lalboon

Hi Guys

I have a 180l/48g tank with a 300watt heater and 2x Fluval 2plus underwater filters90l each. Lights 36 watts.

We have just been stung by a significant power bill increase of $378 NZ ($252USA) a month. Is this the usual cost of a tank like mine?

Any thoughts/ ideas welcome. Is there any way I could make a saving in my set up?

Boonie.

RandomKayos

Wow, I figure about 20 bucks addition for each big tank I run. I have several and my total bill is less than that increase. I'd be looking at a fuel charge or something like that that has increased.

RK

synod

Check what your utility company charges per kilowatt of electricity, then estimate the wattage of each equipment you use for tank, you should be able to guestimate how much your out of pocket, if you want to be precise get a usage monitor
http://www.enviro-friendly.com/cent-a-meter.shtml to get an acurate amount,
I think 1KW is 1000 watt, for example if you use a 100watt light bulb for 5 hours a day, and your being charged at 15.42 Cents per KPH then you cn expect to pay 38.55 cents per day.

04_si

wow, thats a very big increase! You should compare it to your previous bill, and see the difference in your KW used. The electrical companies use a watt-meter to measure how many watts you are using (the meter outside your house)

Allie

With having at least 5-10 (14 at one point) tanks going for the past 2.5yrs are power bill went up $40-60 Canadian, every two months. From like $124-$185 for our 2 bedroom larger sized apartment.
It part of keeping fish. Paying more money to keep our pets.

kieley

someone is probably stealing your power to grow grass..

lalboon

Sure feels like someones growing grass somewhere.
Thanks for all the suggestions. We are pretty excited about how things are going with the fish. and this was a bit of a surprise My last bill was a quarter of this one. Great to get basic info from those in the know.


I think I need to:
do the math
check the equipment, and house, for output using a watt meter. I also heard that power use can go up if your heater is broken so may look at that as it is second hand.
give the power company a call... The power company may also have got a bit too excited.

regards

Boonie

Dino

We run/heat 175 tanks for an average of about 150 $ USD a month.

lalboon

WOW.... Will mate that puts things into perspective. If anything... I need more tanks!

Boonie

pepetj

I endorse this statement entirely and without reserves. Welcome to MTS.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Allie

hockeyref88

well with 10 tanks and a 1000 gal koi pond I figure our bill has gone up 50 to 75 a month. My salty is probably the worst because of the type lighting required and the length of time it has to be on for the reef.

Allie

Our power went up the most when we had our 30g salty going.

lalboon

Hi Guys

Problem solved.
Electric company has been estimating my use over winter, due to a gate being closed (for security) for the last 4 months and only now actually looked at the meter. (I just thought we were doing well over winter this year).

Thanks fror all your inputs. Nice to know that the tank is not a major financial problem. My wife and I and our kids love it and it would be a huge shame to shut it down. We did ask about electricity use at the shop prior to buying it and this added to the confusion.

I recon we need another but will have to look into this...possibly a birthday pressy one can only scheme.

Not ready for a salty yet. very envious.

Boonie

RandomKayos

Very glad it wasn't the tank setup that jumped your bill. This hobby is not all that expensive if you control yourself.

RK