Running Cost?

[wrightt3]

Roughly, how much would you say it would cost to run a 15 gallon tank with a 50 watt heater, an 18w bulb and a interpet pf2? (in terms of electricity)
My step dad claims it would be about £10 a month but I think this sounds a bit steep?

 

[Chad]

That does sounds steep but it depends on the cost of electricity where you live. Here in the US prices are different all over. If you can find one of the home's electric bills you should be able to find out how much they charge, figure out the usage, and multiply for the cost.

 

[levahe]

Get an electric usage monitor

http/www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Energy-Saving-Insight-Monitor/dp/B003WK62WK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376778805&sr=8-2&keywords=power+meter+energy+monitor

Then there will be no doubt. £10 per month estimate is too much.

EDIT - I think the average electric bill is £50 per month, there is no way that tank would use 1/5 of a houses total monthly usage

 

[fm1978]

Is it not something like a little bit over £1 / watt / year, depending on how high your bills are. If you've got a draw of 100 watts, it would be a bit over £100 a year...so not quite as much as £10 / month...hopefully. The way energy prices are going though it won't be long 'til it is that much...

 

[coolie]

No where near.  If we are talking fresh water tropical, the only thing on all the time is the filter. The lights are only on a quarter of the day, and the heater really, well, say three quarters of the year.

You also have to remember this: what happens to the heat you put into the water in the winter?
 
The water acts as a large heat store, and slowly releases it into the room in which it is situated.
 
If that room is normally heated and not a garage or conservatory, then your heat was not extra to your house heating budget  but actually warmed the room equal to the amount that would have been by your normal heating provided the thermostat remained the same.

 

[AquaticCameron]

Well lets say you keep your bulb on 8 hours a day. Then lets assume your heater is running 12 hours a day (depends on the temperature where you live). (your step father may have assumed the heater is on all the time).
 
That means you have 12 * 50 + 8 * 18 watts of electricity usage a day, or 744 watts of electricity usage a day. That puts you at 22.3kw/month or 0.44 euros/kw as your electricity price for that to be true.
 
People say no where near but it is possible. If you live somewhere colder where your heater is on 24 hours a day, then your up to 1344 watts/day or .25 euros per kw for electricity. Here in silicon valley electricity for us is $0.35/kw (top tier) which means your step dad could be correct.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

I can't imagine the heater being on 12 hours a day even in the winter. 

 

[ShinySideUp]

We have 50W + 18W = 68W for now let's assume continuous use, i.e on all the time.
 
In one hour we have 68 watt/hours. or more usefully 0.068 KW/H. You will use 1 KW/h every 14.7 hours. In my area a KW/h costs about 14 pence (disregard the standing charge which would have to be paid anyway) so every 14.7 hours of CONTINUOUS use would cost 14p. In one year there are 8760 hours, 8760 / 14.7 = 596. 596 x 14 /100 (to give pounds) = £83 per year.
 
But this is continuous use, for the sake of arguement let's say that both the heat and light are on for one third of this time £83 / 3 = £27 per year!
 
Oh, and as Coolie says, any heat loss will go into the room it's in thereby reducing the amount of heat required to heat the room so it's probably less than that.
 
I won't go on to calculate water costs if you are on a meter but rest assured it isn't going to be very much. I do 200 litre water changes on my tank twice a week which costs me about three quid or about £150 per year.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Nice one SSU

 

[ShinySideUp]

I forgot to add the running of the filter.
 
I haven't shown the calculation but the filter at 9W will cost about £27 per year to run.
 
So all-in-all your tanlk will cost just over £50 a year to run; bargain.

 

[wrightt3]

I forgot to add the running of the filter.
 
I haven't shown the calculation but the filter at 9W will cost about £27 per year to run.
 
So all-in-all your tanlk will cost just over £50 a year to run; bargain.

So about £4-5 a month? Clearly not the reason behind our sky high electric bills

 Thanks for the help!

 

[VTDrew]

I don't know what a PF2 is so I excluded it.  Assuming your lights and heater run for 50% of each day in a 31 day month, your looking at 25.2kW per month.
Most filters are about 15w, that gives you 11.2kW per month.  36.4kW/mo.  Assume $0.20 per kW.  $7.28.
 
My landlord pays the electric, I like them (they live above me) so I felt bad about my 3 tanks (20,56,72).  I calculated my tank contribution to be about $25/mo.  I add it to the rent.