How much did your electric bill go up when you got the tank?

[sidboswell]

Just want to see what others have been seeing. My electric bill is about $30 higher per month for my tank.

75G
4 powerheads
2 PC bulbs

[rbaker]

You need to add a couple more choices to your poll... I'm well over a hundred dollars per month...

Ryan

[Carribean Reef Man]

I replied I dont care since you dont have a $100-150 dollar range

[RyanN]

I put down "I dont care" since I really dont know and dont care how much it costs me. All I can tell you is that going from 2x65 PC's to a 400w Radium put the bill about $20 more per month (per the wife).

Ryan

[Nanook]

$100/month usually, except in summer when the rates are higher.


Nanook

[North Bay 101]

125 gallon tank with 750 watts of metal halide and 320 watts of actinic. Price tag... just over $100.00 a month. I didn't vote due to the choices.

[MrSandman]

Over 800W of MH lighting and 220W of Actinic lights. 2 external pumps, a reactor recirc pump and a skimmer pump. 1 250W Heater and NO CHILLER. Its right at 100 bucks a month. I didn't vote. :D

[RooFish]

I don't care because I don't have to pay it. Finally a bonus for living in my parents house.

[chet-tonja]

Mine costs me around $60 or so, but it really doesn't matter....what other hobby is better?

[jdg]

Yup; need more options ... I'm at about $75 average per tank, and I have 3 of them running. The reef tank, the largest of the 3, probably takes up $125-150 of that by itself though. :)

[beefcake]

I voted for $20 since I really havent seen a difference. If it was $100+ I would take my tank down heh.

[lllosingit]

125gallon 3x175w Mh and 2x95 VHO + 90 gallon sump and 20 gallon refuge with 1x175Mh and 4x30 NO a Little Giant,
Quiet One,and Awaki pumps and 5 power heads and 3 heaters.
Needless to say you didn't go high enough so I didn't vote.
My electric bill went up at least $100:(

when you tell someone you have a 125 with a 90g sump it just doesn't seem like it should be very expensive until you look at whats actually plugged into the tank!

[stereomandan]

950,000 watts of lighting... 540 external pumps... 1,000,000 watts of heating...

Just kidding. I just see this thread headed towards, "who spends the most on electricity for their tank?", when it is not the object of the original post.

Dan

[Denzo]

I replied I don't care, but I estimated to be at least $100..more during the summer

[carter92]

Lightweights, anybody want to trade.....My 225 got me a $230 electric bill last month.....And it ain't even summer yet...Oh well, no one said it would be cheap!

[lllosingit]

Originally posted by carter92
Lightweights, anybody want to trade.....My 225 got me a $230 electric bill last month.....And it ain't even summer yet...Oh well, no one said it would be cheap! $230 total for the electric for the whole house?
Or did it go up by $230 just because of the tank?

[willis]

Bill actually went up about $30/mo when I changed from PC to 350w of MH and 190W vho actinic on my 80. I voted I don't care because my 300 gal. will be here in June, if I cared when I added the lights on my 80, I'd be a raving lunatic by the time I get the 300 running.

[Reefcherie]

Another California reefer here (where they completely stick it to you for electricity!) - mine went up ~$200 a month by adding a 180 gallon w/ 3 400W MH, 2 actinics, fans, chiller and pumps!

Cheri

[gixxerrder1371]

Some of you people need to look into alternative methods of electricity .... say a propane generator or windmills or solar panels or somthing for gods sake , 230$ a month ? ?? ? that Sucks . I ***** and moan when my bill is over 125

Only a 20 gal reef though

[uryy4me]

I think you want an selection for "I don't want to know, and don't make me think about it!" :D

[jms]

During the summer over $200/mo. More than that initially when the idiots who set up my tank (LFS) put the chiller in the stand. Now that its replumbed, it came down, but NYC has the highest rates in the entire country. Winter, its only +$100/150.

[Zoom]

I replied I dont care since you dont have a $100-150 dollar range

[Russel]

I finally figured out that the electric company pools all the apts together and doesn't bother to check the meters. I can leave all the lights, comp, and tvs running strait for a month and the bill only fluxuates with the price of fuel:D

so all together, that amounts to a 0% increase:lol:

[carter92]

Well, generators and windmills may sound nice but they are not very practical in a residential neighborhoods. Solar might be an option but the intial outflow of cash to get it up and running can be prohibitive...My $230 electric bill is for the whole house...the majority of the bill is related to the tank....While transitioning from my 180 to the 225 gallon I had about 3 months with no tank and my bill was averaging only about $30-$40 a month.....I feel if the large electrical bills are a problem stick with a smaller tank....I knew going with a larger tank w/Halides, Chiller..and multiple pumps it was going to drain the electricity big time.....No suprises here! If you want to PLAY u have to PAY!

[Wilafur]

carter92 - $230/mo for an ENTIRE house is dirt cheap for someone living in LA. :)

[BonsaiNut]

BWAH!

Just a general comment about California electrical. During the peak of the energy crises here, we got one bill for over $800 (thanks Gray Davis). And that's with NO REEF TANKS.

We have a normal house and never ran our AC. Our biggest energy-using items are a pool pump (6 hours per day) a koi pond pump (12 hours per day) and an electric stove, refrigerator, etc. When we got our $800 bill, the prior bills had been in the mid $200's. No warning just - BAM. Our neighbors were getting bills over $1000. Now our electricity is "down" to the mid $200's. When I set up my next reef tank I am going to cry.

I visit my parents in Tennesee and they use more electricity and never pay over $100 per month. Every day they thank the TVA.

[mbort]

Wow guys...

Electric must be cheap here .. I have two tanks going with over 1000 watts of light and lots of pumps, chiller, etc. and my electric is about $40-50 a month extra (and thats on the high side). I even have electric heat, and we had a month of highs in the teens, and even with the two tanks the bill never broke $100.

[getoutofmyway]

Just to see what you guys are paying in the U.S. compared to me in Canada what is the price per Kw?? I would imagine it is higher than mine but who knows !!

[jms]

I think its in the mid-20s. And if they turn off the nuke (Indian Point), god knows. I'm all for turning it off if the local Westchester people pick up any increases.

[getoutofmyway]

Dang that has to hurt my power is only 7¢ kWh Canadian witch works out to around 5¢ kWh U.S.

[Dakan]

It gets expensive but who cares when your as addicted as we all are.

[carter92]

Without the tank electrical expense my bill would not be all that bad.....Plus living in Palmdale where the summer temps average over 100 deg consistently without proper forethought and planning the cost could get out of hand....I try to take advantage of all the discounts I can........A/C cycling device and the Swamp Cooler make a big difference....The cycling device allows the electrical company to shut off your A/C during peak usage...Not a problem since I use the Evaporative Cooler for most of my cooling needs and I have a window a/c in my den for added comfort...Work fine for me...

[carter92]

Oh...By the way..for those who don't know.....A evaportative cooler only work in dry heat conditions....If the outside air is humid it will not give cool air..........