Calculating electricity bill?

TanknTang

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Hey yall, anyone able to help me get an estimate for electricity bill? I have my hydros running and getting these measurements below but not sure how to calculate to get the total estimate cost per month? I live in MA I believe its .33cents per kwH.

IMG_8451.jpeg
 

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Easiest way is look for what wattage the label says on each piece of equipment, then either add them all together or do each one individually, you may have to do a best guess for things that have fluctuating wattage such as lights and heaters.

Then for example for a 100watt heater would be if on full power for the full hour it would be 100w x 24 hours x 30days = 72,000watts a month, then 72,000 x .33cent = $23.76 a month….but if the heater is only on half the time you can half the $23.76, so it would cost you $11.88, just look at your heater to see how often the on light is visible to get an idea how often it is using power.

Obviously for equipment that uses a constant amount of power the calculation is simplified.
 
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TanknTang

TanknTang

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Easiest way is look for what wattage the label says on each piece of equipment, then either add them all together or do each one individually, you may have to do a best guess for things that have fluctuating wattage such as lights and heaters.

Then for example for a 100watt heater would be if on full power for the full hour it would be 100w x 24 hours x 30days = 72,000watts a month, then 72,000 x .33cent = $23.76 a month….but if the heater is only on half the time you can half the $23.76, so it would cost you $11.88, just look at your heater to see how often the on light is visible to get an idea how often it is using power.

Obviously for equipment that uses a constant amount of power the calculation is simplified.
beautifully explained thank you. dang I think I got conned on the downside the lfs said this hydros would do all that math for me and all I had to do was plug in the kwH. But I can manage that for sure! Thanks a lot.
 
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TanknTang

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Apex does it, but, who cares? That's the cheap part of reefing lol
I specifically asked about this feature because of my new place being an apartment and I wanted to see what my electric would be before hand, and the LFS told me the hydros did that feature and he recommended it more. I even told him I found a good deal for a neptune on marketplace but he got me on this thing.
 

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beautifully explained thank you. dang I think I got conned on the downside the lfs said this hydros would do all that math for me and all I had to do was plug in the kwH. But I can manage that for sure! Thanks a lot.
To be fair it may do I have no idea of what it does or doesn’t do as I don’t think that brand is available where I am.
 
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I don’t know if this helps at all but I’m also in MA. I have 6 active tanks and my monthly electric bill is only $90 more than it used to be.
Oh for real? I just upgraded from two tanks into 1 - 125 gallon tank. But now I am in an old victorian so I wanted to see an estimate before my landlord over reacts and says it went up $500 but wow $90? Thats feasible.
 

Bj’s Reef

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Don’t worry be happy. It’s all about the enjoyment you get from your tank. People smoke and drink away more money than we spend on our tanks. I don’t have any of those issues. So I feel I’m coming out just fine. Even if it twenty or thirty dollars a month just for the electricity. You can’t really put a price tag on something like this that makes you happy.
 
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TanknTang

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Don’t worry be happy. It’s all about the enjoyment you get from your tank. People smoke and drink away more money than we spend on our tanks. I don’t have any of those issues. So I feel I’m coming out just fine. Even if it twenty or thirty dollars a month just for the electricity. You can’t really put a price tag on something like this that makes you happy.
True that brotha. I just wanted to know for peace of mind before my land lord freaks out if it is a big jump
 

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I will have to remember your rate. All my neighbors are gripping about having to pay .14cents per kwH!
 

Peter Houde

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Easiest way is look for what wattage the label says on each piece of equipment, then either add them all together or do each one individually, you may have to do a best guess for things that have fluctuating wattage such as lights and heaters.

Then for example for a 100watt heater would be if on full power for the full hour it would be 100w x 24 hours x 30days = 72,000watts a month, then 72,000 x .33cent = $23.76 a month….but if the heater is only on half the time you can half the $23.76, so it would cost you $11.88, just look at your heater to see how often the on light is visible to get an idea how often it is using power.

Obviously for equipment that uses a constant amount of power the calculation is simplified.
There's a much easier way: turn it all off for a month and look at the change in your electric bill.

(yes, that is intended to be sarcastic)
 
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TanknTang

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There's a much easier way: turn it all off for a month and look at the change in your electric bill.

(yes, that is intended to be sarcastic)
I would but I dont get to see the bills its set into the rent. In my contract it says “abuse of utlities rent will increase” so little worried about my 125g spiking the bill hahaha
 

Connor At CoralVue

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I would reach out to a hydros or coralvue rep and ask them if they can show you how to do it. They are responsive.

@TanknTang This is true, we are around to help :)

To answer your questions above, No, HYDROS cannot calculate how much power is costing you per month. We can give you the readouts of how much power is being consumed :)

We can also have power alerts, and that is really why we have it. If a heater is supposed to be on and pulling 300watts, lets make sure of that and set a power safe range. This is where the power monitoring features come into play. Hope that helps clarify.

As for all the other stuff, lets help you get everything setup! Make a support ticket at support.coralvue.com and we can do whatever it takes to assist. Remote in, call, instant chat, whatever.

Yeah, you won't find many HYDROS used online...this is because HYDROS NEVER GOES OBSOLETE. If we release a new device, add it on! If you need more HYDROS, add it on! If you get another tank, break a bit off of the big tank to provide control Super modular and users dont really ever sell unless theyre getting out of the hobby, they grow their collective! With the other popular controllers, you must continue repurchasing and upgrading continiously.
 
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TanknTang

TanknTang

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@TanknTang This is true, we are around to help :)

To answer your questions above, No, HYDROS cannot calculate how much power is costing you per month. We can give you the readouts of how much power is being consumed :)

We can also have power alerts, and that is really why we have it. If a heater is supposed to be on and pulling 300watts, lets make sure of that and set a power safe range. This is where the power monitoring features come into play. Hope that helps clarify.

As for all the other stuff, lets help you get everything setup! Make a support ticket at support.coralvue.com and we can do whatever it takes to assist. Remote in, call, instant chat, whatever.

Yeah, you won't find many HYDROS used online...this is because HYDROS NEVER GOES OBSOLETE. If we release a new device, add it on! If you need more HYDROS, add it on! If you get another tank, break a bit off of the big tank to provide control Super modular and users dont really ever sell unless theyre getting out of the hobby, they grow their collective! With the other popular controllers, you must continue repurchasing and upgrading continiously.
Awesome thanks so much sounds like a plan thanks for the clarification !
 
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TanknTang

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I always say if you are concerned about the electric bill you are in the wrong hobby.
Love the hobby, loving the tank. Just worried about my rent as it will increase if the “utilities are abused” which a 125gal might make it spike up $170mo per calculations might make landlord mad but by no means not leaving the hobby !
 
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