Some help is needed.

DCreptiles · #1 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 01:10 AM

ok guys im approaching my very first summer with my PDF's as many of you already know iv had and bred reptiles for yrs but the PDF world is still very new to me. i have a few questions.. main concern is temps i have my central air for the apartment at 79 to 80 to keep the temps comfortable for the frogs. now all my frogs are located in the living room and with their lights on with the apartment at 80 has the vivs at 81/82 thats with no one home. when we are all at home i keep the air at 75 to 77. and during the night the air is set to 73-74 now my timers to my lights are set to go on at 8am and off at 8pm i just got my energy bill and it nearly doubled since last month.. so does anyone have any advice for me on how to keep my energy low? each viv has its own UV full spectrum lighting since i cannot fit a full fixture i dont think between the tank and next shelf above. another concern of mine is my cultures. this past winter i kept them on the highest shelf now i think i need to reloacate them to the lowest but im afraid that isnt enough.. can any suggest how to keep them cool? and lastly are the viv lights needed for the frogs day and night cycle? can i shorten it and on very hot days just turn them off? anytype of help would be greatly appriciated.

-Derek

frogparty · #2 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 01:15 AM

whn the days are really hot I turn off the lights, or at least one of the lights on each viv. The 3 bulb exo terra has 2 switches, one turns off 1 light the other the outer 2, so thats nice. on the 2 bulb fixture I either turn it all the way off,or just unscrew1 bulb
I would bet that you could cut an hour or 2 off your light cycle without much of a problem too.

Enlightened Rogue · #3 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 01:47 AM

Honestly, I don`t even bother with my lights when it`s starts getting hot.
I have my viv`s in a room that gets some in-direct sunlight and my plants still grow like weeds.

John

Dragas · #4 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 01:51 AM

I have my lights go off for a bit in the late afternoon early evening, just before I get home. Seems to keep the temps under 80. Room temp is 74.

SamsonsFrogs · #5 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 01:57 AM

DcReptiles,

I work as property Maintenance and there are a few things that make your electricity bill go up. One is Phone chargers or any kind of charger for that matter. They will draw electricity even if your not charging anything. The 3 main appliances that use most of the electricity in an apartment is the Fridge, Dishwasher, and A/C. If you use the D/W try washing them with your hands and see if your bill drops 25 or 30 bucks. Also for the heat with your FF. I wouldn't really worry about it. As long as you don't have them in direct sunlight and its not higher than 80 in your apartment then they will be fine. But remember Heat rises so adjust accordingly.

Sam

DCreptiles · #6 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 02:21 AM

its just eli her son and my self in the apartment so we dont run the dish washer yes i have alot of chargers plugged in all over the apartment because i have 2 phones eli has 1 and her son has 1 plus i keep one by my desk and one by the bed. does the light cycle effect the frogs breeding? i keep the shades closed to the apartment because if i let the light in the apartment will quickly rush to 90. i think its time i maybe move my forgs lights off the tanks a bit. but i still dont see how it could have doubled i just been using the central air more since as it gets hotter outside it gets hotter in the apartment. so it turns on more often.
-Derek

frogfreak · #7 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 02:48 AM

If you're keeping it at 79-80 during the day and 73-74 at night you're air conditioning has to try and drop the temp. 6F every day. You'd be better off keeping it at a steady temp. When we have a heat wave coming (like last week) we have the air conditioning going for one day previous to the heat wave. The air conditioning isn't just cooling the air. It also cools your walls, floors and furniture. So if you're at 80F during the day and 74F at night. All night it's trying to cool those objects because they're giving off temps. that are warmer than you room. Hope this helps.

DCreptiles · #8 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogfreak

If you're keeping it at 79-80 during the day and 73-74 at night you're air conditioning has to try and drop the temp. 6F every day. You'd be better off keeping it at a steady temp. When we have a heat wave coming (like last week) we have the air conditioning going for one day previous to the heat wave. The air conditioning isn't just cooling the air. It also cools your walls, floors and furniture. So if you're at 80F during the day and 74F at night. All night it's trying to cool those objects because they're giving off temps. that are warmer than you room. Hope this helps.

well the thing is this.. its auto for the central air so if i set it to one temp it will maintain it. i try to keep it at 79 80 during the day to conserve energy but keep the frogs from over heating now if i just turn the central air off and left id come home to toast for frogs. itll prob be around 88 to 90 dagrees with out the central air being set to 80.. the first hot day we had i came home and it was 87 dagrees in the apartment but everyone was fine but i lost all my cultrues. i guess im trying to cool the tanks during the day and not have to run the central air for them during the day at night i cool everything to low 70's because thats how i like it when i sleep aparently my girlfriend says we need a fan because i run it to much lol.
-Derek

jubjub47 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 04:45 AM

Hey Derek, a few things. Glenn was completely right. It's typically cheaper to keep a steady temperature throughout the day because when you get home the a/c will work nonstop for hours to accomodate your temperature drop when you lower it on the thermostat. I've also switched to using standard t5 lights on all my vivs. This has done two things. It keeps the temps down and uses very minimal electricity while also maintaining enough light for the plants. I would also recommend getting blackout curtains for your windows. They do amazing things. I have them installed at my apt and they keep so much heat out that it's ridiculous. My bedroom alone dropped a consistent 3 degrees with the installation of blackout curtains. Being down here in Texas where it's 100+ for nearly 2 months we do everything we can to keep things efficient. I keep my apt at 76 and non of my vivs get above 78.

DCreptiles · #10 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubjub47

Hey Derek, a few things. Glenn was completely right. It's typically cheaper to keep a steady temperature throughout the day because when you get home the a/c will work nonstop for hours to accomodate your temperature drop when you lower it on the thermostat. I've also switched to using standard t5 lights on all my vivs. This has done two things. It keeps the temps down and uses very minimal electricity while also maintaining enough light for the plants. I would also recommend getting blackout curtains for your windows. They do amazing things. I have them installed at my apt and they keep so much heat out that it's ridiculous. My bedroom alone dropped a consistent 3 degrees with the installation of blackout curtains. Being down here in Texas where it's 100+ for nearly 2 months we do everything we can to keep things efficient. I keep my apt at 76 and non of my vivs get above 78.

thanks thats ahuge help im going to switch all th ebulbs in the house to the energy saving ones also look into switching all the lights for my vivs to t5's and look into those black out curtains since most of the heat comes in from the sun. thanks that was very helpful eveyrone has been so helpful i also ran around unplugging eveyrhting that doesnt need to be pullged in and pulls power lol.