How do things pay for themselves in the aquarium industry?

[alton]

Electrical use is the most expensive thing in our hobby, with 1000 watts of metal halide lighting, 2 return pumps, large skimmer pumps, 40 watts of UV, 300 watt heaters, and 1 hp chillers our electrical bill can run over $1,000 a year!
Hopefully I did not scare anyone with those numbers? What we need to look at is not only lighting but pumps that run 24hours a day and 365 days a year. Take my return pump on my 65 gallon, it is an older mag 7 that list 75 watts, but after age and pumping water up around 4’ the actual draw is 144 watts. I replaced it with a Rio 2500 that says 55 watts but draws 84 watts. Now just looking at the difference it may not seem that big but after 60 watts running 24/365 = 60 x 24 x 365 = 525,600 watts in a year! So take the 525,600 divide by 1,000 to get 1KWH = 525.6 KWH’s @$.10 a KWH = $52.56 a year savings so the pump is free after a year and a half of service!
Who says nothing is free anymore?
And don’t worry spouses do not look at MAAST anyway, or at least mine doesn’t.

[rrasco]

LOL

LEDs are the way! No bulb replacement, lower power consumption.

[ErikH]

My MH usage is 800x8x365 = 2,336,000 / 1000 = 2336@ 0.0668 = 156.04 / year to run my metal halides. I just paid 60 dollars (total) for 2 replacement bulbs shipped to my door twice per year;
276.04 would be my total per year including bulbs and shipping. I paid $300 for my lights 576.04/ first year.

I would need at LEAST 4 AI SOls to run my tank. Those are 399.95x4= 1599.80 + tax (129.98) = 1729.78 The AI SOL uses http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/led-wattage-ai-sol 75 watts of power per unit. 75w x 4 = 300w 300/8/365 = 876,000 / 1000 = 876@0.0668 = 58.52 / year to run AI SOLs. 1729.8 + 58.52 = 1788.32/ first year.

So for me, it would take 5.5 years (including bulbs) to recoup my investment on the AIs. That's also only using 4 AIs, and I think that's probably well below what the manufacturer's specs are. If my math is wrong, please tell me, I was never good at math! :)

[rrasco]

Or you could just skip MH to begin with and never have to recoup anything but the cost in LEDs. Obviously that's only useful for new tanks, but it is what it is.

[Big_Pun]

yuky LEDs!!! lol I love the growth I get and color with MH and t5. my new set up is magnetic ballast so a lil more energy and bulbs are over driven but nothing beats the growth I'm getting.

[rrasco]

LEDs do work. It's just a new technology without any standards for our application so YMMW.

[350gt]

Been looking at getting a replacement for my older mag 9.5.... Something that maybe conserves a little power would be nice..

Asfar as LEDs, Chris is right.... Nothing like MH/t5....

But LEDs are the future wether we like it or not.... A soon as they are more affordable I will convert every bulb in my house from cfl to led, just as I went to the cfl bulbs...

[350gt]

I will sacrifice growth for $$ in my energy bill....

my home is older so anything helps when it comes to conserving... I am looking at getting my attic sprayed with insulation and any other $$ saving ideas....

Replacing my front windows is big on my list but the down time is holding me back.

[rrasco]

I'm not convinced. Only time will tell for me. There is nothing MH can do LEDs cannot if designed correctly. Spectrum, spread, and optics are the keys to successful growth with LEDs.

FWIW, that radiant barrier paint is supposed to help a lot if you paint the inside of your attic with it. CPS also gave me a free thermostat I can program from the web and monitor energy consumption, not sure if they are still offering them, but it's the energyguard/peaksaver programs.

[350gt]

Same here only time will tell....

Ya I replaced all the thermostats, tinted some windows that get the most sun, replaced ddoors and storm doors.. My garage door and attic or next on my list.... Then it's the front windows that let out alot of energy.

[Scutterborn]

Alton, how are you measuring the actual amperage draw? With a DMM? I'd like to check a few things myself

[ErikH]

Or you could just skip MH to begin with and never have to recoup anything but the cost in LEDs. Obviously that's only useful for new tanks, but it is what it is.

LOL, I have a family to feed! :) I would love to go all out LED, but right now, beer budget will stay with beer, over champagne. :) Trust me after seeing Angelo's tank, I am sold. Can't wait until my wife graduates, then I'll have more money to throw into the fire!

[Noob]

Ya I replaced all the thermostats, tinted some windows that get the most sun, replaced ddoors and storm doors.. My garage door and attic or next on my list.... Then it's the front windows that let out alot of energy.

Another thing you should look into is proper ventilation.
If your house has turbine vents, there is alot of hot air that is trapped in your attic.
Ridge vent with the proper amount of intake vents would be the best solution.

The radiant barrier is about $1.00 per sq foot, if i remember correctly.

[350gt]

Alton, how are you measuring the actual amperage draw? With a DMM? I'd like to check a few things myself


+2

[350gt]

Another thing you should look into is proper ventilation.
If your house has turbine vents, there is alot of hot air that is trapped in your attic.
Ridge vent with the proper amount of intake vents would be the best solution.

The radiant barrier is about $1.00 per sq foot, if i remember correctly.


Thanks..... Looking into whatever can help.

[SoLiD]

My MH usage is 800x8x365 = 2,336,000 / 1000 = 2336@ 0.0668 = 156.04 / year to run my metal halides. I just paid 60 dollars (total) for 2 replacement bulbs shipped to my door twice per year;
276.04 would be my total per year including bulbs and shipping. I paid $300 for my lights 576.04/ first year.

How the heck did you get electricity for 6.6 cents a KWH? You are also forgetting the excess heat that MH's put out. Now you have to run fans and chillers to move the heat.

I would need at LEAST 4 AI SOls to run my tank. Those are 399.95x4= 1599.80 + tax (129.98) = 1729.78 The AI SOL uses http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/led-wattage-ai-sol 75 watts of power per unit. 75w x 4 = 300w 300/8/365 = 876,000 / 1000 = 876@0.0668 = 58.52 / year to run AI SOLs. 1729.8 + 58.52 = 1788.32/ first year.

So for me, it would take 5.5 years (including bulbs) to recoup my investment on the AIs. That's also only using 4 AIs, and I think that's probably well below what the manufacturer's specs are. If my math is wrong, please tell me, I was never good at math! :)

I ran 4 AI SOLS over my 40 Breeder for about 6 months.... but not at 75 watts each... Ever. I don't know anyone who runs their AI modules at a Full 100% on all 3 channels. I think the real power problem is most of us cheap out on pumps and skimmers which lead to the vast majority of our tanks daily power draw. That's why I chose the Tunze 1073.05 24V DC return pump, 2 Tunze 6055's, and the SWC Xtreme Cone 160 Skimmer. The tank runs so cool that I have to run a 300 watt heater or the temperature will get below 73 degrees. Well that was before I pulled 1 AI SOL off and added to 250 watt Metal halides to see what it would do for color enhancement. Later this week I'm finally installing my newer sump with my Vertex Alpha 170 skimmer and I'm anxious to see what the Red Dragon 1000 pump does for efficiency.

[alton]

I use my Fluke multi-meter. With the heat this week I turned my MH's off and just ran my stunners. Now that it has cooled off I plugged them back in. LEDs will be the future the new razor looks like it mimics a radium metal halide lamp? We shall see?