Cost of Heating

ubiq · Dec 11, 2022

Turning down my house thermostat at night is resulting in $300 plus electric bills on a 100 gallon tank here in SoCal. I'm using two 300 watt heaters, so that's 6 amps for 10-12 hours per day. Is 600 watts overkill for 100 gallons? Would it be cheaper to set the house thermostat at 70 through the night (gas heat)?

Ben.QLD2 · Dec 11, 2022

I don't have answers for you I'm sorry, just hear to express my shock about your heating cost. It's all about cooling cost hear in Queensland, Australia. I keep a 250w heater in my 500 litre tank for cooler weather but the chiller runs hard through summer causing higher bills, it's a Teco TK1000.

Of course, given electricity providers and governments are all going green and 'woke', electricity bills are sky-rocketing here anyway.

Tcook · Dec 11, 2022

ubiq said:
Turning down my house thermostat at night is resulting in $300 plus electric bills on a 100 gallon tank here in SoCal. I'm using two 300 watt heaters, so that's 6 amps for 10-12 hours per day. Is 600 watts overkill for 100 gallons? Would it be cheaper to set the house thermostat at 70 through the night (gas heat)?

Is that 6 kw/day? So that would be $45/month assuming $0.25/kwh in Los Angeles.

Nick Steele · Dec 11, 2022

That seems absurdly high to me but it is California so seems right haha.

SteveMM62Reef · Dec 11, 2022

I got some of that Silver Bubble Wrap from Lowe’s. Cut it and put the Scotch Double Faced tape on it. The one that’s in a dispenser, like they sell at Staples, not HD Foam Center Stuff. Stick it to the Back of the Tank, and all around the Sump. Some of my tanks, that the bottom is visible, get insulated too. You didn’t say if you had a top, but it would be advisable to get Glass tops made for your aquarium. Use Aqueon Hinges and Back Strip. I do know someone that heats their 300+ Gallon, by circulating a water loop, through his sump, from the Gas Water Heater.

Murica · Dec 11, 2022

ubiq said:
Turning down my house thermostat at night is resulting in $300 plus electric bills on a 100 gallon tank here in SoCal. I'm using two 300 watt heaters, so that's 6 amps for 10-12 hours per day. Is 600 watts overkill for 100 gallons? Would it be cheaper to set the house thermostat at 70 through the night (gas heat)?

Mine was 650 in August.. I feel your pain.

ubiq · Dec 11, 2022

Murica said:
Mine was 650 in August.. I feel your pain.

Ouch!

ca1ore · Mar 10, 2023

part of the reason im downsizing is to reduce my electricity bill …. and I’m in CT where rates are far lower then CA. Last month my bill was $850 in a non AC month. Id guess the tanks are 2/3 of that. I do have a power hungry sound system, but that is not running 24/7.