Dave A
Active Member
Four T-5s may not be enough light for a 90. It will depend on what you want to keep, but it's a minimal amount of light for a tank this size. When I first set up my 90, I used the 4x54w T-5 from my 55, the mushrooms liked it and the zoas did OK but I wouldn't have tried anything else without more light.
I've never given any thought to how much electricity is used by my tank so I can't give you a number. I can point out that any number that I, or anyone else might have, is relatively meaningless. My tank is set up to be pretty efficient. My LEDs consume half the electricity that a 6 bulb T-5 fixture would use and I get more light (probably equal to 7-8 bulbs). In the summer, when my heater is rarely on, my entire tank probably consumes less electricity than a 6 bulb T-5 fixture.
My tank is in the basement and it's 64 degrees down there right now so the heater is on alot. I could probably run 2x 175w MH and a couple actinic bulbs without a big difference in cost in the winter. OTOH, this setup would cost twice as much as my current equipment in the summer and it might require a chiller which would boost energy costs even more.
Every situation is different, even with the same tank size. I have relatively efficient equipment and my tank is in a cool location so my largest power use is heat. For many people, their lighting is the biggest power consumer and chillers are pretty expensive to run, if you need one. That's the big three, lighting, heat and chillers, most of the other stuff consumes relatively little. Power heads are a few watts each, return pumps and skimmer pumps draw a little more but still a lot less than lighting, heat and chillers. Design your system wisely and choose efficient and you should be able to keep costs to a minimum.
I've never given any thought to how much electricity is used by my tank so I can't give you a number. I can point out that any number that I, or anyone else might have, is relatively meaningless. My tank is set up to be pretty efficient. My LEDs consume half the electricity that a 6 bulb T-5 fixture would use and I get more light (probably equal to 7-8 bulbs). In the summer, when my heater is rarely on, my entire tank probably consumes less electricity than a 6 bulb T-5 fixture.
My tank is in the basement and it's 64 degrees down there right now so the heater is on alot. I could probably run 2x 175w MH and a couple actinic bulbs without a big difference in cost in the winter. OTOH, this setup would cost twice as much as my current equipment in the summer and it might require a chiller which would boost energy costs even more.
Every situation is different, even with the same tank size. I have relatively efficient equipment and my tank is in a cool location so my largest power use is heat. For many people, their lighting is the biggest power consumer and chillers are pretty expensive to run, if you need one. That's the big three, lighting, heat and chillers, most of the other stuff consumes relatively little. Power heads are a few watts each, return pumps and skimmer pumps draw a little more but still a lot less than lighting, heat and chillers. Design your system wisely and choose efficient and you should be able to keep costs to a minimum.
I won't need a chiller, at least as long as we are living here; we keep the place pretty cool and it's well-insulated. The apartment rarely gets over 76F.
