Cost of Heating Fish Tank in a Cold Room?

[tukituki]

As winter is pretty much upon us we have noticed our powerbill rocket up in the space of a month. We have 2 large tropical fish tanks, one in our lounge where we have the heat pump or fire going, the other in our laundry that is really drafty and cold. Would it be costing us significantly more to heat the tank in the laundry now that it is cold outside? Should we move it to our lounge area to save on power? Makes sense to do it but as its such a mission has to make a difference with power use.

[jim r]

It really depends on the size of the tank and temp that you are maintaining. More water and higher temp means the heaters have to work harder. My guess is yes it will make a big difference.

[tukituki]

The tank is about 150L and the temperature is 26 degrees C. It is a very cold room. Might be worth the effort of moving it then? At least its just a few metres rather than moving house!

[Ira]

Buy a watt meter, put it on the tank for a couple days and find out how much power it's actually using. Get some real data rather than wild guesses.

[ryanjury]

It is pretty easy o work out the worst case scenario and therefore the max your tank could cost you..

Say for example you had a 150W heater in your tank worst case the room is really cold and it is only 24/7 it would use 3.6kw/h a day meaning it would cost around 90C a day to heat your tank. That is making the big assumption that your heater is on all day which it most likely wont be but it will be on more than in summer. You could also line the sides and back of your tank with poly, maybe even the top and stick some on the front at night to keep the heat in..

Add on the same for your filters and lighting etc but they aren't really temperature dependent.

edit what ira said is also a good idea they are only like $20-25 and really handy for all sorts of things in your house..

[tukituki]

a watt meter would be handy but sadly no money for one at the moment. i don't the heater is on constantly so perhaps its costing $20 a month, so hard to know, it would be a lot less if it was in the warm area of our house though surely? plus we'd actually get to see those lovely baby gba's, as they're shut away in the dark, cold laundry at the moment!

[smidey]

if its in the laundry line it with polystrene sheets to insulate it & reduce the energy required to maintain the heat. is that an option?

[Caryl]

Or put poly around the tank. You aren't sitting there looking at it anyway.

[smidey]

Or put poly around the tank. You aren't sitting there looking at it anyway.

thats what i meant :oops:

[ryanjury]

lol what is what I meant too

[ChocGourami]

If you've got the room in the lounge why not move it?

As you said.

1. Save on heating

2. You'll be able to see your fish

Only downside is mts. Once you've got the 2 tanks in there it won't take long and there will be more.

[Caryl]

Sorry smidey and ryanjury, you both did say exactly what I suggested, before I suggested it :roll:

[jim r]

The old power of suggestion before it has been suggested trick.

[phoenix44]

:lol: LOL

[tukituki]

i think we will be moving it today, what better to do on a raining dunedin day!