Reef Central Online Community

Home Forum Here you can view your subscribed threads, work with private messages and edit your profile and preferences View New Posts View Today's Posts

Find other members Frequently Asked Questions Search Reefkeeping ...an online magazine for marine aquarists Support our sponsors and mention Reef Central

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community Archives > General Interest Forums > Responsible Reefkeeping

View Poll Results: How do you power your reef?
wind power 2 13.33%
solar power 1 6.67%
peddle real fast on a stationary bike 5 33.33%
buy carbon credits 7 46.67%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03/21/2007, 06:21 PM
virginiadiver69 virginiadiver69 is offline
I think I love my tank
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gum Spring, Virginia
Posts: 1,863
How do you power your reef?

I have been feeling really guilty lately about the amount of energy I am using for my reef tank and am looking for an alternative.
When I think of the wast it generates it makes me think of those poor polar bears drowning. I use MH's so that means I have to use a chiller. Two 300W heaters, four MJ 1200, Mag 12 for return, Sedra 7000 for skimmer, for what...so I can look at some fish?! There's got to be a better way.
__________________
Current Livestock:
mated pair False Percs
mated pair Banggai Cardinals
Longnose Hawkfish
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Diamond Goby
Blond Naso Tang
Bluechin Trigger

I got the poo on me.
  #2  
Old 03/21/2007, 07:43 PM
Aquaticman74 Aquaticman74 is offline
Hawks Rule!
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Calumet City IL
Posts: 3,039
Re: How do you power your reef?

Quote:
Originally posted by virginiadiver69
I have been feeling really guilty lately about the amount of energy I am using for my reef tank and am looking for an alternative.
When I think of the wast it generates it makes me think of those poor polar bears drowning. I use MH's so that means I have to use a chiller. Two 300W heaters, four MJ 1200, Mag 12 for return, Sedra 7000 for skimmer, for what...so I can look at some fish?! There's got to be a better way.
__________________
Mike

Sandbeds operate like wormholes and the excess nutrients and detritus are transported to a sister galaxy - Bomber

12-7-41 & 9-11-01 Never Forget!
  #3  
Old 03/21/2007, 09:53 PM
HippieSmell HippieSmell is offline
I hug trees, not Bushes
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 2,613
Wow, that's clever . You remind me of grade school bullies. Grow up.
__________________
The Sand People are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers.

All statements have been peer reviewed.
  #4  
Old 03/21/2007, 10:02 PM
virginiadiver69 virginiadiver69 is offline
I think I love my tank
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gum Spring, Virginia
Posts: 1,863
WOW! Such deep seeded hostility. I am just looking for an alternative and trying to reduce my carbon footprint. Please tell me how you power your tank so I can follow a good example.
__________________
Current Livestock:
mated pair False Percs
mated pair Banggai Cardinals
Longnose Hawkfish
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Diamond Goby
Blond Naso Tang
Bluechin Trigger

I got the poo on me.
  #5  
Old 03/21/2007, 10:06 PM
HippieSmell HippieSmell is offline
I hug trees, not Bushes
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 2,613
I rent, I can't install solar panels or windmills. I have to use the power that is offered to me. Like I said, grow up.
__________________
The Sand People are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers.

All statements have been peer reviewed.
  #6  
Old 03/21/2007, 10:20 PM
virginiadiver69 virginiadiver69 is offline
I think I love my tank
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gum Spring, Virginia
Posts: 1,863
So I guess I could just buy carbon credits then? Where do you get those from?
__________________
Current Livestock:
mated pair False Percs
mated pair Banggai Cardinals
Longnose Hawkfish
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Diamond Goby
Blond Naso Tang
Bluechin Trigger

I got the poo on me.
  #7  
Old 03/21/2007, 10:41 PM
HippieSmell HippieSmell is offline
I hug trees, not Bushes
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 2,613
As if you are going to do that. You're just trying to be cute. I would love to do those things, and I will, it's just hard when I make under $10,000 a year right now. Yes, that's right, not $100,000, only $10,000. I assure you, my footprint is relatively small simply because I'm poor as dirt.
__________________
The Sand People are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers.

All statements have been peer reviewed.
  #8  
Old 03/21/2007, 11:20 PM
scottras scottras is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 111
While I am sure you will igonre this. You did ask.

http://www.carbonplanet.com/home/shop.php

I am sure there are plenty of others.

Another option is green power schemes. I do not know if there is one where you live you may have to ask your energy provider.
__________________
"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." Mahatma Gandhi
  #9  
Old 03/22/2007, 05:25 AM
Rossini Rossini is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 246
Man,you're so thick. Anyone can see that.

Basicly what we want is countrys aroud the world to start generating power in better ways. By not burning fossil fuels which is a major contributer to GW & Climate change.

Can you not see that its a good thing? Are you that pig headed and ignorant? It's pathetic that all you do is call people hypcrites for having a reef tank. cant you see it would'nt be any different if we didnt have a reef tank we would still need electricity for our homes.

It's not so much how you use it,but how you make it.

Last edited by Rossini; 03/22/2007 at 05:52 AM.
  #10  
Old 03/22/2007, 05:27 AM
Rossini Rossini is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 246
http://www.npower-deals.co.uk/npower-juice.php
  #11  
Old 03/22/2007, 05:51 AM
Rossini Rossini is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 246
.
  #12  
Old 03/22/2007, 10:40 AM
Mogrash Mogrash is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 213
I saw on 'Living with Ed' that he uses a bicycle to produce enough energy to toast bread. Maybe you could hook up a bike to your aquarium...Of course you would then need more energy intake and that requires food. To make food requires energy like diesel for tractors and electricity to process the food, gas to distribute the food, and on and on.

Hrrm, how about a gerbil or rabbit powered wheel. They can graze off your grass in your yard and power your aquarium.
  #13  
Old 03/22/2007, 11:11 AM
Rosseau Rosseau is offline
------------
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,704
There are lots of ways coming out now where you can generate your own power. For sure in the next 5-10 years consumer available, and affordable devices will come out.


Hippie, I don't get the hostility you show against this guy? Sure, it's just a thought to try and reduce your electicity consumption, but it's a positive one.... unless there is some history between you two or with virginiadiver that I don't know about.



Anyways, I see no need to argue. Carbon credits only help so much, they're a nice idea, but in my opinion are not a viable solution.
__________________
Still fighting entropy.
  #14  
Old 03/22/2007, 11:13 AM
Rosseau Rosseau is offline
------------
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,704
Reading it over... the poll is pretty ridiculous...
__________________
Still fighting entropy.
  #15  
Old 03/22/2007, 12:28 PM
HippieSmell HippieSmell is offline
I hug trees, not Bushes
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 2,613
Quote:
Originally posted by Rosseau
Reading it over... the poll is pretty ridiculous...
Absolutely it's ridiculous. Starting a thread to ask a legitimate question is one thing, but trolling threads like this one are asinine. A controversial question is fine, but to start a thread solely to mock and belittle large groups of people is uncalled for.
__________________
The Sand People are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers.

All statements have been peer reviewed.
  #16  
Old 03/22/2007, 12:31 PM
Rosseau Rosseau is offline
------------
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,704
Grow up.
__________________
Still fighting entropy.
  #17  
Old 03/22/2007, 04:35 PM
HippieSmell HippieSmell is offline
I hug trees, not Bushes
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 2,613
Quote:
Originally posted by Rosseau
Grow up.
Are you talking to me? If you are, maybe you should read the thread he was involved in just before starting this one. Then you might understand.
__________________
The Sand People are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers.

All statements have been peer reviewed.
  #18  
Old 03/22/2007, 04:42 PM
Rosseau Rosseau is offline
------------
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,704
I wasn't talking to you. Rather I was reiterating your point.


I can however see how you may have arrived at that conclusion.
__________________
Still fighting entropy.
  #19  
Old 03/22/2007, 05:18 PM
virginiadiver69 virginiadiver69 is offline
I think I love my tank
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gum Spring, Virginia
Posts: 1,863
Quote:
Originally posted by HippieSmell
As if you are going to do that. You're just trying to be cute. I would love to do those things, and I will, it's just hard when I make under $10,000 a year right now. Yes, that's right, not $100,000, only $10,000. I assure you, my footprint is relatively small simply because I'm poor as dirt.
I see were that could make it difficult. I assume you are either in school or just graduated. Been there, done that. Paying back student loans and just starting out can be tough.
Even at a $100k per year, it would be tough to live the green "life style" considering almost $25k for a hybrid car or $20k for solar panels. What's a person to do?

I've looked into some of the carbon credits and it looks like for just a couple of hundred dollars you can offset a TON of Co2. That seems like something even a "poor" ideological person could afford. I am new to this so, HIPPIE...which one do you use. I wouldn't want to do the equivalent of buying the Brooklyn bridge...if you know what I mean. How would I know that they are really planting the trees?
__________________
Current Livestock:
mated pair False Percs
mated pair Banggai Cardinals
Longnose Hawkfish
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Diamond Goby
Blond Naso Tang
Bluechin Trigger

I got the poo on me.

Last edited by virginiadiver69; 03/22/2007 at 05:29 PM.
  #20  
Old 03/22/2007, 06:00 PM
billsreef billsreef is offline
Moderator
10 & Over Club
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 12,688
First off, a reminder to all.....

[flamealert]

If we can all check our attitudes at the door and debate the points without resorting to the unneeded mud slinging there is much that we can learn from each other with these debates. However, if that can't happen, this thread will be closed sooner rather than later.
__________________
Bill

"LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi)
  #21  
Old 03/22/2007, 06:07 PM
billsreef billsreef is offline
Moderator
10 & Over Club
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 12,688
Quote:
Originally posted by virginiadiver69
Even at a $100k per year, it would be tough to live the green "life style" considering almost $25k for a hybrid car or $20k for solar panels. What's a person to do?
Indeed some of that technology is priced beyond many peoples means for the immediate outlay of cash needed. Hopefully things such as solar panels come down in price.

For some simple low budget things, simply replacing your incandescent light bulbs with power compacts is a great way to go. I've got 13watt PC bulbs everywhere now, even my garage floodlights. Heck of a savings (both financially and "carbon footprint") compared to running 75 or 100 watt incandescents.

For a more grand scale, support things like wind farms
__________________
Bill

"LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi)
  #22  
Old 03/22/2007, 06:38 PM
virginiadiver69 virginiadiver69 is offline
I think I love my tank
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gum Spring, Virginia
Posts: 1,863
Quote:
Originally posted by billsreef
Indeed some of that technology is priced beyond many peoples means for the immediate outlay of cash needed. Hopefully things such as solar panels come down in price.

For some simple low budget things, simply replacing your incandescent light bulbs with power compacts is a great way to go. I've got 13watt PC bulbs everywhere now, even my garage floodlights. Heck of a savings (both financially and "carbon footprint") compared to running 75 or 100 watt incandescents.

Good idea. That's why I went with t-5 lights on my aquarium. MH's just seem seem like an obscene waste of energy just for the pretty ripples on the water surface.


Quote:
Originally posted by billsreef
For a more grand scale, support things like wind farms
Do you mean support ideologically or practically?
I wouldn't know where to begin to figure out how to build a wind farm.

On a slightly different note; how do you deal with the water waste problem? I saw a report from UNICEF about the dire straights of the worlds drinking water. Along with the MASSIVE waste of energy that reef tanks contribute, the wastefulness of perfectly good drinking water is hard to justify. I mean could you imagine, rising global temps. AND no drinking water
__________________
Current Livestock:
mated pair False Percs
mated pair Banggai Cardinals
Longnose Hawkfish
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Diamond Goby
Blond Naso Tang
Bluechin Trigger

I got the poo on me.
  #23  
Old 03/22/2007, 06:47 PM
billsreef billsreef is offline
Moderator
10 & Over Club
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 12,688
Quote:
Originally posted by virginiadiver69
Do you mean support ideologically or practically?
I wouldn't know where to begin to figure out how to build a wind farm.
Ideologically. I'm not one of those NIMBY's in regards to things like windmills. There are some plans for doing large scale wind farms offshore of Long Island, it's something I support and if should hit a ballet I'd vote that way too If I could put a windmill generator in my backyard I would, but currently they are against the zoning regulations in my town

Quote:
On a slightly different note; how do you deal with the water waste problem? I saw a report from UNICEF about the dire straights of the worlds drinking water. Along with the MASSIVE waste of energy that reef tanks contribute, the wastefulness of perfectly good drinking water is hard to justify. I mean could you imagine, rising global temps. AND no drinking water
In my case I have a nice deep well with fairly clean water that only needs some simple deionizing, no waste water Even if I did have "waste" water, it could be used for watering plants and washing things
__________________
Bill

"LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi)
  #24  
Old 03/22/2007, 06:49 PM
scottras scottras is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 111
Just to give you an idea, I am currently looking at a grid feed solar system for my house. Unfortunately it will be a few years till I can afford it, but to start with it will cost just over AUD$9000.00 (approx USD$6600) to get a 525W system installed complete. This system does not have batteries so it feeds power directly to the grid to offset your power bill. Then you can upgrade from there when you have the money. I am sure there would be better prices in the US (there is for just about everything else).

Wind power probably gets a better return and there are smaller units for domestic homes, but it usually depends on the area / neighbours / council if you can install one or not.

As for Waste water, I do not waste any water with my RO unit. All of the waste water goes straigh into the washing machine and gets used next wash. Sydney has a bit of a water crisis at the moment so it all helps. I will be changing it soon so that it goes directly into a rain water tank which will supply the washing machine, garden and hopefully toilets.
  #25  
Old 03/22/2007, 07:03 PM
billsreef billsreef is offline
Moderator
10 & Over Club
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 12,688
I forget what power rating was on the solar systems I looked at awhile back, but they were quite a bit more than that.

Wish I could do a windmill, but several years ago (about 15 or 20) a guy down the road from me put one up. Lot's of people objected to it Hence the town added to the zoning laws to prevent anyone else from doing the same thing. This in a rural town with plenty of old windmills still standing from the days when they were used to run irrigation pumps
__________________
Bill

"LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi)
 

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:27 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef Central™ Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2009