Energy Saving articles

i just read the current issue about energy saving methods for reef tanks with great interest. i am currently redoing my circulation in my 700 gallon tank.

i have been using two large Hammerhead pumps with oceanmotions.com 4 way valves. each pump draws >250 watts to move about 5000gph. this has been the in tank circulation. besides the high energy draw they are hard to service. right now the OM's are not working, a grain of sand or something lodged in them and caused them to not restart. when trying to get them going again one of the Hammerhead pumps did not start again. all the plumbing for them is through the bottom of the tank.

i am breaking the tank down to eliminate the closed loops and OM's. i will replace them with Tunze powerheads and eliminate several hundred watts per hour.

my whole system has used 5 of these pumps. three in the garage under the tank. one to pump return water to the tank, one for the skimmer, and one to the surge tanks on the second floor.

another thing i did that many people with homes can do is light the tank with the sun. no mention of this option was in the magazine. this one thing can pay for itself in a short time. eliminating the cost of all the hardware and replacement bulbs as well as the decrease in electricity consumption.

my tank has a skylight shaft with a skylight the same size as the tank. the shaft is lined with the same aluminum used in reflectors. this photo was taken about 9:30am a couple of days ago. PAR almost 2300. of course it varies throughout the day and comes from different angles as the light moves around the sky, clouds etc.

[IMG]http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l58/reefski/IMG_3847.jpg[/IMG]

i have a 10 Kw photovoltaic system on my house. right now we have a small bill and once i eliminate those big pumps i think it will be zero $.