How to reduce power used by a reef tank?

[savanyo]

My electric bills are killing me, I'm at ~300% of baseline. My power company jacks the rates up x2.5 for use over 200% of baseline and x3 for use over 300%. So I need to get my use down to under 200%.

I recently got a watt meter and I've been measuring everything in my house to figure out where all the power is going. Based on my analysis so far, I think my reef tank is consuming ~20-30% of my overall power right now. So I need to figure out how to make my reef tank more efficient.

My tank is ~110g (48w, 24h, 21d) + ~25g sump.

Power usage data I have on my tank so far is:
516W = Lighting used by two 250W HQI MH lights, runs 10-12 hours.
430W = 1/4HP Chiller while running, I'm not sure yet how much this runs per day, probably ~3 hrs.
81W = Main pump (Iwaki MD30RLTX external), runs 24x7.
61W = protein skimmer, runs 24x7
32W = Secondary pump for chiller (Mag5), runs 24x7
13W each = Two Hydor power heads.

So I'm thinking of getting rid of the MH lights and going with T5's. For example, I could install a set of retro 4x36 inch 39W T5 lights which would use ~160W vs the 516W I run now. Specifically, I'm considering, one of these two:

- http://www.championlighting.com/prod...cat=913&page=1
- http://www.championlighting.com/prod...cat=913&page=1

I realize that I won't be able to keep any hard corals or clams. I'm perfectly fine with that and I actually think I may like this better, because I have observed that many soft corals extend themselves more and look more attractive with lower light.

Reducing the light, will likely also mean my chiller will not have to work as hard with less heat load.

Another idea is to get rid of the dedicated chiller pump and just add a Tee & valve on the output of my main pump to drive the chiller. This will cut 32W and also the heat load created by this submerged pump on the chiller.

I could also try to plumb the skimmer pump to be outside my sump so that it's air cooled instead to cut down on the heat load.

So I was wondering of anyone has feedback on the choice of lighting or other power savings ideas?

Thanks!

[GSELLERS1245]

couple suggestions:
run metal halide for 8 hours
run chiller off of a manifold system from your return pump.
add some fans on a small temp controller to turn on when temp gets warm reducing the time chiller has to run

[savanyo]

Originally Posted by GSELLERS1245

couple suggestions:
run metal halide for 8 hours
run chiller off of a manifold system from your return pump.
add some fans on a small temp controller to turn on when temp gets warm reducing the time chiller has to run

Thanks, I did not consider a fan. Is the purpose of the fan to cool the water via evaporation? If so, then I suppose aiming the fan right at the water is best. Or is the purpose to clear out hot air in canopy above tank and stand above the sump to help water cool itself via convection to the room air? Anyway, just wondering how best to install the fan or fans for best results.

Thanks.

[savanyo]

I did a 24hour test of the power consumed by my chiller, which was 3.45 kWH. So assuming it's using 430W while running and 1W while on standby, the chiller ran 7.98 hours over the last 24 hours.

I have been keeping the set point at 78 degrees. I suppose I could increase that, but I know if I go too high it can hurt corals and shorten the lifespan of your fish. Does anyone have opinions on this?

[Fiji Live Rock]

Can you raise your lights higher off the water surface? That will cool your tank down. I have never used a chiller as I keep the lights 8-12" off the water at a minimum.

Just food for thought.

[GSELLERS1245]

Originally Posted by savanyo

Thanks, I did not consider a fan. Is the purpose of the fan to cool the water via evaporation? If so, then I suppose aiming the fan right at the water is best. Or is the purpose to clear out hot air in canopy above tank and stand above the sump to help water cool itself via convection to the room air? Anyway, just wondering how best to install the fan or fans for best results.

Thanks.

both.

[GSELLERS1245]

Originally Posted by savanyo

I did a 24hour test of the power consumed by my chiller, which was 3.45 kWH. So assuming it's using 430W while running and 1W while on standby, the chiller ran 7.98 hours over the last 24 hours.

I have been keeping the set point at 78 degrees. I suppose I could increase that, but I know if I go too high it can hurt corals and shorten the lifespan of your fish. Does anyone have opinions on this?

thats pretty cold. You should set your chiller to 82 that way it turns on at 82.1 and should turn off at 80.9

[jxb647]

could get a controller as well to shut off lights when temp gets to high combined with the fans might work alright. If you have these problems now what do you do in the summer?

[Fiji Live Rock]

Also....just be glad you don't have this problem in Pennsylvania. The rate cap expired and our electricity went through the roof. I think it was between a 30-35% price hike.

[Irisservice]

cut MH to 8 hours and that will reduce alot and cooling