I am converting my nano fish farm, as quickly as possible, to a low electric consumption filtration system. I have very good reason to, and you should too. Electric costs are going sky high – if they haven’t in your part of the woods, they will be soon. In my part of New Hampshire, our electricity company has raised the electric supply cost to 112% of the former rate.
As this electrical supplier generates electricity using natural gas, I expect electric costs to increase over the Winter, as now Europe has been cut off from their supply of natural gas. The American West that uses water to generate electricity may soon be without completely, as the Colorado River cannot feed Lakes Powell and Mead downstream. No water means no electricity being generated at the Hoover Dam (among other things).
So what is an aquarium hobbyist (or breeder for that matter) to do?
You can get your aquarium hobby electric usage down to a couple of power outlets – even if you’ve got a wall or two of aquariums:
Reduce your overall electric consumption per tank. Start by unplugging your tank heaters. Keep the room temperature at a constant 72 F year-round. It’s tolerable for you, and most tropical freshwater fish. Only heat aquariums for fish that absolutely must have warmer temperatures, like bettas and puffers.
Go low-tech in your tanks. Investigate no-filter and low filtration aquarium set-ups. I prefer low filtration sponge filters. This method provides surface agitation, which solves a number of issues. An air pump of the correct size can “power” sponge filtration in several tanks along a wall. All it takes is a little planning, and only one power outlet - for the air pump!
Use common, low-light aquarium plants to remove toxins and create a great environment for the fish to play, hide and eat algae and microbes. This is especially important if you go no-filtration, as plants increase bio-load in no-filtration tanks.
To provide surface movement of the water in a no-filtration aquarium, have a very small school of hyper-active, top-of the-water-column fish to churn the water. This helps prevent a “scum” coating on the water surface, releases harmful gases and adds oxygen to the water column (as do the plants).
Let the aquarium critters help with the maintenance. I find that between shrimp, Nerite snails and platies, my aquariums stay pretty balanced and tidy.
Unplug the lights! The sun will give your aquarium all the light it needs – FREE! Place your aquarium on its stand EMPTY, in the desired location. Check on how the sunlight hits the aquarium during the day. If direct or long exposure to intense sunlight is noted, move your aquarium until the light is constant, but indirect. Having avoided temperature and algae spikes, it’s now safe to fill and enjoy your aquarium.
Depending on your fish and their needs, some (or all) of these tips will save you a chunk of change going forward - keeping you in the hobby you love. Even while electricity costs soar. Good Luck to us all!
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