leds and power savings

[mfinn]

After converting to leds over both my tanks, getting rid of mh and VHO lighting and a chiller, my wife informed me yesterday morning that the power bill had gone down $60 on a monthly bill.
Plus I have been home for the last couple months, and using power, when I normally wouldn't have. So that $60 figure may go up a little more when I go back to work.

I'm happy to see this savings and even happier that my wife brought it up.

 

[mfinn]

Then I tell her I won't be spending money this summer for new bulbs.
3 mh bulbs =$190
4 VHO bulbs = $150
6 T5 bulbs = $130


For a quick $1190 saved in one year alone

 

[3Twinklets]

Yippie! Isn't technology great:nod: There is no way I will ever get to stop using a chiller.

 

[mfinn]

Yippie! Isn't technology great:nod: There is no way I will ever get to stop using a chiller.

I turned my chiller off 4 weeks ago and the temp has only gone up to 78.4.

 

[3Twinklets]

Lol! You are in Washington. I am in South Texas, 2 hours from the border!! Although my chiller works a lot less in winter, it still is needed. Lots of pumps, lights bells and whistles to operate add to heat up the place!!
Now you have more money to spend on other stuff!!

 

[mfinn]

Yes, I am fortunate to live in a area that has mild weather.
Top story on the local news is our temps may heat up to the low 80's this weekend. lol

One of my main goals with the leds is to see how much I can reduce my monthly cost on my tanks.
I am planning on retiring in a little over a year and will not have the same income.

I am already thinking about down sizing to around a 150 to 120 gallons. Maybe a custom size. Don't know how I could ever live with a tank that is less than 30" front to back like my 240 is.

 

[c_healy]

Nice to see some numbers on actual savings. More money to spend on the tank!!

 

[mike007]

My bill has gone down $30 a month since swithching to leds.

 

[3Twinklets]

I think my bill went down a lot also. I also replaced my old chiller which helped.... and the LED's were a huge improvement..I downsized from a 350 to 165. Although the 350 was not really any more difficult to care for, it was acrylic and pulling apart.
It is still in service elsewhere but I am happy with the one I have now!

 

[Otter_rs]

Where are you at in South Texas Wendy? I was in Corpus for 7 total years. It's a tough place to keep things cool for sure.


Brent \><{{{{*>
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

 

[johnanddawn]

Yep my bill went down 40$ a month and no bulb changes for three years = just less the 2000$ in savings over three years since I changed and better for the environment

I'll never go back....

Oh and by the way my corals look just as nice

 

[3Twinklets]

About half an hour south of San Antonio. Natalia, Texas is nearest town. We live in the country.

Where are you at in South Texas Wendy? I was in Corpus for 7 total years. It's a tough place to keep things cool for sure.


Brent \><{{{{*>
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

 

[blue dog]

Hi, I was just wondering how deep your tank is. I have a 350 gal, it is 34 in deep
and was told that I would not get enough light to the bottom using LEDs

 

[mfinn]

Hi, I was just wondering how deep your tank is. I have a 350 gal, it is 34 in deep
and was told that I would not get enough light to the bottom using LEDs

Wow, 35" deep. That must be awesome.

My 240 is only 25" deep, and I have no idea how much par is at the bottom, but at 65%, I still have some zoanthids that need to be shaded.
With a 35" deep tank, you may have to go with a led fixture that used narrower beam optics ( I hope that's the right way to describe that )
The Radions have a TIR lens kit you can buy for the gen 1 model..
I think the gen 2 and the pro models already have them installed.

Plus it also depends on what you want to keep in your tank. SPS up high and LPS and softies down low.