Power source

[grumpystiltskin]

I have a question for you multiple tank people:smile:
I just bought three more 10g tanks, i already have a 240g and a 55g running off two power points, the 240g has 8x 4ft shop lights running, 4 filters, 2 heaters.
The 55g has 1x shop light 2 filters and 1 heater. I have 4 power bars all full,
My question is how do i add power for these extra three 10g tanks i want to setup.
The filter part is easy, i,ll use an air pump and sponges, im sure i can run three tanks from that, but i need three heaters and a light, im going to trip the fuses for sure,
any ideas ??? :(

[PPulcher]

If you are going to trip fuses/breakers on the circuit with your tanks, you need to add another circuit with a new breaker position and conductor. Get an electrician to do this for you. If you don't have room in your panel, you'll have to get a 'pony' panel installed if you can, and some circuits rearranged. They'll have to install some more robust fuses in the main panel to put this in.

Heating muliple tanks is a bit of a PITA. If you can somehow arrange it, a fishroom with insulated walls and ceiling can be heated with a small space heater. You'll get thermal stratification between shelves, warmest at the top and coolest at the floor.

Also consider getting a single larger airpump to power the tanks. It will be more efficient. I was using a couple of the larger pumps (Hagen optima, Tetra DW-96-2) that I replaced with a Won EP-30. The new Won pump is supplying air to a dozen tanks, plus a brine shrimp hatcher. It should be able to do 20 outlets.

Or, you can keep species that don't need heaters like killies and some goodieds ;)

[grumpystiltskin]

Thanks Andrew, these three tanks are specifically for Killies, shows i havnt done my research ,not knowing they dont need heat, that will ease the power problem a lot.
I do have one oulet left for the pump, so i think i should be fine.
Thanks for all the good info
Mick

[PPulcher]

I was thinking about this a little more...

A 50 watt heater is only going to be putting a nominal load of about 0.4 amps on a circuit (Ohms law, Amps = watts/voltage, so 0.42 A = 50 W / 120 V). You can do the calculations for all your equipment and figure out what the total load on the circuit might be. If you are well below 15 A, you might be able to just add another outlet on the existing circuit (if code allows) and run tanks from that. You need some wiggle room as there is a larger draw of current when things like lights start up.

[PPulcher]

Thanks Andrew, these three tanks are specifically for Killies, shows i havnt done my research ,not knowing they dont need heat, that will ease the power problem a lot.
I do have one oulet left for the pump, so i think i should be fine.
Thanks for all the good info


Mick, there are some killies that like it warmer. Which ones are you considering?

I've kept a couple of Fundulopanchax and Aphyosemion species over the winter where the tank temps get down into the mid 60s F with no real problems. They just don't lay as many eggs.

[grumpystiltskin]

Everything goes along nicely with the existing tanks, but with winter coming, i remember last year , we have the furnace running, but in the basement its not quite warm enough for the wife :laugh: , so she cranks up the electric fireplace as well, so we have all the tanks running, the fireplace, then she wants to vacuum and bang, the circuit breaker goes. I might have to look at getting another circuit. I can add more tanks then ...

[CACAdmin]

The vacuum cleaner is a big draw on power. It's the one thing that will trip my circuit breaker. So I was making a point of turning of the computer and the lights on all tanks before vacumming.

[grumpystiltskin]

Good idea Jay, we will shut the lights off until the vacuuming is done. It gets annoying re setting the timers every time .

[Katalyst]

Your forgot the mention the most important thing.

What kinda killies? LOL

[grumpystiltskin]

Im sorry Andrew i missed the post on what kind of killie sorry.
I like eGardneri lokojas ,just to name one type, and Kat has some that she might send me some eggs:yes: , do your ones need heat Kat?Gardneri Lokoja

[PPulcher]

I'm keeping Fp. gardneri 'Lafia' and they do fine at cooler temps over the winter. Your location should do fine into the mid 60s for a few months.

[grumpystiltskin]

Thanks Andrew, thats about the temp i think the water will be inside the house, mid 60,s , so thats great that the species i want are in that range