Rocketman's New Dual 175g Bullnose Build Thread

I wanted to say everything looks AMAZING!
But if you don't mind my asking how much does your power bill run you every month?
I only ask because I have already talked to the wife unit about setting up a 350 gallon reef with a 125-150 gallon sump in our next house after I know whats going on with my pops cancer

 

It has to be gas, but LP won't cut it because the house is on natural gas.

 

The system runs between 15 and 20 amps, depending on the time of day. to figure out your electric cost, use the following formula:

Power = Volts x Amps

At 20 amps the power is: 110 volts x 20 amps = 2200 watts.

Your power company will bill you per kilowatt-hour. To get the number of kilowatt hours per day use the following:

kwh = watts * 24 hours/1000

So 20 amps will be:

2200 * 24/1000 = 52.8 kwh

Now find out what your electric company charges per kwh and multiply that by the above figure.

PG&E charges a tiered rate. The more you use, the higher the cost. The top tier is $.43/kwh - OUCH! At 20 amps continuous that would be:

52.8 kwh x $.43/kwh = $22.70 per day

My power bills have been in the $800 - $900 per month range because I get into the top tier. Chances are your power company will charge way less than PG&E. In Florida I was paying only $.12/kwh.

20 amps at that rate would cost me only $6.33 per day.

 

Ever thought of going solar? That way those guys will be paying you!! lol. At least just enough to run some equipment off of. I know initial investment is HUGE, but i mean this build is friggin HUGE...

 

I'm getting an 8KW system installed in January

I found a company that will do a lease so I don't have to pay a big bill up front. I'll likely save a few hundred a month.

 

All very impressive. I like how you go about things.

One question: on the tankless water heater, what do you need the reservoir for? It's a closed loop (or at least, could be) - couldn't you just purge the line and seal it and never have to worry about evaporation, etc. on a reservoir?

Seems to me, a reservoir just opens the possibility to getting gunk in the coils over time...

 

It's funny because Tighe and I were debating this on the phone last night. My only thought on the reservoir was that by having a sealed tank I wouldn't have to build in a bleed system if air gets in the line. Additionally it gives some expansion capacity.

 

Thats a good deal. Should definately help the bill in the long run for sure. I mean i was thinking that, or if its windy a little wind turbine could be an option. Butttt.. looks like youve got your mind set on solar. Which you cant go wrong with, unless the sun disappears then your tank would be the least of your concerns then! lol

 

must be that green energy yall have over there in cali lol, more expensive. I get about the same as you did in FL here in TX.

 

I tested Nitrates for the first time in a while and they were at just over 10 ppm.

Next project: De-nitrifyer

I'm going to build this out of a length of 1.5" flexible PVC that I'll coil up and in which I'll insert a bunch of bioballs. Then I'll trickle water through it at about 50 gph.

Fairly easy to set up. I've got all the parts and just need a couple hours or so to put it all together.