I need help figuring how much this will cost me each month!!!

X

xshortx

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Feb 18, 2006
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I have an 80 gal tank along with
2 emperor 400
2 visi therm 250w heater

how much will it cost if i run it 24/7 a month?
 
xshortx, see if you can get the power usage from the equip. tag on the Emperors and also, what's the total wattage of lighting? Here's how I calculated my power usage on my 55g:

Lighting- 160W = .16KW, .16KW x 12 hrs = 1.92 KWH x 30 days = 57.6 KWH
powerheads- 2 x 75W = .15KW, .15KW x 24 hrs =3.6KWH x 30 days = 108KWH
filter- 75W = .075KW, .075KW x 24hrs = 1.8KWH x 30 days = 54KWH
Heater- 200W = .200KW, .2KW x 12hrs = 2.4KWH x 30 days = 72 KWH

Now add up the totals:
57.6KWH
108KWH
54KWH
+ 72KWH
_________
291.6KWH per month

Multiply that by your rate, ours is .159 per KWH, 291.6KWH x .159 = $46.36 a month for my 55g.

My lighting is on a 12 hr cycle and I have two 100W heaters that I figure are on about 12 hrs. a day.

Mark
 
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How much power do your filters use, it should say near where the cord goes into the filter. If it doesn't have a watt rating it should say how many amps. How much lighting do you have?

If you just have basic lighting it shouldn't cost more than 10 dollars a month. (Although I think the emperors are a little power hungery compared to other HOB filters.)
 
Try as I might, I consistantly underestimate the cost of this hobby. Last month was the $20 worth of meds to save my $2 molly. :huh:
 
not that i have sat down to figure out how much power my filters, lighting, and heating use but i think that 40 some dollars a month seems a bit steep since i run a 56, a 55, a 26, and a 10 gallon tank 24/7 on the filters and heaters but only about 6-8 hours of lighting a day and there is no way that my electric bill has jumped up 40 dollars a month from all of that. my biggest expense is from the increased water usage so i guess it probably depends on ur local.
 
well i don't know how much my emperor wattage use... but ppl say its 1 watt per gallon it filters so if i add up together its 800 watt plus my 2 250watt visi therm
 
wesleydnunder said:
xshortx, see if you can get the power usage from the equip. tag on the Emperors and also, what's the total wattage of lighting? Here's how I calculated my power usage on my 55g:

Lighting- 160W = .16KW, .16KW x 12 hrs = 1.92 KWH x 30 days = 57.6 KWH
powerheads- 2 x 75W = .15KW, .15KW x 24 hrs =3.6KWH x 30 days = 108KWH
filter- 75W = .075KW, .075KW x 24hrs = 1.8KWH x 30 days = 54KWH
Heater- 200W = .200KW, .2KW x 12hrs = 2.4KWH x 30 days = 72 KWH

Now add up the totals:
57.6KWH
108KWH
54KWH
+ 72KWH
_________
291.6KWH per month

Multiply that by your rate, ours is .159 per KWH, 291.6KWH x .159 = $46.36 a month for my 55g.


Mark
Click to expand...

Wow that seems like a lot :eek:, my bill only went up 10 bucks
with 3 tanks,
72, with 2-200watts at 78F, 404 fluval and a light
25, with one 100 watt at 68F light
55g with 250 watt and a 404 fluval and 2 lights


Marks calculations are if the heaters are on 12/7, which means that when the heaters are turned off, the tank cools during the off hours and then when they turn back on, the heaters will be on for a very long time getting the tank back up to temp, maybe 3 hours, maybe 12.

Another thing, lights, those are some strong lights being used, I get away with fluorescent, 15 watt-25 watt if not having plants, and filters are barely 10 watts.

The heaters are where its going to hurt the most IMO.

but if you are really curious, get a watt reader from radio shack, put everything on a power strip and then plug it into the reader and find out what its truely using

But honestly, you will get more enjoyment then worrying about the cost, I am sure there are things out there that I spend more money on every month that I dont need, what can I say, I am a college kid, gosh darn Fermented Beverage drinking bills

I think its well worth the money to maintain it!
 
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