it seems pretty easy to project start up costs but I don't know for monthly expenses. I'm setting up a 150 reef with close to 300g total volume.I'd love to hear some of your experiences. I know most people don't like to talk about money but it would be nice to see some averages. thanks.
what size system?
size of water changes?
any misc. expenses?
thanks
I figured this out for my 240 reef. Here's a few facts:
I am only using 600 watts of PC lighting.
I do NOT run a chiller (tank is in a finished garage, which is naturally cool).
I live in California, where electricity is VERY expensive).
That said: I spend $350 a month on expenses - $250 a month on electricity, $100 a month on food, supplies, filters, etc. This number is very accurate. I added up all of my yearly expenses and divided by 12.
This was so depressing, I haven't added up my 180 FOWLR, 46 g fish QT, or 10 g coral QT. But I am very fortunate to be able to afford these expenses, and I can't think of any other hobby that brings me as much joy.
For more details of these expenses, see my tank journel (Danamck's Drean Tank) in Member's Tank projects.
I have 3 tanks running right now, my 54, my NanoCube24 and a 10 gallon QT tank. I don't need my chiller since I got my Solaris but I still spend about $50 a month in increased electricity.
I live in California too...I have a question, which maybe difficult to answer...so I see how much you guys are spending electricity wise....this is what I have....46 Gal, Remora Skimmer, heater,
Nova Extreme 36" 4x39 (two actinic, two 10Ks) watt T5HO w/ 3 lunar lights....HOT power filter, Hydor Koralia 1....can anybody tell me or at least ballpark how much I may have to pay in electricity? or how much more that is...kinda hard to asnwer I know, but I'm hoping somebody actually has a similar setting than mine.
As soon as I have expendable income, I always upgrade a pump, skimmer, lights, SOMETHING! And I replace bulbs (T5, VHO, MH, and UV) annually. Then there are water changes, tests, and additives. Not only that, but I do things like I did this month: decide a Calcium reactor and electronic controller would make life easier...
And I haven't even thought about increase in electric bill or the pricey specimen I buy on impulse once every month or two. For your 150 gallon reef, I'd set aside $5000 for starters. You could easily spend that just on lighting!
I live in California too...I have a question, which maybe difficult to answer...so I see how much you guys are spending electricity wise....this is what I have....46 Gal, Remora Skimmer, heater,
Nova Extreme 36" 4x39 (two actinic, two 10Ks) watt T5HO w/ 3 lunar lights....HOT power filter, Hydor Koralia 1....can anybody tell me or at least ballpark how much I may have to pay in electricity? or how much more that is...kinda hard to asnwer I know, but I'm hoping somebody actually has a similar setting than mine.
You need to look at your electric bill. Here's how PG&E works, at least in my area (and I am Northern California as well): you are given a baseline of the amount of electricity they think you should use. It's not much, and you are charged $0.1143 / Kwh for that electricity. What happens next kinda sucks. As you go over your baseline, the price of electicity increases. For electricity used at 101% to 130% over baseline, you are charged $0.12989 / Kwh. For 131% to 200%, you are charged $0.21981 / Kwh. For 201% to 300%, you are charged $0.30292 / Kwh. And finally, for any electricity over 300% of your baseline, you are charged $0.34648 / Kwh! That's 3 times the baseline price. And when you have a big tank like I do, that's where a good chunk of my electricity rate falls.
What you need to do is look at each item you have and figure out how much power they use. Add them up. For items such as lights, I divided by 50%, as they are on approx half of the time. For heaters, you need to estimate. As safe guess would be 33% - 50% of the time. Next, grab your PG&E bill and figure out where above your baseline you are being charged. A little math, and you should have a very close estimate of how much it's costing you to run your tank. Once again, the biggest factor is how much you are over you baseline, as this can tripple the cost of electricity.
Don't know, don't want to know. I've purposely stoped myself from doing that particular bit of math
Same here. The significant other would flip!
__________________ Clarence 55g sumpless mixed reef(soon to be 120g)
DSB(2 to 6 inches)aprox. 80 lbs,LR aprox. 60 t0 80 lbs.,Coralife 220 Protein Skimmer,CPR HOB Refugium with Fiji Mud Member of TRS Member of SDMAS
RIP Sarracino Ciro 12/16/04 - 4/3/08
I got my Kill-A-Watt meter yesterday and I have begun figuring out what my tank costs. So far I have determined that my return pump is $11.66 per month and the one heater I tested is around $25.00/month. The scary part is that I have 3 heaters! That is potentially $75 a month just in heating!
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