EVER WONDER HOW MUCH IT COST TO RUN YOUR TANK(S)?

[mcox33]

AS ORIGINALLY POST BY carb850 ON R/C. I thought it would be a good topic to continue. So here are his post from R/C

My tank is still not up yet but it is getting close. As this is getting closer I started to wonder how much my electric bill will increase.

I did some quick calcs which are some rough numbers, but still I found it interesting. My 120G should use approx 7.25 KWh per day then adding the 30G cube onto the shared sump will add another 2.5KWh. This includes my lights, fuge light, circulation pumps, return pump, & skimmer (heaters were not factored in). Assuming we pay $0.08 per KWh I will see a $23 monthly increase. If I'm in the ballpark that isn't as bad as I feared.

Anyone else ever add up their system is costing to maintain for electricity alone?

R/C post by SALT WATER CRAZ

I dont even want to think abought it ever month I hate seeing my electric and gas bill.

R/C post by carb850

In WV we get shafted on everything except our electricity. We have either the lowest or among the lowest rates in the nation (crossing my fingers that it will remain that way).

I guess I'm the only geek that wonders about such things.

and now for my .02 worth

As I added tanks to my many I watched my electric bill go from 75.00 summer cooling winter heating to about 160.00 or so. Individual tanks I have no idea on.

but when I was tankless it was always 75.00, then the living room tv died and I decided with 4 other tv's in a house with only 4 people it wasn't worth replacing. But that left the corner where the tv always sat empty.

Then my daughter called from NC on New Years Eve. Momma guess what I got.
to make a long story short , she had gotten some guppies. and 2 mollys and something else. So I started giving her advice. Then remembered there was a 10 gallon tank in the basement that would fit perfectly on the tv stand. So out of the basement and into the tv corner.

Then I started wishing for a bigger tank, for the fish. Problem was I bought a used tank fish and all. 20 gallon, then came the 55 for my birthday. then the 90 for christmas and then the 2 x 29 stand and tanks. I think we traded one of the 20 for a 29 and someone gave me the stand and the other 29 at about the same time.

at one point when electric was the highest I had

1- 10 gallon freshwater
1- 12 gallon saltwater
1- 15 gallon saltwater
2- 20 gallon 1 saltwater 1 freshwater
2- 29 gallon both freshwater
1- 55 gallon freshwater
1- 90 gallon saltwater

1- 80+ gallon outdoor pond
1- 60 gallon outdoor tank

Electric was never really an issue I just paid the bill and kept my mouth shut as to how much it was. LOL

It is the water bills you got to watch in West Virginia. Mine went from 25 -30 average to almost 100.00 a month. no leaks and no ro or ro/di in use.

[nemosis]

Wow!! That will make u think!!

[mcox33]

yeah but i could have combined all fresh to one large tank and all salt to one large tank and it would have cost way less. LOL

But like I said it was the water bill that was ridiculous in my opinion.

[Solareclipsed]

I just try not to think about it because if it were not for aquariums I am sure I would have many other hobbies that I could spend as much or more on doing. I will be able to tell a difference on what I am actually paying for electric this month though. I have always had the 90 gallon setup and a 45 gallon setup for 4 or 5 years and this is the first time the 90 hasnt been running everyday so I will see just how much it is costing me.

[naclh20nut]

IMO the electric and water are small compared the gas to go and look at the livestock and then yes that is why we have them buying fish, coral , inverts. Forgot- cal, food, test kits, salt, lights, filters, PHs, wow... well it ever stop!

[coolridge69vette]

My problem though is that I DO have a lot of other expensive hobbies already!!!

[Solareclipsed]

Actually I have a few other hobbies that arent cheap but I am trying to phase them out a bit and sell stuff off to be able to afford my tank.

[spinnerbayt]

Compaired to my other major hobby (Tournament bass fishing) my tank is cheap.... bass boat, tow vechicle, good rods and reels, tackle, fuel, entry fees, ect. After that the tank is nothing. I have taken a break from the Tournaments for the last 3 years so that I can get my house and such in order but in doing that it has given me more time with my aquariums. I still spend time on the water fishing but not like I did a few years ago.

[wvcleaner]

I notice about a twenty dollar jump in mine but I don't have alot of the bells and whistles alot of you other have. It runs me to death by having to do alot more work that the average guy buy adding water p.h.,amon. salt ect. checks but its not to bad. I have to say I have T5's and it does great with with the electric.

[Solareclipsed]

I just put a 7 bulb t5 light on mine so I am gonna see what it does.