Author Topic: Trying to figure elec bill  (Read 5550 times)

Offline Hobbiest

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Trying to figure elec bill
« on: January 07, 2017, 11:27:00 PM »
Found this link
http://www.themandaringarden.com/cost-to-run-fish-tank.html

It says for 24 hour equipment multiply watts by hours then that number by 30 days. Divide by 1000 to get kwh then multiply by the price of kwh.

For your heaters figure they run 15 mins each hour which is 6 hrs a day and use same formula.

I tried this. I run 3 tanks. One tank has two aquaclear 110's and a Rio 2500 pump. Plus an Ecoplus one air pump.

Unless I did my math wrong at 16.6 cents per kwh it says my 24 hour eqiupment costs $104 per month and my heaters cost $80.

I don't think this is true. My bill is not $180 per month. Anyway, I also run an Aquclear 70 and a 50. Three 200 watt heaters and a 250 watt heater.

Just trying to determine what I am paying per month. I have never paid attention.

Any input?

« Last Edit: January 07, 2017, 11:28:38 PM by Tenchains »

Offline Bremmon

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2017, 11:58:47 PM »
If you google it, there are a couple sites that have a complete breakdown of electricity costs, on average its about 12-15$ per month per tank... but figure more if you have electric hotwater heater for your water changes. Certainly there are other factors like windows near by and lids/lights.

Offline mibwb

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2017, 08:30:33 AM »
If you make money having fish, it's a business.....if you lose money having fish, it's a Hobby...

My Consumer's bill is so high....450.00 or more monthly....Consumers tells me I'm using too much....I quit worrying about what is the reason, I only worry about paying it...
I barely have anything running...So where's it going???
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Offline cranialdisturbance

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2017, 11:57:26 AM »
Log onto your DTE account for more info on your KWH usage over time. Perhaps they have data prior to when you had the tanks depending on how long ago that was.
Shrimpin' ain't easy.

Offline gtomike

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2017, 12:45:49 PM »
Here in Ontario its a bit hard to figure out what things cost to run as we have are 24 hour days in 3 different peak rates high is 18 cents mid 13.2 cents low 8.7 cents per KW hour.

All I can tell you for sure is a 200 watt heater cost about $10.00 per month to run I turn the heat up in the house higher now to help heat the tanks inside the house over here if its not running on natural gas its expensive.

Offline Hobbiest

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2017, 02:17:44 PM »
If you make money having fish, it's a business.....if you lose money having fish, it's a Hobby...

My Consumer's bill is so high....450.00 or more monthly....Consumers tells me I'm using too much....I quit worrying about what is the reason, I only worry about paying it...
I barely have anything running...So where's it going???


Idk.... Lights are the major consumer above heaters if you run them all day. Using the fromula I found that my wet/dry pump costs around $25 per month. Heaters running 8 hours out of the day are $33 per month. An Aquclear 500 costs $16 per month. This may be a little high in the figure as my entire bill was $20 over what the calculations show for the aquariums.

Offline mibwb

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2017, 11:17:30 PM »
I don't run heaters....just have the furnace up more and don't have lights on much...plecos don't  mind it's dark....other lights are leds. I also have natural lighting (algae not a problem for plecos and snails) As stated in another post of mine. I have a crapy new furnace and to supplement heat I use heaters. But I learned these heaters cost about $100.00 each to run for a month. I had a $836.00 heat bill one month. So, I only run them if the house gets really cold or Mom gets cold...generally she's cold all the time..so one runs in her room.
"It's not stalking, it's being a dedicated follower"
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"Real men don't wear flip-flops"  Johnny Depp

"Paranoid Schizophrenias aren't always wrong"  Mulder

Offline Hobbiest

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2017, 06:15:24 PM »
Ok so using this formula... for an Aquaclear 110.
14 wx24 hrs =336 w
336w x 30 days = 10080 watts
Divide by 1000 to give kwh
10.80kwh  x 16.6 price per kwh= 1.67 per month to run an Aquaclear 110

Which is a relief because I thought that it was costing $16.67 per month....

Offline rickten

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2017, 06:57:29 PM »
This is great. I have 10 of these and always wondered how much per filter. you need to stop by and take a look and the fish room. almost done another week or so.
125 F1 Zaire Lupota
135 Blue Dolphins, Yellow labs
165
165
125
75 F1 Tropheus purple lufubu
75 F1 Tropheus Ilangi,Mtoto

Offline Arturtle

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2017, 10:45:42 PM »
I'm kind of curious about this.  Is a $300/month electric bill high, low, or normal?

Offline Marty

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2017, 10:59:18 PM »
That's higher than mine was with a fishroom, 400 gallon, 75 gallon, and 29 gallon outside of the fishroom

Offline Hobbiest

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2017, 09:28:19 AM »
I'm kind of curious about this.  Is a $300/month electric bill high, low, or normal?

Ok shoot me a pm or a text.....586 690 5321

Offline Arturtle

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Re: Trying to figure elec bill
« Reply #12 on: February 17, 2017, 09:59:39 PM »
I insulated a room in my basement, but have not insulated the exterior walls or ceiling.  I have some old cellar windows that I'm going to replace this summer, but I wonder if I need to do more than that.

I think my room is 12x18'.

it would be great to throw less money away