Just threw up in my mouth a little bit... the electricity bill came

[i have crabs]

a while back i bought a power meter from costco kinda like a kill-a-watt meter and i found other than the lights heaters where my biggest problem with 4or5 tanks usually running i had about 1000w of heaters which were costing me between $1-2 per day my 8 bulb tek light which is around 400w was costing me about $0.75 per day other things where seio powerheads and some things around the house, with all my tanks i average about $250 a month, usually one is a bit lower for the estimate and 1 is a bit higher and i calculate power at $0.11
some things actually use alot less power than they say or i would expect so that was a nice change,mh lights on the other hand use up to 20% more than they say so 750w of halides is probably over 1000w and costing you up to $2 per day

also about the heaters, i found it much cheeper to run my heat up all day and night then to have the heaters sucking up power

i think anyone with a bigger reef or multiple tanks should buy a meter, i got mine from costco online for $35 and ive seen canadian tire selling them in the flyers for about the same, kill-a-watt meters are about $50 but i think they have some better functions

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

My old tank with dual 400 halides, 320 watts of T5, 150 watts over fuge, return pump, powerheads, skimmer, ect. only cost $50 a month.

I really don't see how your bill can go up that much just from the tank!

[mark]

all you guys wasting power with heaters, you need to get those 400W MHs

[24storm]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

My old tank with dual 400 halides, 320 watts of T5, 150 watts over fuge, return pump, powerheads, skimmer, ect. only cost $50 a month.

I really don't see how your bill can go up that much just from the tank!

And i really don't see how it could be so little for just the tank!!!

Man electrical costs in BC must be way less.

I am going to get a kill a watt tomorrow and check things to see what the deal is.

[levi1803]

Don't you know any people that have grow op's that can help you divert the power supply somehow? I'm sure some of the BC people might be able to help with that haha JK

[my2rotties]

My husband was just making a comment about this very thing. I want the power meter for sure...

Originally Posted by levi1803

Don't you know any people that have grow op's that can help you divert the power supply somehow? I'm sure some of the BC people might be able to help with that haha JK

[i have crabs]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

My husband was just making a comment about this very thing. I want the power meter for sure...

get the kill-a-watt the one i have is ok but i think it would be worth the extra $15 or so,

[my2rotties]

When I get one, and find how how much energy decides are using, is there a way to make them more efficient rather then a replace them?

Originally Posted by i have crabs

get the kill-a-watt the one i have is ok but i think it would be worth the extra $15 or so,

[i have crabs]

Originally Posted by levi1803

Don't you know any people that have grow op's that can help you divert the power supply somehow? I'm sure some of the BC people might be able to help with that haha JK

ive done it before but sorry i left that industry a long time ago,

just checked my bill for january and
jan 1-15 891kwh at 9.956 cents
dec 16-31 667kwh at 11.863 cents
for a total of 1558kwh average of 10.9095cents totaling $169.97 just for the power with no other charges im with epcor and thier was 52.33 for delivery charges
if i lock in with enmax for 5 years at 8cents that would be $124.64 about $45 savings
does anyone know if thier is a difference in delivery charges or any other charges between companys
im not that worried about power dropping lower than 8 cents anytime soon maybe if and when nuclear power actually happens here and thats more than 5 years away

[banditpowdercoat]

Originally Posted by i have crabs

a while back i bought a power meter from costco kinda like a kill-a-watt meter and i found other than the lights heaters where my biggest problem with 4or5 tanks usually running i had about 1000w of heaters which were costing me between $1-2 per day my 8 bulb tek light which is around 400w was costing me about $0.75 per day other things where seio powerheads and some things around the house, with all my tanks i average about $250 a month, usually one is a bit lower for the estimate and 1 is a bit higher and i calculate power at $0.11
some things actually use alot less power than they say or i would expect so that was a nice change,mh lights on the other hand use up to 20% more than they say so 750w of halides is probably over 1000w and costing you up to $2 per day

also about the heaters, i found it much cheeper to run my heat up all day and night then to have the heaters sucking up power

i think anyone with a bigger reef or multiple tanks should buy a meter, i got mine from costco online for $35 and ive seen canadian tire selling them in the flyers for about the same, kill-a-watt meters are about $50 but i think they have some better functions

The reasons Lights use MORE power than the rating, is the Bulb Wattage is what the BULB uses. The ballast also consumes some energy in producing the Bulb wattage. Old TAR ballasts ya can be up to 25% ineffiecent. Electronics are way better