My reef costs $949.00 a year

[Paul B]

I figured out all of my 100 gallon reef tank costs, including electricity but not including any livestock because I can buy or not buy whatever I want and I do give away a lot of livestock when it gets too big.

Here is my costs, I know most people spend way more but that is their chioce.
These costs are yearly

ASW $120.00 I didn't figure in the NSW that I sometimes use
live blackworms $104 I feed live worms every day
Brine shrimp eggs $40.00 I hatch shrimp every day
Mysis $60.00
clams $25.00
fish oil $5.00
Ice melter for calcium $5.00
baking soda $5.00
Epsom salt $5.00
electricity $580.00

Total $949.00 for the year. Or $2.69 a day. Not to bad.

I figured my electricity costs 15 cents per KW/hr (I think)
So I figured my lights, and heater are on for 12 hours so I figured half of their power for the entire day. The 5 pumps that I use are on all day.
Total electricity costs me $580.00. My electric is actually cheaper because I have solar panels but I didn't figure that in.

My boat in comparism costs me over $10,000.00 with me doing all of the maintenance and if I don't need any parts, that includes gas,marina fees, insurance etc. So I figure this hobby is ten times cheaper. :)

[567234ta]

i honestly don't dare try to figure it out as i would probably quit the hobby and buy a corvette after one year.

[JeffSauer]

wow...that's not too shabby at all. I wonder what my 65 gallon averages

[Paul B]

i honestly don't dare try to figure it out

I was in my car yesterday waiting for somebody and I got bored, so I had a pencil and paper and figured it out. It is much less than I thought it was.
Of course if I buy a $100.00 coral, it would go up.

[AZBigJohn]

My wife was kind enough to figure out how much I've spent just changing my fish only to prepare for a reef, and build a small 28 gallon reef tank... I can;t wait to tell her that once I get to a maintenance stage, it's a nice, small number like that!

[bluewater921]

ok you have a 100 gallon now add 80 on top of that .. i did mine a few years ago but i was also using MHs at that time and a mag drive pump came to the grand total of 1600 a year .. now im using LEDs and rio pumps .. lets see what my break down cost is this year .. my budget on corals is small cause i help at a LFS and work with my best friend from school that is a diver collector in the keys so fish and corals are very cheap ..

[tyler206]

that is cheap for th 100g reef tank, i have 72g, the electric only, cost me $1,000 a year

[Spyderturbo007]

Holy crap! I had no idea running a return pump, a few power heads and a heater would cost so much in electricity. I guess the lights would add a good bit too. I'll have to keep an eye on my electric bill and see how much it goes up.

[tyler206]

i have 2 250w MH and 2 54w t5ho, i leave it on for 12hours a day, i dont even have a chiller, if i have a chiller it will cost more, the MH is consump the most electric

[Paul B]

i did mine a few years ago but i was also using MHs at that time and a mag drive pump came to the grand total of 1600 a year

I switched from MH and saved 2/3s of the electricity for lighting.

Holy crap! I had no idea running a return pump, a few power heads and a heater would cost so much in electricity.
Pumps are very cheap to run, the heater is the most. My LEDs are 108 watts but my heater is 150 watts. The heater is only running about half the time and only in the winter. Heaters cycle on and off so it is hard to figure.
My reef is about 15 cents for every 6 hours.

[tyler206]

i agree with you, the LED save a lot electric, but its expensive to buy, i dont want to spend $800-$1000, that too much for me i cant efford it

[Paul B]

i agree with you, the LED save a lot electric, but its expensive to buy,

It depends on how you look at it. The LED fixture cost me $300.00 to build. I save 2/3s of my power cose from my MHs. In 2 years I will make my money back then I will start saving. MH lamps also were costing me about $300.00 a year. The cost of my LED fixture.
I installed solar electric panels on my roof for a cost of $23,000.00. I got back from the Govt, $14,000.00 and $7,000.00 from the utility. So it cost me $2,000.00 to install. It saves me $1,500.00 a year. so in 20 years it will save me (if electricity costs remain the same) $30,000.00. I also recently installed a modern condensing boiler for about $3,000.00. I got some of it back in a rebate but it saves me about $4,000.00 a year on heat over my old oil boiler. So it is free. When I don't like paying high prices for something, I don't complain, I do something about it.
These things can all be financed so it is a no brainer and they add value to your home. :beer:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh270/urchsearch/000_0003.jpg

[KafudaFish]

Saltwater 60 gallons/year at $38 for 200 gallon bucket = $12
Food = $5 since I ghost feed the worms and zoas once or twice a week
Pickling lime 1 lb = $1 bought at end of gardening season
GAC = 2 tsp./month = $1
Mg = $1
Electric = $1.50/wk x 52 weeks = $78 dollars
Misc. "reef" equipment: magic eraser, chopsticks (free with take out order), H2O2, razor blade, used toothbrush = $5

Grand total $103.00 or $1.98 per week.

At some point I will have to replace equipment such as the new MJ1200 is $35 but if I can get another 5+ years out of this one that would increase it another 58 cents per year.

Oh and fish but since they like to kill themselves I may not have to factor that in.



Tyler: You could cut back on the hours to say 6 - 8 on the MH and 9 on the t5 and still get the growth and color you want. There are several threads on RC about shorter light cycles.

[Electrobes]

Hey Paul - Thought I would follow you here! :P

Electricity: $177.96
Food (Spectrum pellets and freeze dried cyclop-eez): 5 + 8 = $13.00
Mrs Wages Pickling Lime: Unknown (I bought a a huge amount a while back...) I think it was like three bucks a can so we'll say $3.00
Iodide for the shrimps (Tech I): $7.99
Salt (Red Sea Coral Pro): $22.95 * 2 (110G's worth) = $45.90

These aren't perfect amounts, but I think they are close.. plus I didn't involve things like shipping into the price: Total comes to $247.85 or about $0.68 per day.

[karsseboom]

Saltwater 60 gallons/year at $38 for 200 gallon bucket = $12
Food = $5 since I ghost feed the worms and zoas once or twice a week
Pickling lime 1 lb = $1 bought at end of gardening season
GAC = 2 tsp./month = $1
Mg = $1
Electric = $1.50/wk x 52 weeks = $78 dollars
Misc. "reef" equipment: magic eraser, chopsticks (free with take out order), H2O2, razor blade, used toothbrush = $5

Grand total $103.00 or $1.98 per week.

At some point I will have to replace equipment such as the new MJ1200 is $35 but if I can get another 5+ years out of this one that would increase it another 58 cents per year.

Oh and fish but since they like to kill themselves I may not have to factor that in.



Tyler: You could cut back on the hours to say 6 - 8 on the MH and 9 on the t5 and still get the growth and color you want. There are several threads on RC about shorter light cycles.

There is no way your electric bill from your tank is that low.

[moshi1ry]

Pretty cool seeing what it takes to run but to bad having a reef tank cost way more than what we could truly figure up. Corals gas shipping medicines etc etc etc. Id say its still a pretty pricey hobby.

[Paul B]

Pretty cool seeing what it takes to run but to bad having a reef tank cost way more than what we could truly figure up.
True I didn't figure livestock but most of my corals I got very small for $6, or $8 bucks and they grew. I don't have any test kits dosing chemicals, reactors or medications so I don't have to worry about any of that.
My powerheads are all about 20 years old so I got my money out of them and I don't remember what any of them cost. I did have to replace two of them a couple of years ago. I use LEDs so I don't replace lamps any more.
I did forget to add resins, so that may be another $60.00 a year.

[KafudaFish]

There is no way your electric bill from your tank is that low.

Why?

[Voxboy]

Over the years.....I think I have spent this much......................

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Ferrari_F430_front_20080605.jpg/800px-Ferrari_F430_front_20080605.jpg

[Allmost]

my reefing budget is basically whatever is left in my account lol

I would go mad if I was to calculate it though ...I use a bucket of RC salt and a bucket of TMPR a month, that's 140 just for salt .... lol

[Paul B]

Over the years.....I think I have spent this much

The reef is very cheap compared to my other hobbies.
But we all need hobbies. I see you have one also. :beer:


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh270/urchsearch/BoatwithRichie003.jpg

[Lwhite]

There is no way your electric bill from your tank is that low.

Its entirely possible depending on what he uses and his power costs.

I only pay $.06 kw/h so my 320w lamp costs me $1.34 a week on average, add a miniscule addition from pumps and heaters and its entirely possible to be in that range.

[KafudaFish]

Saltwater 60 gallons/year at $38 for 200 gallon bucket = $12
Food = $5 since I ghost feed the worms and zoas once or twice a week
Pickling lime 1 lb = $1 bought at end of gardening season
GAC = 2 tsp./month = $1
Mg = $1
Electric = $1.50/wk x 52 weeks = $78 dollars
Misc. "reef" equipment: magic eraser, chopsticks (free with take out order), H2O2, razor blade, used toothbrush = $5

Grand total $103.00 or $1.98 per week.

At some point I will have to replace equipment such as the new MJ1200 is $35 but if I can get another 5+ years out of this one that would increase it another 58 cents per year.

Oh and fish but since they like to kill themselves I may not have to factor that in.



Tyler: You could cut back on the hours to say 6 - 8 on the MH and 9 on the t5 and still get the growth and color you want. There are several threads on RC about shorter light cycles.



I should have written 58 cents a month. My bad.

And yes it can be that cheap to run a reef tank each year. :beer:

[karsseboom]

Its entirely possible depending on what he uses and his power costs.

I only pay $.06 kw/h so my 320w lamp costs me $1.34 a week on average, add a miniscule addition from pumps and heaters and its entirely possible to be in that range.

You have to add all the pumps and heaters and lighting runs 10-8 hours a day. That alone is 20 bucks a month. If you run a return pump at 60w 24 a day it cost about 5 bucks a month. If you run 320 watts at 8 hours a day it cost about 14 bucks a month. A 300w heater is just as much as 300w of lighting.

[tyler206]

hi Paul i might interested in LED fixture you had build, how many wats is your LED fixture and where did you order your part, and what parts did you order? i need your help, thanks you

[KafudaFish]

You have to add all the pumps and heaters and lighting runs 10-8 hours a day. That alone is 20 bucks a month. If you run a return pump at 60w 24 a day it cost about 5 bucks a month. If you run 320 watts at 8 hours a day it cost about 14 bucks a month. A 300w heater is just as much as 300w of lighting.

I think you are wrong with your math in regards to his tank. Maybe you should go back and check your numbers again and see if you get a different answer.

Also why do you think I am wrong?

[karsseboom]

I think you are wrong with your math in regards to his tank. Maybe you should go back and check your numbers again and see if you get a different answer.

Also why do you think I am wrong?

those number were off the top of my head. Here is a break down of a small simple tank.



Item

KWH/Month

Cost/Month



Lighting - full spectrum for 9 hours

87.6 per yr

10.51 per week

Lighting - actinic

0

0

Circulation pump 24 hours

43.8 per yr

5.26 per week

Skimmer pump 24 hours

29.2 per yr

3.5 per week
Powerheads - constant 24 hours

10.95 per yr

1.31 per week
Powerheads - intermittant 24 hours

5.48 per yr

0.66 per week

Heaters 7 hours a day

42.58 per yr

5.11 per week



Calcium reactor

0

0



Chiller

0

0



UV sterilizer

0

0



Ozonizer

0

0



Other

10.95 per yr

1.31 per week



Total

230.56

27.67

[Agu]

My 5.5 nano is essentially free to run. A single Panorama Led module at 19 watts (Paid for with store credit from frags) and a single power head at 10 watts makes electricity a non issue (Maybe $10/year). Top off water with kalk costs maybe 10 cents/month $1.20 (Water is free due to store credit, I use minor amounts of pickling lime). Saltwater for water changes is free (thanks again for frags). No heater, no test kits, no skimmer, no additives. A container of carbon lasts forever and the polyfilter hasn't been opened (both bought with store credit from frags)

I bring frags to the LFS two or three times a year and the excess credits are used to buy general supplies when necessary. Currently I'm sitting on substantial store credit because there isn't anything I need or want.

[Agu]

The reef is very cheap compared to my other hobbies.
But we all need hobbies. I see you have one also. :beer:


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh270/urchsearch/BoatwithRichie003.jpg



Paul, I understand why that hobby is expensive, the care and feeding of mermaids isn't cheap, and you have three of them .

;)

[Paul B]

I ordered from Rapid LED. I have 36 3 watt LEDs half white and half blue. There are two fans on the fixture that draw air through the aluminum tubes that the thing is made from. It uses 3 drivers that I can dim.
It is also on a counter weight system so it raises out of the way.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh270/urchsearch/IMG_1067.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh270/urchsearch/IMG_1068.jpg

[fewskillz]

Looks like my 180 costs about $2 a day to operate, so almost $750 a year. That's electricity, water, and food. I get NSW for free so that helps. I'm just starting to test/dose so that will add up too, but I don't have a handle on the rate I use that stuff yet, but it won't be a lot compared to electricity. So maybe $900 a year. I'd pay $2.50 every day to enjoy my tank.

[KafudaFish]

Well as it turns out my $1.50 per week or $78 per year in electric costs was wrong.

I did not know my rate so I used the default of $.12/KWH from the RC tank electric calculator. I looked up the current rate on my company's website and after putting in the corrected rate my costs are:

$45.84/year
$3.82/month
$0.88/week

Of course the consumption rates of the equipment are what was listed from the company and they could be off by 10% so add another $5 per year and we are around $51 per year or $.98 per week.

I could go even lower if I changed some equipment out though.

Decisions, decisions purchase price vs. energy savings over time.

[MHG]

It depends on how you look at it. The LED fixture cost me $300.00 to build. I save 2/3s of my power cose from my MHs. In 2 years I will make my money back then I will start saving. MH lamps also were costing me about $300.00 a year. The cost of my LED fixture.
I installed solar electric panels on my roof for a cost of $23,000.00. I got back from the Govt, $14,000.00 and $7,000.00 from the utility. So it cost me $2,000.00 to install. It saves me $1,500.00 a year. so in 20 years it will save me (if electricity costs remain the same) $30,000.00. I also recently installed a modern condensing boiler for about $3,000.00. I got some of it back in a rebate but it saves me about $4,000.00 a year on heat over my old oil boiler. So it is free. When I don't like paying high prices for something, I don't complain, I do something about it.
These things can all be financed so it is a no brainer and they add value to your home. :beer:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh270/urchsearch/000_0003.jpg


While the elactrical savings math works out for most of the people I know, I would pay $1500 a year not to have that on my roof. Also dont forget to deduct the cost of removing that when the roof leaks within that 20 year period... The savings is there but in 20 years harware breaks and rots and the roofer will destroy it getting to the leak.


Where they really pay off is when you sell the electric back to the power company...

[Paul B]

The only way you could see this on my roof is with a helocopter, but even if I could see it, I like it. It's the thing of the future. Now they sell solar shingles that look like roof shingles but generate power.
I installed a new roof on my house just before I installed the panels, The roof is guaranteed for 35 years and so are the solar panels. In 35 years I will be dead so I really don't care how much the roof leaks then.
The panels are on a grid and just snap in. I replaced one this year after a huge hailstone cracked one. It took me about 6 minutes to replace and the insurance covered it.

Where they really pay off is when you sell the electric back to the power company
They are required by law to sell back to the electric company. The power company changed my meter for free so they can determine how much they owe me if I generate more than I use. If I am away for a length of time, I will generate more then I use and they pay me.
If I had more room I would install these things all over the place. They are great money makers.