dwalk Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 It's the end of week 3, and here is a summary of what power savings were made from insulating the test tank. Week#___Insulation__________ Avg nite____Avg Day____Power ___________________________Temp_______Temp______Used 1________None______________6.7________14.4________18.6 kwh 2________Back and Sides______2.7________14.9________14 kwh 3________Top, Back+ Sides____6.7________13.7________13 kwh This week (#3) the tank was insulated top, back and sides, and I was expecting a reasonable increase from the previous week, but it was not to be . Using 13 kwh, there was only a 5% increase of savings from the previous week. I suspect that there may be more heat lost from the sides, as that is what the water touches. Week 2 had a power saving of 24% over uninsulated week 1 Week 3 had a power sawing of 30% over uninsulated week 1 From this data i've now started insulating my other tanks. A 30% saving sounds good to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 From this data i've now started insulating my other tanks. A 30% saving sounds good to me. Me thinks the same.....thanks for the evidence dwalk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindy500 Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 is the tank a square one? i.e no rounded corners? does t have a lid/hood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwalk Posted June 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 is the tank a square one? i.e no rounded corners? does t have a lid/hood? The tank has a glass lid, which is now covered with Poly, apart from a 45cmx15cm cut out for the lights Yes, the tank has rounded corners at the front, but as my side insulation comes right up to it I can't see how it would make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 ... Week 2 had a power saving of 24% over uninsulated week 1 Week 3 had a power sawing of 30% over uninsulated week 1 From this data i've now started insulating my other tanks. A 30% saving sounds good to me. Well I'm convinced! Looks like it's off to the shop for some poly. BTW: brrrr for week two overnight! I hope you had a hot water bottle handy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Let me know where you get the poly from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwalk Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 I get Poly from lfs, But i saw some used as packing at Mitre10 Mega PN in the weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelifaxNZ Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Hey dwalker, Did you use one of those plugin power monitors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwalk Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Hey dwalker, Did you use one of those plugin power monitors? Yeah, I got it from bunnings for $19. There in the isle with the power multiplugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kd123 Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Bunnings and Placemakers both have poly sheets. Thhey come in several thicknesses and often soft or hard density. They are about 2400 x 1200 and between $20 and $50/sheet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelifaxNZ Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Do you know how to use the power meter? I got myself a couple of them but can't understand the manual, nor do I know what exactly I'm looking at/for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Hmmm, I'd have thought anyone that could read could figure it out. Or are the instructions in chinese? Mine's easy. Pull the little plastic strip out of the battery compartment to power it up then plug it in, plug what you want to measure into it. Then just hit function to scroll through the different readouts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Ring around insulation places I got all my poly free in 3.2 x 1.2m sheets varying thicknesses and it doesn't burn.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuba Sam Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Payless plastics has cheap poly - ask for the seconds... They may have a pile of sheets with slight damage, and as we cut them smaller anyway, bonus!! (going home to insulate tanks...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Placemakers etc might have cover sheets of poly for cheap/free. Although I'l going to the ones in the Panmure area to get them all so you'd better hurry!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxglove Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 :bounce: :bounce: Thanks for sharing this! I'm all for power saving by poly! :bounce: In the Hutt Valley there is a great polystyrene shop ( big label on front - "POLY" on Pharazyn St, just along from the Pet Vet. I got sheets of poly there roughly cut to size, for a few dollars. They have all shapes and sizes too. Now to do all the other tanks! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 legendary info there Foxglove I bought a power meter, gonna chuck it in the garage pre-insulation. $24.95 at Dick Smiths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwalk Posted July 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 SpidersWeb, do you have a 5-6ft tank? I'm keen on knowing the cost of heating one, as i'm looking at getting one soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 so paranoid about the expense of runnin a tank :roll: sell off a few fish to cover costs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwalk Posted July 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 so paranoid about the expense of runnin a tank :roll: sell off a few fish to cover costs I'll have some Elec Yellow Cichlids to sell soon, but yes, i am a little worried about the cost of heating tanks. i got a rather large bill, and have to be a little more rational about what i but, MTS rulz, but it can hurt the pocket too. I intend to remove a community tank, and upsize my Cichlid tank (to 6ft) so are looking at Tank, filter and power costs for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 Mine are in an unheated garage and it's estimated they're costing over $200 a month. I don't have many tanks either. A lot of money goes in to running them, and I have other projects that need money as well as living expenses. Because of this living situation I do not have any big tanks (biggest are 4ft x 1.5ft x 1.75ft). For an indoor 6ft tank, I doubt the expenses would blow your budget unless you're the kind of person who is digging for coins to buy milk at the end of the week. There will be a hike in the power bill, but if its in a warm room it shouldn't be too dramatic. If it's indoors for display, I wouldn't insulate more than just the back unless its in a cabinet or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 You guys need to up size and save some money! Fewer, bigger tanks must be the way to go. My tanks about 800liter and has 800w of light going most of the day, 400w of pumps going 24/7 and the total power bill is well under $200 a month. And people say marine tanks are expensive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 Unheated garage is why mine is expensive. It's a double garage that we park the car in, not a fishroom/garage. Often in winter 300W wasn't enough to keep a 200L tank above 24C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 Unheated garage is why mine is expensive. It's a double garage that we park the car in, not a fishroom/garage. Often in winter 300W wasn't enough to keep a 200L tank above 24C What you need is a couple of 400w lights on that tank to keep it warm! At least heating the tanks inside also helps heat the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted July 8, 2008 Report Share Posted July 8, 2008 Hey how did you attach the poly to the tank?? Obviously glueing it would be the best option as there wouldn't be any gaps, but I don't really want to glue it to the ends as I'll remove them during summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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