Pies Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 I think it the public interest, this thread should be stopped. I don't think any of us really want to know the answer or more accuratly most of us don't want anyone else that may live in our homes to know the answer. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 i always blame the clothes dryer for the high power bill, until the wife told me its actualy a dishwasher. :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 ..or more accuratly most of us don't want anyone else that may live in our homes to know the answer. Pie Do you get your power bill sent to you at work? I've already told SWMBO that the tank might double the power bill so, if it only increases it by 60%, she will be pleasently surprised. Thats the plan anyway. Actually a more interesting thing that has emerged is just how long the tank can go without power. In the 8.5 hours the power was off (major cable problem down the road) the temperature dropped less than 2 degrees (down to 23.7). I did a hand stir at one point but this certainly highlights one of the benefits of a big tank. On the other hand, the fact that it took 4 van loads of guys 8.5 hours to fix just one cable fault, makes you wonder just how many weeks your power would be off in the event of even a modestly severe earthquake. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 westhaven charge me $480 per month just for the yacht berth... then u have to add racing expenses, breakages, crew costs, entry fees, heartbreak = priceless its $50 for a round of gold in AKL - this is not a massively expensive hobby, thank god for mastercard 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 Sound like you need to do some runs up to Fiji to pay for the berth, proper Fiji live rock at say $25kg.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 hmmmmm need a deckhand??? my little tank pushes our electricity bill up by more than double we dont use much so the power bill is still bearable, i agree with pies certain people should not be told how much a bigger tank will cost what lighting do you have on the tank now steve?? still the 1000W?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 its $50 for a round of gold in AKL - this is not a massively expensive hobby, What's a 'round of gold'. Obviously something we can't afford down her in Wgtn. You are right tho, there are a lot more expensive hobbies, my Hifi sucks up far more of my income than my tank, although it does have lower electricity costs, and a trip down south to go skiing will cost several times the fish tank power bill. Yep, you are definitely right - I think I will buy some more fish then.. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 ..what lighting do you have on the tank now steve?? still the 1000W?? Almost 2000 4 X 400W halides 2 X 140W Actinics 2 X 56W Fluoros Total = 1992W Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 I hate to see what my power cost is but i think it is about $100 month. 4x400w metal halides 16000w 12x 54w t5s 648w 8x54w sump 432 w heaters 2 x 1000w 2000w streams say 5x50w 250w misc pumps, 500w main pump 100w total 5530w Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 sorry - lots of gold diggers up here in JAFA land... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I hate to see what my power cost is but i think it is about $100 month. running the lights 8 hours a day, $4.80 per day plus GST. which is really not that high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 i ran my lights for 12 hours a day, have a total power consumption for the tank of $3.20 a day, thats half the price of a beer in the pub. its a little cheaper in the summer (if you don't have a chiller that is ) as the heater gets unplug for that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I'm at: 5x 400watt MH (11hr day) 2x 250 watt MH (10hrs day) 4x 85 watt T5 (13hrs day) 1x Iwaki 100 1/2 horse power (24/7) 3x Ehiem 1262 ? (15hrs approx a day) 1x Ehiem 1060 (24hrs a day) 4x 300watt Heaters (unknown, less than 2hrs a day I guess) 3x 6100 Tunze Stream (24hrs day) Don't tell me :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I bet your power company send you a bottle of bubbly every Xmas. They know how to treat thier best customers. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 westhaven charge me $480 per month just for the yacht berth... then u have to add racing expenses, breakages, crew costs, entry fees, heartbreak = priceless its $50 for a round of gold in AKL - this is not a massively expensive hobby, thank god for mastercard 8) It's not? I have 6 metal halide bulbs within about 10 feet of me, replacement for those alone would be $800! *Kicks marine tank* QUIT MAKING ME SPEND MONEY ON YOU!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Don't tell me $5.80 plus GST a day. that iwaki sucks a lot (i have the same, one just don't thinks about it, because its out of sight and it runs 24/7). agree you should get a nice xmas present (maybe shares ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 My tank sucks $120 + a month. 4 400Watt MH 2 Streams Return pump and heating / fan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 My tank sucks $120 + a month. 4 400Watt MH 2 Streams Return pump and heating / fan I'm guessing I am going to find mine is about the same. There are actually two 250W MH and a couple of pumps less in this system than when the animals were all in the previous setup. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I really like the screw in 400W single end MH bulbs and ballasts etc I feel that they are simpler and more reliable connection thent he double enders....... and you can get all the bits and bulbs REAL CHEAP right here in NZ at radium lighting, its simple cheap and no issues...... you can get 10k 14k and 20k bulbs from these guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Can you get 1000W versions of these bulbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 The problem with the 400w is that is does not produce much more light than a 250w DE and they suck more power making a 250w more effecient and as bright. Only only thing is that they are slightly cheaper to buy and they keep a better spead of light as they are a bigger bulb. When i redo my lights i will go 250w and just get more of them to give a better spread over the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 There are 400W DE's, seem to be fairly new. I think those would be the ultimate light source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 There are 400W DE's, seem to be fairly new. I think those would be the ultimate light source No they are crap. test show that they are no better than a 400w single ended bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Radium can do 400W Radium 20k bulbs for $125 + gst i think and 1000W Radium 20k bulbs for $250 + gst no 1000W 14kers that he knows of.... please note that the research is showing corals actually grow faster at 6.5k and that the corelation between growth and intensity is established, but there is no significant link between spectrum and growth rates, its just we like the look of some corals under blueish lights....... some of the borwn corals look awesome under UV lights filmed with special cameras! anyway thats why i like the 400W ters i think the bulbs are very good price, and i have a ready source of used 6.5k bulbs for almost nothing that still have a lot of kick in em! Also not i have now picked up sawbench and some other toys i will be posting the stuff on my own reflecters soon. Sanjay has done some good work on reflecter testing... a good reflecter makes a HUGE difference in the spread of the light into your tank. I want to try and get a better spread of light then the current reflecters or my arcadia units gave! arcadias going into q room..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 The problem with the 400w is that is does not produce much more light than a 250w DE and they suck more power making a 250w more effecient and as bright. The tests done by Sanjeev (sp?) on Advanced Aquaurest show that there is approx 25% more light (PAR) for the SE 400s over 250DEs. I went though this when deciding lighting on my own tank, and my posts are still about on the AA website talking about lighting choice. I think the 250DE being better is more wishfull thinking than anything else. Reflectors make a HUGE difference too, with the small box reflectors on DE bulbs often producing more light at the hot spot but having far less coverage. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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