Here's something else to consider. 800 watts is 0.8 kilowatts. By my calculations, that's almost 600 kwh/month. How much are you saving on those lights, and how much do you pay per kwh? In the long run, you might want to be more conservative.
800 Watts to much for a 55gallon?
- Thread starter PmAn2k3
- Start date
true about cost of power. But the way things go with marine aquarists 95% chance one will upgrade anyway someday. Maybe another option would be to set it up with one MH light and being set up higher you will have a little more spread of light.
Just another thought. My wife uses the extra light from my aquarium to grow her starter plants in the spring. Seems to work well.
screwed up
forgot that the lights aren't on all the time. That brings it down to 200 kwh/month. All that to produce light the corals don't really need.
forgot that the lights aren't on all the time. That brings it down to 200 kwh/month. All that to produce light the corals don't really need.
A M59 ballast uses 455 watts while running.
So your lights would be using 910 watts.
Lets say your using them 10 hours a day, and your electricity costs $.10 a KwH.
That means your lights would cost you $28 a month or $336 a year.
So your lights would be using 910 watts.
Lets say your using them 10 hours a day, and your electricity costs $.10 a KwH.
That means your lights would cost you $28 a month or $336 a year.
Last edited:
Re: oops again!
The E-ballasts actually pull 399 watts when running. According to rumors from Sanjay, the E-ballasts have much less light output than the magnetic ballasts, but Ill wait for him to finish his study.
The E-ballasts actually pull 399 watts when running. According to rumors from Sanjay, the E-ballasts have much less light output than the magnetic ballasts, but Ill wait for him to finish his study.
I think they would be fine as long as heat from them doesn't become an issue. SPS and clams would love them, wouldn't put any softies in there though, unless you can shade them well.
Plus, when you do get a bigger tank, and you will, your set for lighting.
Plus, when you do get a bigger tank, and you will, your set for lighting.
