People giving up tanks...

[Alfredo De La Fe]

With the last few threads started of people considering giving up their tanks, it really got me thinking. I myself had given it some thought because of the financial strain we have been faced with since 9/11.

Now with a baby on the way, the thought is definately rearing it's ugly head.

What are ways that other MR members have used to cut back on costs? (My electric bill is KILLING me- AC, Metal Halide and chiller suck up juice!)

My tank is really starting to look the way I want it to. Who knows, in another 5-6 months it may actually be a decent candidate for TOTM!! But that comes with a price tag.

I have already cut back my photoperiod from 10 hours to 8, I run my tank temp from 79.5 to 80.5... Got a new AC that has a "Energy Saver" mode. What else? Any special changes I can make to my return pump (An OLD Iwaki 55-RLT)? Any special gizmos that can be plugged in to cut back on the draw for the e-Ballasts?

-Alfred

 

[bad coffee]

You should look at other pumps. it's one of the big draws of the system. Lights are another one. I'm going with 150w de's rather than 250's just because of the energy I can save. Also, I chose my return pump on the wattage.

The second option is to downgrade. Go to a smaller tank. Maybe not the best option, but a viable one.

B

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

I went to 400W e-Ballast from 175W tar ballasts and actually cut back on my electric consumption! (Figured I could do a shorter photoperiod) What is the shortest photo period I can safely get away with?

-Alfred

 

[cjdevito]

I'm going with 150w de's rather than 250's just because of the energy I can save.

FWIW, I did pretty much the same. Used to run 250s out in LA, but with the new tank I'm using a 150w DE instead.

 

[jhale]

I run a 5 hour MH period, turned off the actinics, and use some regular NO bulbs for tank viewing on non MH hours. I also bought a very efficient pump, sequence snapper 100 watts, and run the tank at 82, the chiller rarley comes on as long as the ambient temp is not more than 85. use more fans also, in the sump, in the hood, pointed right at the water and passing over the lights.

choose a smaller tank and apply the same principals, I would think the tank would not make much of a dent in the ebill. smaller tank = less time and less overall costs as well.

 

[ireefny]

re-consider pumps, they run 24/7 all year. I have one pump running returns and Skimmer, and other smaller filters. its a Sequence Barracuda. just my two cents, we all try to be earth friendly...:flower:

 

[ShaunW]

I went to 400W e-Ballast from 175W tar ballasts and actually cut back on my electric consumption! (Figured I could do a shorter photoperiod) What is the shortest photo period I can safely get away with?

-Alfred

I do 2-3 hours of MH during the summer months. 6 hours of VHO's. My corals are thriving.

Starting Sept I will slowly up the light periold.

Brett is right about the pumps, I went with a Eheim (28watts) instead of a higher wattage pump as my return and chiller feed. Tunze for flow. All these changes really helped on the E-bill.