You can find ways to save energy in just about every corner of your home – including aquariums and terrariums.
Start by insulating the tank, says the German Pet Supplies Industry Association (IVH). You can line the bottom and outer walls with polystyrene panels to improve heat insulation. This is particularly important for terrariums, as a certain temperature is vital for some reptiles, according to the IVH.
Aquarium and terrarium owners should also make sure they use the right technology.Modern, energy-efficient pumps and filters often consume less electricity than older models. It is also important that the equipment is appropriate for the size of the tank.
Frank Lehmann from the Association of German Aquarium and Terrarium Clubs (VDA) recommends modern LED lamps instead of fluorescent tubes for lighting aquariums.
Use a timer to ensure that terrariums are correctly lit. For reptiles from temperate climates, such as lizards or slow worms, you can cut the lighting time to eight to nine hours in winter.
Owners of certain fish species can save electricity by dispensing with oxygen pumps or bubble stones, IVH says. Aquarium fish usually get enough oxygen by swimming at the water surface.
Lehmann also recommends using an electricity meter to check the consumption of lamps, pumps and filters from time to time and a digital thermometer to check the water temperature. Reducing it by just one to two degrees would have a positive effect on your electricity bill.
As cold-blooded reptiles in terrariums require temperatures of 40 to 50°C using heat lamps and UV light, the heat source from the terrarium can be used to heat the entire room. That means that is one room you do not need to heat, so switch it off there. – dpa
