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Running Cost Calculator

What your tank costs in electricity, from the heater, filter and light. The heater is usually the big one, and it only draws power part of the time.

Heater

A thermostatic heater only runs to hold temperature. In a normal room, 20 to 40% is typical; a cold room pushes it higher.

Filter and light

per day
per month
per year

Where the cost goes

The heater is nearly always the biggest line, and it only runs to hold temperature, so the same tank costs far more in a cold room than a warm one. A lid and a sensible target temperature save more than fussing over the filter or light. To cut the heater's share, size it sensibly with the heater wattage calculator after checking your true water volume in the volume calculator. For the wider household, see Power Saving Guide.

FAQ

How much does an aquarium cost to run?

Mostly the electricity for the heater, filter and light. This calculator adds up their wattage and duty cycle and multiplies by your price for a cost per day, month and year.

What uses the most electricity in an aquarium?

The heater, especially in a cold room. A lid and a warm spot cut the bill more than anything. Filters and LED lights draw comparatively little.

What duty cycle should I use for the heater?

The share of time it is actually on. In a normal room 20 to 40% is typical; a cold room pushes it higher. If unsure, 30% is a fair starting figure.

Daily energy = (heater W × duty% × 24h) + (filter W × 24h) + (light W × light hours), divided by 1000 for kWh, times your price. The heater dominates in cold rooms, so a lid and a warm spot cut the bill more than anything. For the household side of energy, see Power Saving Guide.