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DCL
Many of us enjoy owning fish. They are a low-maintenance pet. They aren't that low maintenance when it comes to electricity use. They use more electricity per year than a microwave, a television set, a well pump or even a home computer. An aquarium's electrical output costs you about $50 a year. That's not so bad, but if you've got a few tanks, the money and the energy can really add up. Two tanks use about as much energy as a fridge does in a year. A fridge accounts for 8% of your home's electricity output.
Here are some tips to help you reduce the energy output of your home aquarium.
Source: The Energy Efficient Aquarium.
1. Keep the aquarium in a warm room. It will take less to heat it.
2. Place an aeration stone under the heater. This will push cold water from the bottom to the heater. The warm water will be able to circulate throughout the tank.
3. Use low output heaters instead of high output ones. They last longer and disperse heat better.
4. Insulate the bottom of the tank with polystyrene.
5. You can insulate any outer side with polystyrene insulation. This works best if your tank is in a cabinet or against a wall.
6. Compact florescent bulbs give off a lot of light for less energy.
