How much amperage is your tank drawing?

[element291]

Using the amp monitoring on the Apex I can see my 280 gallon averages around 4.5 amps with lights on in daytime. 6 amps with heaters on full.

Tank draws around 3 amps when the lights are off at night time.


I was wondering what others are seeing on their systems also wanted to compare how much I am forking out on my hydro bill each month to have my tank compared to others and their aquarium sizes.

I have around 100 gallon sump, external skimmer and mangrove tank so my entire system is approx 400 gallons total. I have 4 or 5 smaller heaters and 2 800W on backorder.

Lets see what kind of current or wattage you guys are seeing!

[whatcaneyedo]

Yours is a far more energy efficient system than mine. With three MH pendants, a 300cfm cooling fan plus same size exhaust fan, and three relatively large circulation pumps I'm easily sitting around 15 amps for 8 hours during the day and perhaps 10 amps the rest of the time. Only one of my two Neptune power bars monitors amp draw so I have to estimate. 240gal display and 100gal sump/frag tank. There is a heater there too... but I don't think its come on in months.

[e46er]

2.2-7 or so
I don't have my LEDs going through the apex but 2-300watt fixtures peak st 55% for 3 hours . So at total max load maybe 9.5 amps
250 gal display 75 gal sump and it's in my shop which is colder than a typical house so I have 4-200 watt heaters running at peak.

[element291]

How much does the hobby run you on your hydro bill do you think compared to if you didnt have a tank?

[whatcaneyedo]

In our case I think my tank doubles the electricity bill. I built a spread sheet a few years ago and figured it all out and that is what it was.

[Simons]

my average Enmax bill (minus gas) was ~$280 a month. That includes power, water, recycling etc. After I stood up my 250 Gal tank (80 Gal sump) it went to $300 a month on average.

I have a large AC return pump (Tunze) but run Radions x 3, Mp60's x2 a 230 Cone skimmer (internal) plus I have 2 x 800 W heaters in the sump with my ATO and I run my Apex and a wifi adapter, combined with 2 x reactors with the MJ1200 pumps for GFO/Carbon.

Right now, my Apex is telling my that my tank is drawing 5.2 Amps. I have ALL my tank gear plugged into the Apex, there is nothing (even my ATO) that isn't plug into the Apex. When both my sump heaters kick in, that goes up to 10.6 Amps but it's usually only for a few minutes an hour. 5.2 Amps is my average running load on my Saltwater tank. 2.3 Amps is the average load on my Freshwater tank, that spikes to 5.2 Amps when the heater is on (also running Radion x 3 and a Vectra L1 DC return pump, and the same two MJ1200 reactor pumps for GFO and carbon).

So both my tanks cost ~$30/month in electricity usage ($20 for saltwater tank and $10 for my freshwater tank).

[element291]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

In our case I think my tank doubles the electricity bill. I built a spread sheet a few years ago and figured it all out and that is what it was.

oh man this is what I am hoping doesn't happen in my case!

Originally Posted by Simons

my average Enmax bill (minus gas) was ~$280 a month. That includes power, water, recycling etc. After I stood up my 250 Gal tank (80 Gal sump) it went to $300 a month on average.

I have a large AC return pump (Tunze) but run Radions x 3, Mp60's x2 a 230 Cone skimmer (internal) plus I have 2 x 800 W heaters in the sump with my ATO and I run my Apex and a wifi adapter, combined with 2 x reactors with the MJ1200 pumps for GFO/Carbon.

Right now, my Apex is telling my that my tank is drawing 5.2 Amps. I have ALL my tank gear plugged into the Apex, there is nothing (even my ATO) that isn't plug into the Apex. When both my sump heaters kick in, that goes up to 10.6 Amps but it's usually only for a few minutes an hour. 5.2 Amps is my average running load on my Saltwater tank. 2.3 Amps is the average load on my Freshwater tank, that spikes to 5.2 Amps when the heater is on (also running Radion x 3 and a Vectra L1 DC return pump, and the same two MJ1200 reactor pumps for GFO and carbon).

So both my tanks cost ~$30/month in electricity usage ($20 for saltwater tank and $10 for my freshwater tank).

Now this is more like what I hope my bill will be like! But I doubt it will be that cheap for me. Our setup sounds similar. I have 2 800W heaters, reeflo hammerhead pump 265watts 3 AI Hydra 52 LED fixtures on at 40%, DC7000 powering a reef octopus regal 300 ext that also has a 85w pump on it for the bubbles, RW15 for flow, 25W fuge light all going into apex.

I have signed up for "myaccount" on Hydro One's website since I moved in and it shows on the offpeak rate sunday I used $6.50 of hydro and then yesterday onpeak shows $10.90 for the day. So just or 2 days I am already almost up to your saltwaters $20 usage cost... Hmm your electricity rates must be far superior!

[warriorcookie]

Originally Posted by element291

I have signed up for "myaccount" on Hydro One's website since I moved in and it shows on the offpeak rate sunday I used $6.50 of hydro and then yesterday onpeak shows $10.90 for the day. So just or 2 days I am already almost up to your saltwaters $20 usage cost... Hmm your electricity rates must be far superior!

Lots of people are running reverse lighting schedules because of night shift work, etc. Maybe you could try that so you'd max out during off peak hours.

I have a feeling Alberta will be just as bad as Ontario pretty soon for energy costs....

[Simons]

Originally Posted by element291

oh man this is what I am hoping doesn't happen in my case!



Now this is more like what I hope my bill will be like! But I doubt it will be that cheap for me. Our setup sounds similar. I have 2 800W heaters, reeflo hammerhead pump 265watts 3 AI Hydra 52 LED fixtures on at 40%, DC7000 powering a reef octopus regal 300 ext that also has a 85w pump on it for the bubbles, RW15 for flow, 25W fuge light all going into apex.

I have signed up for "myaccount" on Hydro One's website since I moved in and it shows on the offpeak rate sunday I used $6.50 of hydro and then yesterday onpeak shows $10.90 for the day. So just or 2 days I am already almost up to your saltwaters $20 usage cost... Hmm your electricity rates must be far superior!

Well, your in Ontario, ask me again in about 9 months what my bill is. Alberta is following the same failed energy policy of Ont so I wouldn't hold me breath that this $30 tank cost would hold out for much longer.

I am bracing myself for a %100 increase in my utility bills by end of next summer, once the Alberta 'rip you off and do nothing carbon' tax starts eating away at our economy. Then when the feds get a share in another year or so..I will be lucky if my Enmax bill will be under $700/month. People say I am crazy and it won't happen here in Alberta, but they said the same thing in Ontario. Look at your rates now! > %150 increase in less than 2 years, and that isn't just on generation or actual usage of power, your transmission, distribution fees etc tripled!

[smokinreefer]

im guessing the trend is less power consumption with the masses using LEDs and with the influx of energy efficient powerheads and DCpumps...

is it still recommended to have 2 dedicated circuits for a system? I want to prepare for my upcoming 300g display.