Electricty Useage is killing me

[gnashty]

MorganAtlanta;618404 wrote:
Your UV is pretty big too. If you are running it 24/7, it could add up. You could probably put the UV on a timer and only run it for a couple hours when your main lights are off, especially if you are running a chiller. There's no sense constantly putting the heat into the water only to pay again to take it out.

I run the same UV 24/7 as well. I havent had an issue with heat or a skyrocketign power bill as a result. Im no dummy though and know it is adding heat and using up the electricity...Ive been thinking of cutting its run time down a tad.

can anyone estimate the power cost of this unit per month? Im terrible at calculating these equations...plus im at work

Edit: I tried the formula above and came up with $8.20 per month - sound right?

 

[jbadd99]

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_educationcenter_calculators_tank_electrical.html">HERE</a> is a calculator to help you find the answer to what is hogging all your money...

I'm sure three heaters don't help things either.

 

[gnashty]

jbadd99;618465 wrote: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_educationcenter_calculators_tank_electrical.html">HERE</a> is a calculator to help you find the answer to what is hogging all your money...

I'm sure three heaters don't help things either.[/QUOTE]

very nice!!

 

[morganatlanta]

jbadd99;618465 wrote: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_educationcenter_calculators_tank_electrical.html">HERE</a> is a calculator to help you find the answer to what is hogging all your money...

I'm sure three heaters don't help things either.[/QUOTE]

I don't think the number of heaters matter for total power used as they will just be on for less time before the water is heated and they turn off.

 

[rasbora]

rizmaher;618383 wrote: Rasbora, that is a really good idea. I did not know that the libraries carried them, I was planning to buy one from Frys.

I think most of them have them, can be signed out just like a book. Part of some 'green' program to save energy.

 

[holabird]

No, it is just a return pump but it has to pump about 16' upstairs to the DT. I have it tuned down a little and I have the flow cut back a little.

Smoothie;618299 wrote: What is it used for? CL, running multiple items, etc?

Edit: The tank is a 180 and the pump is just for return. It is obviously more than I need but it came with the tank. Looks like it will be going somewhere else or be used as a back up. I use the Little Giant to run 2 GFO's, 2 carbon filters and the UV.

Crewdawg1981;618384 wrote: True and its more than I need. I figured I'd use the rest for other things like a chiller, CA reactor, carbon, etc.

I guess the OP didnt really say how much flow they needed or how big the tank was. There is already three Koralias and a Vortech?.

How big is this tank?

Edit: I use three smaller heaters. Two in the basement sump run by the controller and one in the DT as a back up that is set to come on if the others fail. The number of heaters shouldn't matter as they only run when necessary, be it all three for a shorter time or one big one for a longer time. I think. The UV doesnt put much heat in the water and I dont use a chiller.

jmaneyapanda;618386 wrote: 3 heaters? What wattage? They are very inefficient power hogs too, and may not be necessary at all, depending on the setup. 114 watts of UV is going to heat up the water some.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

holabird;618625 wrote: No, it is just a return pump but it has to pump about 16' upstairs to the DT. I have it tuned down a little and I have the flow cut back a little.



Edit: The tank is a 180 and the pump is just for return. It is obviously more than I need but it came with the tank. Looks like it will be going somewhere else or be used as a back up. I use the Little Giant to run 2 GFO's, 2 carbon filters and the UV.



Edit: I use three smaller heaters. Two in the basement sump run by the controller and one in the DT as a back up that is set to come on if the others fail. The number of heaters shouldn't matter as they only run when necessary, be it all three for a shorter time or one big one for a longer time. I think. The UV doesnt put much heat in the water and I dont use a chiller.

UVs will put a lot of heat in the water. Trust me. And heaters are energy pigs. Trust me on that too. But, to each their own. Good luck.

 

[rbredding]

holabird;618625 wrote: I use the Little Giant to run 2 GFO's, 2 carbon filters and the UV.

can you re-plumb your return line to include a manifold that will run this equipment?

what kind of return flow are you looking for at your display tank?

 

[grouper therapy]

jmaneyapanda;618715 wrote: UVs will put a lot of heat in the water. Trust me. And heaters are energy pigs. Trust me on that too. But, to each their own. Good luck.

Submersible heaters do burn a lot of watts! Luckily they are near 100% efficient in terms of watts burned to heat transferred. The number of heaters is not as critical as the total wattage of combined heaters but even then the only waste would be trying ti heat the water above a unusual high temp.

 

[darcurr]

I always check watts when purchasing anything for my tanks. That said, trying to retro-actively come in and reduce consumption will only provide limited results. If it wasn't taken into consideration up front, there will always be a bottom that cannot be lowered. I always think of it like hot rodders that worry about MPG after they finish installing a 502. Sometimes you just got to pay to play.