calculation for electricity cost?

[ziggy]

Alright.. I have been planning on setting up a frag tank in my basement for awhile. I currently have a small one plumbed right into my tank and sump already. I am just debating if it is worth setting up a frag tank all by itself as I started realizing that it will require a lot more electricity that my current setup (skimmer, pumps, heaters, 400W metal halide...)

So basically my question is... Is there some sort of formula that I could add up all the watts being used and how many hours per day each... and somehow get an idea of what this tank with cost me (electricity-wise)?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Paul_N]

Alright.. I have been planning on setting up a frag tank in my basement for awhile. I currently have a small one plumbed right into my tank and sump already. I am just debating if it is worth setting up a frag tank all by itself as I started realizing that it will require a lot more electricity that my current setup (skimmer, pumps, heaters, 400W metal halide...)

So basically my question is... Is there some sort of formula that I could add up all the watts being used and how many hours per day each... and somehow get an idea of what this tank with cost me (electricity-wise)?

Thanks for any help!

The key is to look at your electricity bill and see what they charge you first. It's different from state to state. It will show it as the charge per kwh.

 

[RBursek]

Add up the wattage x time on, look at electric bill, which sould have the cost usually in cost per killowatt hour. A killowatt is 1000 watts.

 

[Paul_N]

You can use this calculator for each item then add them up:
Electricity Cost Calculator

ooo just saw you can add a row for each item and viola'

 

[AZDesertRat]

Get yourself a Kill A Watt meter which will total the watts for you and monitor your power usage many different ways. I picked one up off ebay cheap and they are handy as all get out!

 

[ziggy]

Thanks everyone. I used that electricity cost calculator...realized I am spending more than I thought on my tank.. yikes. I might look into getting one of those Kill A Watt meters.

 

[Paul_N]

Thanks everyone. I used that electricity cost calculator...realized I am spending more than I thought on my tank.. yikes. I might look into getting one of those Kill A Watt meters.

I agree with AZ they are a great item to have and a must once you start adding all the pumps, powerheads, lights, controllers... It woke me up and I built a manifold to run several items off of one pump instead of 4 different ones. I would add a reactor then add a pump, then another reactor and another pump and so on and so on.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Exactly, every pump you add also adds heat load to the tank so combining function on one pump saves electrical costs and produces less heat too. I have been able to eliminate my chiller and cool strictly with fans since becoming more efficient and my power bills have dropped considerably.

 

[Paul_N]

Exactly, every pump you add also adds heat load to the tank so combining function on one pump saves electrical costs and produces less heat too. I have been able to eliminate my chiller and cool strictly with fans since becoming more efficient and my power bills have dropped considerably.

Nice to see you over here. I always learned a lot from your input in threads over at the "other site" when I first started. :bigsmile:

 

[AZDesertRat]

Aw Shucks..........Thanks! I like the more relaxed atmosphere here rather than that other place........It was fun being part of Team RC but I really don't miss it.

 

[rybitski]

I second the killa-watt. I have one and they are amazing. With lights off my 90 gallon tank only consumes 60 Watts. That is with sump, skimmer, and power head. I recommend getting one. Newegg.com has them on sale for 19.99 with free shipping this week.