Cost of Running Our Reef

Beverly · #1 10-02-2006, 05:47 PM

Chris bought a new gadget. Don't know what it's called, but you program it with your local utility's electrical rate, plug it into the wall, then plug into the gadget, say, your coffee maker to find out how much it costs to run it.

Anyway...

- our coffee maker uses 4.5 cents for 12 hours
- our 120g reef, including MH/PC/NO lights, heaters, powerheads, pH monitor (no sump, skimmer, refug, UV, Ca or other reactors, controllers) uses 67 cents for 24 hours

I was surprised at the relatively low cost of running our reef, which turns out to be just over $20 per month. This cost does not include the power used in the rubbermaid trash can used for weekly water changes. But, hey, we could test that next

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #2 10-02-2006, 05:58 PM

In the summer, with all the heaters unplugged, my calculated cost for all my tanks, freshwater and saltwater was around $35 or so. I know we have very low hydro rates in BC, but I'm kinda shocked when I hear or read about other people paying $80-100+ for their tanks' powersupply every month. Our hydrobill doesn't even total over $50 monthly. Must be those reefers with the 400w MH (max. I have is 175w) and big, power-hungry return pumps.

Anthony

fkshiu · #3 10-02-2006, 05:59 PM

It's called a "Kill-a-Watt". Cool little device I'm looking at getting too.

Bob I · #4 10-02-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

It's called a "Kill-a-Watt". Cool little device I'm looking at getting too.

My Kill-a-watt only shows how much power I am using. It has no function for inputting cost per KW.

Tarolisol · #5 10-02-2006, 06:15 PM

Well the cost per kilo watt is about 8cents, so its pretty easy to figure out without teh device, but will take a little more math.

Bob I · #6 10-02-2006, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarolisol

Well the cost per kilo watt is about 8cents, so its pretty easy to figure out without teh device, but will take a little more math.

That is not my point. Beverly stated that you program in your cost per KW. Then someone said the device is called a Kill-a-watt. I then said that my Kill-a-watt does not have a function for inputting the cost per Kilowatt.

In addition you cannot figure out how much you are using just by reading the rating on a device. As an example a MH lamp that says it is 400W uses quite a bit more power because of losses in a ballast. In that respect the Kill-a-watt is a neat device because it tells you what you are using at any given moment.

WWWD · #7 10-02-2006, 07:10 PM

They probably have the UPM Em100 unit that you can get from canadian tire. It's very similar to a Kill-a-watt but you can include pricing features. The bonus is you don't have to deal with shady ebay scammers that charge 25 dollars shipping.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortmen...romSearch=true

EmilyB · #8 10-02-2006, 07:20 PM

We are paying around $200 for power (winter eeek).

Pescador · #9 10-02-2006, 07:30 PM

How about $531 gas included in a townhouse style condo?

mark · #10 10-02-2006, 08:15 PM

Then the cost of the center air unit on a monthly payment option.

Thing with power bills (same as gas) just can't say cost of the product times how much you use equals your bill. That would be too easy, need to have deliver costs, taxes, riders etc.