day instead of all the time, you'll end up with the same result but less electricity.
The biggest users of electricity in most tanks are the lights and the pumps. Most people don't run chillers, and with the massive lighting and pumps; our tanks rarely need much heating, aside from the colder areas in the winter. Something else that can help with lights is electronic ballasts. As for pumps, using fewer large pumps can cut down in power draw and heat compared to using numerous smaller pumps. For example, instead of using separate pumps for your refugium, calcium reactor and carbon filter, just split the water off of a larger single pump.
I'm not one to talk though; I really don't pay a lot of attention to conserving power. I suppose I should though... Nah...
Clayton
Jiddy
Well-known member
jlehigh said:
Pretty smart for a MOJO Univer. Drop-out
RGibson said:
I have absolutly no idea what you are talking about. My electric company sends me Christmas cards and thank you notes.
reedman
Well-known member
I haven't lowered my bill by any means, but I did buy components with electric costs in mind. I user all electronic ballasts for my lights, an ampmaster 3000 for my closed loop (lowest draw I could find for the volume and not being an eyesore in the tank), and fans instead of a chiller.
I think John covered most of the items you'd actully notice on the bill.
Oh! and I have a 75 gallon tank still because if I go bigger the bills go up
I think John covered most of the items you'd actully notice on the bill.
Oh! and I have a 75 gallon tank still because if I go bigger the bills go up
We purchase a large gerba style wheel. Right now I have the wife and kids taking turns on running inside of it. On a good day they can take care of about 1/2 of the power requirements for the tank. Its really starting to cost me to much with all the liquids I have to keep giving them though, I will have to find a way around that!
Mike
Mike
reedman
Well-known member
ROFLMAO
I'm dying here. Mike...I don't think the wife is going to go for that one...kids...maybe. You need to throw those book eatin' dogs on the wheel for a while too.
I'm dying here. Mike...I don't think the wife is going to go for that one...kids...maybe. You need to throw those book eatin' dogs on the wheel for a while too.
jlehigh
Hermit D Crab
Jiddy said:
Jiddy I just kept a few of the Mojo U. text books LOL! Intervenes delivery Mike.. It's the latest rage in child labor!
Reed! Don't suggest dog mistreatment! The kids can pet them after putting in 12hr shifts on the wheel though
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Scooterman
Well-known member
I didn't lower my electric bill but I did sleep at a Holliday Inn last night!
Scooterman said:
Does your wife know this???
Scooterman
Well-known member
Wife? OH OH!
Jiddy
Well-known member
Thats awful
