CarinaJo

Hi All!
Since electricity has become a rather expensive utility in my state, I have been wondering for a while whether there are any energy efficient brands of aquarium equipment? I'd love to set up a 20 or 24 gallon tank in my apartment but I'm afraid it would be a HUGE drain on my and my roommates wallets. He's agreed to a new tank (I'm spreading MTS by having given my 10g to my bf!) but I don't want to really add to our shared expenses.

Any help or advice would be great! Thanks in advance!

soldieroffortune1974

You know,I have never questioned how much it costs to operate an aquarium.I can't imagine it's that much,the most expensive part being the lighting.The efficency would be based on the UL rating and wattage requirements.Lower wattage/voltage being less expensive.

The filters/pumps are based on magnetic drive and requires low wattage/voltage to obtain high efficiency.Lighting requirements could be met with flourescent bulbs,cutting back the expense even more,they're highly efficient and relatively low cost to operate.

I will have to check into that,I have never thought about how much I spend to operate my aquariums.I consider them a necessity,like electricity,water,gas,etc. Gotta have them.

Red1313

hehe, aquariums and neccesity... that's the sign of a true passion. I'm not sure how much it would cost to run an aquarium... Not sure I want to know.

sirdarksol

The heaters and the lights are going to be the biggest drains. Replacing the ballasts in old hoods can up the efficiency of fluorescent lights.