Power Compact Lighting
I dont know how long to keep my saltwater aquarium lights on for?
I am starting a 29 gallon reef tank. I have a power compact light with 1 actinic blue light and one 10,000 k daylight bulb for day time and 2 LED moon lights and I dont know how long I should have each of them on for or when to turn them on?
I would run your moonlights for about 14-16 hours (some prefer to run these 24/7, however I have yet to find in benefit form this that can be scientifically proven other than aesthetics).
As for the other two lights, I recommend timers that would turn the actinic light on about 1/2 hour ahead of the daylight bulb and 1/2 hour later in the evening. I generally have the brightest lights on for about 12 hours per day.
Do you know the wattage, lumens per watt, rating of these bulbs?
This is very important with a Reef tank.
Having the proper lighting parameters is so important for a reef tank, and the wattage per gallon rule is only a starting point the same way the 1” fish per gallon rule is, neither are all that reliable for a serious aquarist
For more lighting information, please visit this site:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html
Not to get too political, however I cannot in good conscience let the last comment go by; I would never recommend getting advice from liveaquaria/DR. Foster & Smith, being in this business for many, many years and with many contacts in the fish importing trade and other aspects of this hobby (not to mention the many clients I have talked to that have dealt with them), liveaquaria is not a place I would recommend getting advice from or anything else IMO.
:~) C
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Part 1 of this article addressed energy efficiency issues for the home exterior. Here, in Part 2, we will discuss the interior.
The principle of waste not-want not makes for excellent home economics as well as being ecologically friendly. Reduce-reuse-recycle is more than a slogan; it is a way of life. As the average homeowner becomes more aware of the need for energy efficiency, home electronics keep getting smarter and more efficient. The key to sustained energy efficiency is to keep thinking of ways to make your home smarter. Here are several ideas to get you started:
Laundry Room
Do laundry on a designated day. This will ensure that you are doing full loads. Whenever possible, use cold water. Heating water accounts for a large portion of electricity consumed by your clothes washer. If your washer is due for a change, only consider an Energy Star certified appliance, which uses less energy, less water, and has a better spin cycle, which means your clothes come out drier than with a traditional washing machine.
If possible, use a clothes drying stand and dry your laundry naturally. If this is not feasible, dry full loads. Cleaning the lint trap before each load helps the dryer function more efficiently and can be accomplished easily with a handheld vacuum cleaner. Using dryer sheets reduces static and helps dry clothes faster. Another small step would be to shake out clothes before transferring them to the dryer. This permits heated air to circulate more freely through the clothes and for the machine to work better.
An iron is best used keeping the 'gear' principle in mind. Iron your synthetics and silks first as these require the least heat. This is first gear. By the time you progress to cottons, the iron has heated up fully and reached its final gear. This approach will save you both time and money.
Hot Water Heater
Most home water heaters have a setting to change the water temperature. By adjusting this down only a few degrees, a significant energy savings can be achieved. Most households never even notice the difference, as the full contents of the water heater are rarely used at one time.
Bedrooms
Lighting is the easiest place to start cutting back on power consumption. Replace all bulbs with energy saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. This is especially important if your bedroom ceiling fan comes with multiple light bulbs. The ambience need not suffer. Drapes, curtains, and blinds can also help keep your home cool. For your bedroom as well as other areas of your home, make the most of natural light with the use of mirrors and lighter shades of wall paint.
Den and Home Office
If you are gadget crazy, use power strips to your advantage. When not in use, switching off the power strip will also turn off all plugged-in items. The power strip is used optimally in the home office and in the den. It effectively eliminates power dissipation caused from appliances' standby mode.
If possible, charge your cell phone and iPod in the car on your way to work. This will use free, excess power generated by the car engine. If you work from home, consider using multi-function gadgets. For example, the scanner-printer-copier-fax combination machine is a versatile and energy-efficient solution for a home office.
Kitchen
The kitchen can be a focal gathering point in many homes. This is one place where there can be no compromise on lighting. CFLs come in different ranges of brightness and for the kitchen, 'daylight' brightness is ideal. If your kids like to do their homework at the kitchen table, this bright lighting will serve the purpose.
While the discussion of individual kitchen appliances is beyond the scope of this article, you should know that while researching ovens, stoves, ranges, refrigerators, freezers, garbage disposal units, dishwashers, and other kitchen appliances, the government-run website, energystar.gov, is an outstanding resource.
Energy Audit
Finally, consider auditing your home energy efficiency by comparing it with similar homes across the nation. In order to do this, you will need a year's worth of utility bills, a list of energy sources you use at home, and the square footage of your residence. With this information, you can use the Home Energy Yardstick (also available at the energystar.gov website) to see how you measure up and where improvements can be made.
By implementing many of the suggestions presented in both parts of this article, you will be well along the path to a more energy efficient home, a reduced monthly budget, and a more earth-conscious you!
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