How much does it cost to run a tank?

MARIOPARTY53

like how much extra on the power bill

Im trying to convince my mom of letting me have 2 55-60 gallon tanks (whatever size i have) so lighting 2 hours and filters on 24/7 how much is it?

Oh yeah any tips of her letting me add another? Really want 2

iamntbatman

It kind of depends on a couple of factors. The filters are practically negligible, since most only use a couple of watts. The lighting can be a huge range, on a tank like that anywhere from maybe a couple dozen watts up into the hundreds. Heaters can also use a decent amount of electricity, depending on the temperature of the room the tanks are in.

Unless your house is freezing cold and you've got really bright lighting on the tanks, you're probably consuming about as much power as having an incandescent light bulb turned on all day, plus a little more when you have the tank lights on.

okiemavis

I'd say aside from the lighting it's pretty negligible, probably less than keeping your computer on all day. I can't really tell how much power I'm using with all my tanks, as my boyfriend's a techno geek with lots of computers and flat screen TV's...so I can't really help you on the specifics. I just know my power bill is *high*, but I choose to blame him :)

Tyyrlym

It's easy to figure out what it costs you to run some aspects of your tank.

Multiply the wattage of the following items by .72: Filter and or airpump (assuming 24 hour operation for 30 days)
Multiply the wattage of the following items by .36: Lighting (assuming 12 hour operation for 30 days)
Multiply the wattage of the following items by .24: Heaters (assuming 8 hours of operation for 30 days)

Add all that up. That's your monthly kilowatt hours that the tank uses. Multiply that by your electricity rate and you've an estimate for the power bill of your tank. The big wild card is your heaters. I assumed it was on 1/3 of the time. This can vary greatly though depending on your ambient temp. In the winter it might be on 24/7 but during the summer it could only rarely come on, without sitting by the tank and keeping track of when its on for several hours its hard to say. This also doesn't take into account any electric appliances like extra powerheads or anything like that. If you have any add them into the appropriate line based on their hours of operation.

Going by my formula I estimate my tank uses about 60 kilowatt hours a month which costs me right around $7 at local power rates.

Little-Fizz

Hahaha way to be. I would too . I've always wondered this myself, being the little hippy I am, and going out and buying bio degradable cleaners, never tested on animals all this eco crap... Then I come home to my fish tanks, and I'm just like I wonder if there is eco friendly fish tank equipment? But I suppose I'm not using to much energy.

Tyyrlym

Compared to things like an air conditioner or refrigerator a fish tank is a non-issue.

beetlebz

Actually there is a new environmentally friendly aquarium lighting fixture on the market.



I am fricken hysterical :D <3

Little-Fizz

Lol! Cute

okiemavis

If you're worried or feeling guilty, you can purchase carbon credits to offset the impact of the electricity. Or you could go even further and get some solar panels for your roof. (Of course then there's the whole consideration of how much nuclear energy it takes to create a solar panel).

There's other conservationy things you can do with your fish tank as well. I use the water I take out during changes to water my plants, it's actually great for them, as it's more rich in nutrients than tap water.

When I move to AU, which is in a drought, I plan to collect rainwater primarily for my tanks. The only reason I don't have it going here is because I don't own my house, and I think that my roof material is probably not fish safe.

iamntbatman

Totally off topic, I realize...but here's a few things for consideration:

Photovoltaic cells are a terrible form of power generation. The cells themselves are toxic and disposal of old cells is a huge environmental concern. Not to mention the fact that manufacturing them is a dangerous process. Thermal solar power for use at home, on the other hand, is pretty much completely safe and a great way to cut back on electricity use.

As for nuclear: I've done a huge amount of research (academic as well as personal) into the reality of nuclear power, and I'm sold. The amount of power produced vs. the amount of waste produced is phenomenal, and I believe the environmental impacts of nuclear energy use are far less than the impacts caused by equal power production via other "green" energy production methods, including tidal generators and wind power. The danger of radiation exposure from nuclear power plants is orders of magnitude less than the reality of radiation exposure we receive from coal-burning power plants that spew radioactive material into the atmosphere. The problem of nuclear waste could also be much alleviated if we were more forward-looking with a program to begin use of breeder reactors that would turn much of our nuclear waste into useful fuel for even more power generation. I believe anyone who considers themselves environmentally concerned (like myself) needs to seriously reconsider the demonizing that has destroyed public perception of nuclear power.

/rant.