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Connie
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Topic: Do you have MH? Want to save money? Posted: March 22 2012 at 5:37pm |
Then throw them in the trash!!!! 3 months ago I got a ATI T-5 fixture,72 x 8 bulb set up. My power bill has drop a steady $150.00 per month for the last 3 months. After 6 months of owning these they will truly pay for themselves......
The color is better and coral are growing faster with this lighting set up. There is NO downside.....
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I have flying monkeys and I'm not afraid to use them.
180 gallon money pit that I love.....
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Lewy
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 5:59pm |
That's the kind of info I like to see.
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40 gal w/ 20 sump
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ReefdUp
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 6:08pm |
How is that possible? I've got almost 1000W of MH lights over my tank...and our power bill isn't even $150. Our lights cost us about $35 per month.... Were you running a chiller or something?
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www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water
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rbrinton2373
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 6:17pm |
For my particular setup I can't say that would save me any money. My MH is lower wattage than most and I run 2 t-5's. If you are looking for long lasting economical awesome lighting for your corals hit up Sitaga he has been working on some high output lower cost LED setups and he could maybe work out something. I am going to get one from him as soon as I can get back working.
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Ryan Semper Fi 60 gal cube w/39 gal Sump\ MH + T5s
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Connie
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 7:47pm |
No chiller but I did need to run a fan to keep it cool due to the MH. I have a 180 and was running 3 250 PFO ballasts and Blue Line bulbs. My power bill used to run well over $300.00 a month....
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I have flying monkeys and I'm not afraid to use them.
180 gallon money pit that I love.....
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ReefdUp
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 8:20pm |
I run 3 fans on my 150g (+50g sump) with 2 x 400W MH plus 2 x 54W T-5's. Just computing my electrical consumption comes up no where near the electrical consumption you guys have: Like I said, our bill hasn't hit $150 yet...much less $150 per month for lighting. And did I mention we have 9 total aquariums (not all with high output lighting)?
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www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 8:32pm |
I'm sort of with Reef'd Up. I calculate that my 400 watt halide can cost me $10 to $20 per month. My whole tank (with halides) is about $80 per month to run.
Adam
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DLindquist
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 8:42pm |
We are running three 400W MH's, two 160W VHO's, two canopy fans, a Reeflo Baracuda (something like 280 W) two Vortech's.... Yada Yada, a hot tub, a pond less water feature and whatever power the house uses. Our bill averages $266 a month. That takes account for our two-three peak summers months of $350. I imagine our total electrical costs to be around $60 a month for our tank.
Power costs aside- Connie, I am curious how often you will need to replace bulbs. I've heard mixed reviews about T-5's. Many say for adequate lighting the bulbs should be over driven which leads to replacing bulbs every 6 months. I've also heard if the bulbs are not kept cool, they shift colors and need frequent replacing. Keep us updated as time progresses.
Edited by DLindquist - March 22 2012 at 8:46pm
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bstuver
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 8:51pm |
Man how do you guys have such low power bills? Ours doesnt go below $250 even in winter and i know my house isnt nearly as big as some others have. Anyway when i have changed aquariums going from very large to very small i barely see a differwnce in the bill...
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Jackie Stuver
"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
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Jeremyw
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 8:54pm |
When I was with my 210 with 3 MH at 250 watts a piece our bill was like $170 average, now with a smaller tank we dont go over $100 ever. usually averaging out at $65 a month
That is sweet that it saves you so much! I have heard that before! I too wonder how often you will need to change them to keep your tank so freakin amazing!
Edited by disneymania - March 22 2012 at 9:05pm
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Akira
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 8:57pm |
Im in a 2 bedroom apt in Sandy and my last power bill was $62.50 thats up from like $38 . my tank at 78 keeps it kinda warm in here lol My water sewage bill is $85 ....I run a 6x54w t-5 mag return 160 swc 18w sterile 3 power heads etc
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DLindquist
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 9:14pm |
bstuver wrote:
Man how do you guys have such low power bills? Ours doesnt go below $250 even in winter and i know my house isnt nearly as big as some others have. Anyway when i have changed aquariums going from very large to very small i barely see a differwnce in the bill... | If there's no savings in power consumption, I say "Go (and stay) Large"
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tileman
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 10:45pm |
Adam Blundell wrote:
I'm sort of with Reef'd Up. I calculate that my 400 watt halide can cost me $10 to $20 per month. My whole tank (with halides) is about $80 per month to run.
Adam |
That is right where I'm at.
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DanhNgo
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 10:50pm |
If you run your tank off from peak hour you can save even more. I usually get home around 6 pm and it allow me more viewing time.
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bstuver
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Posted: March 22 2012 at 11:29pm |
DLindquist wrote:
bstuver wrote:
Man how do you guys have such low power bills? Ours doesnt go below $250 even in winter and i know my house isnt nearly as big as some others have. Anyway when i have changed aquariums going from very large to very small i barely see a differwnce in the bill... |
If there's no savings in power consumption, I say "Go (and stay) Large" | No I am just trying to figure out why our power bill is so high. Maybe it's all he constant running omputers, we have like 3-4 desktops that are on constantly
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Jackie Stuver
"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
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Akira
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Posted: March 23 2012 at 12:27am |
its called stacking and phase the right way .....never over load 1 leg of power simple to do just ask
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DLindquist
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Posted: March 23 2012 at 7:52am |
[QUOTE=DLindquist]We are running three 400W MH's, two 160W VHO's, two canopy fans, a Reeflo Baracuda (something like 280 W) two Vortech's.... Yada Yada, a hot tub, a pond less water feature and whatever power the house uses. Our bill averages $266 a month. That takes account for our two-three peak summers months of $350. I imagine our total electrical costs to be around $60 a month for our tank. Correction/Clarification to previous post- I just opened our current Lehi City Bill. It totals $249.90. However, that includes water,sewer, garbage and a few other items. Our total electritcity portion of that same bill is $157.69. Comparing this year to last year (same month) our bill is about $28 higher. I am sure this is the larger tank running a much larger pump and an additional 1000W's of lighting.
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jwoo
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Posted: March 23 2012 at 8:22am |
My power bill this month was $98. Guess sometimes it does pay to have a small tank (or three . . . )!
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BobC63
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Posted: March 23 2012 at 8:30am |
DLindquist wrote:
[QUOTE=DLindquist]We are running three 400W MH's, two 160W VHO's, two canopy fans, a Reeflo Baracuda (something like 280 W) two Vortech's.... Yada Yada, a hot tub, a pond less water feature and whatever power the house uses. Our bill averages $266 a month. That takes account for our two-three peak summers months of $350. I imagine our total electrical costs to be around $60 a month for our tank.
Correction/Clarification to previous post-
I just opened our current Lehi City Bill. It totals $249.90. However, that includes water,sewer, garbage and a few other items. Our total electritcity portion of that same bill is $157.69. Comparing this year to last year (same month) our bill is about $28 higher. I am sure this is the larger tank running a much larger pump and an additional 1000W's of lighting. |
Gotta love the Lehi City Power Co - my bill is under $200 except for July when the AC is cranking 24 /7 and the lawn watering is at the peak.
But then again you guys have never had the horror of a LIPA bill... I remember getting bills from back in 2002 that were 4 hundred a month and I didn't even have Central AC...
Edited by BobC63 - March 23 2012 at 8:30am
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bur01014
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Posted: March 23 2012 at 10:40am |
DLindquist wrote:
Power costs aside- Connie, I am curious how often you will need to replace bulbs. I've heard mixed reviews about T-5's. Many say for adequate lighting the bulbs should be over driven which leads to replacing bulbs every 6 months. I've also heard if the bulbs are not kept cool, they shift colors and need frequent replacing. Keep us updated as time progresses. |
Just clearing up some misinformation and also strengthing Connie, lol - there are way too many MH lovers in this thread! 1. for adequate lighting the bulbs should be over driven - False - her ATI is putting out just as much if not more light than many 250-400 watt MH setups....google for PAR readings, or go to link below. I'm surprised how people still assume this to be the case.... 2. Over driving bulbs leads to replacing every 6 months - True - her ATI doesn't overdrive bulbs, nor does it need to unless she wanted to bleach every coral in sight, replacement is not necessary for 10-12 months as the ATI fixture is stellar at cooling the bulbs properly. <- this has been tested and proven, RC - you can find the test results on how much PAR drops each month here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1641235 Most important piece of information in here is that Connie switched from MH to the ATI and now finds that her colors and growth have improved.... Maybe she is in denial because she spent so much money on the fixture, or maybe she is telling the truth?! I would be more interested in some before and after pics? Who cares about cost?
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