OMG

[DAVE]

We have the smart meters here in Ontario. I can tell you that they don't help the reefing game at all!!!! Peak hours run during the normal photo period of our tanks which is almost impossible to get around. Other then lighting things like PH, pumps, heaters are on 24/7 so you can't really take advantage of the off peak hours. I do run my dehumidifier all night long and leave it off during the day, that is about the only significant thing I was able to change. I do shut my lights off from 5pm - 6:30pm (Actinic bulbs remain on) they the full spectrum comes back on for an hour before back to Actinics

Prices in Ontario with Smart meter:
7-11am - 8.9 cents/kWh
11-5pm - 10.7 cents/kWh
5-7pm - 8.9 cents/kWh
7pm-7am 5.9 cents/kWh

[phi delt reefer]

hydro - you on the smart meter? they installed them in london LAST YEAR but we are still on the tiered pricing - they havent moved over to billing by time yet. I am waiting to take advantage of it though... we do all our laundry on the weekends, and the dishwasher is set to turn on at 11pm. I would setup the tank to run lights from 7pm to 7am - they are probably your biggest draw... the heat from the lights will keep the tank warm in teh winter and help keep things cool on teh summer days. maybe even put some of the powerheads on a timer and go down to half flow at night?

[Myka]

This is why I want a basement...put the tanks in the basement and run the lights during the evening/night for a reverse photoperiod. 7pm isn't that late you could still enjoy your tank after work. Have supplementals run 7pm-7am and halides (or whites) run start at 7:30 or 8pm. You can even put half your powerheads on timers so they only run while the lights are on.

My house is too light during the day to run reverse photoperiod.

EDIT: Oops, I guess there's an echo in here. I posted the same thing as phi delt reefer.

[Corbin]

i said as i brought my new lighting set up yestarday, Im so glad i dont have to pay my power bill, hope my landlord doesnt kill me though haha.

[christyf5]

yeowtch! that sucks. I hope we don't get shafted by those smartmeters. Never even thought about what its going to do to my hydro bill and its not nearly that bad...yet

[Parker]

I have NO CLUE what it costs to power my tank... My wife pays the bills and she hasn't said a peep about it so I can assume it's not too expensive.

[mark]

Originally Posted by Parker

I have NO CLUE what it costs to power my tank... My wife pays the bills and she hasn't said a peep about it so I can assume it's not too expensive.

hear it from mine but she's not buying the argument that those high-end LED fixtures will save us money