Reducing lighting

[Hingeback]

Hi

What is the best way to reduce lighting.

have 2 x 150 watt 14000k metal halide ( 10 hours )

1 x 250w 10000k metal halide ( 6 hours )

2 x 55 w actinic T5 ( 4 hours )

This follows on from post in filtration forum. Need to reduce electric bill ( watts ). What would you use if you needed to reduce, would you reduce the time of all, get rid of one, if so which one and would you reduce lighting over a period of time.

Lots of hard corals thriving and growing well, I know I am going to lose growth and maybe colour but as mentioned I ned to reduce bill. I think I am paying electric for all my road.

Hingeback

[charlie]

Not a good situation to be in my friend. What type of corals are we talking about here?
Right off the bat, I might reduce the photoperiod of the halides, but like you said, you will be comprimising your growth and color.

[Hingeback]

Hi

Thanks for the reply

corals include various Acropora's

Montipora

Yellow Porites
Fungia's
Torch Coral
Hammer coral
Candy Corals
? Mycedium ( plate coral )
? Symphyllia ( brain coral )
3 colour variations of turbinaria

and some lovely maxima and derosa clams

and various other small bits

Hingeback

[charlie]

Your clams are going to take a hit also, good luck on whatever you decide, I wish you well.

[Poseidon]

Well first off you could drop the T5's, but that is a small gain. How about dropping the 250W to 4 hours, and the 150W to 8 hours, and then go from there.... You could always increase the duration again if you see to much negative reactions.

[Ixthys]

Maybe my math is bad or electricity is expensive over in England, but I don't see a huge outlay of cash b/c of your lights.

You're using less than 5 Kw-hrs of lighting per day. At 10cents per Kw-hr (just guessing at a rate) you're talking $15 bucks per month on lighting.

Again, maybe my math is off (haven't had my coffee yet) or rates are really high over there...

[Reefland]

I don't think there is going to be much gain from reducing the photo period of the lighting. Have you looked at other cost savings measures? What kind of pumps are you using? What other equipment are you running?

[Hingeback]

Thanks for you replies,

I am looking to save all consumption all over the aquarium. I posted question on filtration page about saving there. As for the cost of lighting it costs around £250 - £300 a year for lighting including sump. ( around $600). Electricity costs in the Uk have gone wild over the last year. I reckon over a year the Aquarium costs over £600 ( $1100 - $1200 ) to run. That does not include salt, food, equipment, water and whatever else. The cost cutting is part of a cost cut over the whole house. Electric company want me to £200+ ( $380 - $400 ) a month. I think i need to reduce wherever possible.

Hingeback

[Ninong]

How bad is it? How much do you pay in pence per kWh over there?

Here's a calculator to figure out how much everything is costing you.

[Hingeback]

Hi

I used a calcular frpm another Uk site just like that. Thats where I got my costing from. Double checked it. Still right.
Electricity costs over the last 12 - 18 months have gone over the top.
Been in touch with another company who say can reduce whole household bill by £500 a year ( $900 ) and they double checked my figures for the total out put of my Aquarium they agree with my figures. With cost cutting on the aquarium , pumps ( changing to lower wattage pumps ) lights ect plus lower electric costs definately heading in the right direction

Cheers

Hingeback

[dougc]

I run my halides 6 hours per day and have no problems with maintaining coloration of acros. It may depend more on the spectrum of your bulbs. I am running EVC 10k bulbs which put out a lot of PAR compared to other bulbs of the same wattage. Running 14k bulbs, you may not be able to cut back as much, since they don't have the same punch as a 10k. If you like the look of the 14k's, it becomes a choice between esthetics and budget. I HATE those choices.

[charlie]

I run my halides 6 hours per day and have no problems with maintaining coloration of acros. It may depend more on the spectrum of your bulbs. I am running EVC 10k bulbs which put out a lot of PAR compared to other bulbs of the same wattage. Running 14k bulbs, you may not be able to cut back as much, since they don't have the same punch as a 10k. If you like the look of the 14k's, it becomes a choice between esthetics and budget. I HATE those choices.

Very good point, thank you for adding that.

[Hingeback]

Thanks Dougc

That was just the answer I was looking for. The wattage is getting lowered, not alot I can do about that but I can choose the best form of lighting to try and compensate.

For example are 10k better than 14k for acros ( you have already answered )
what type / manufacture bulb to people think are the best.

Yes I have 10k & 14k plus T5's but did not want to just experiment to see what happened, would appreciate experience such as yours to deliver the best but affordable care to my reef.

Once again thanks and thankyou to all the other contributors.

Hingback