🐠 Aquarium

How much electricity does an aquarium use? Heater, filter and lights: yearly cost

Average electricity use of freshwater, tropical and marine aquariums including heater, filter and lighting, with the running cost.

Typical power

50 W

Cost per hour

$0.009 · £0.013

Per year · 438 kWh

$79 · £114

With 24 hours a day, electricity at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh all-in.

An aquarium runs 24 hours a day, so even a few watts add up. A 100-litre tropical tank uses 40–60 W on average: the filter is always on (5–10 W), LED lights run 10 hours a day and the heater, the biggest item, switches on whenever the water drops below 24–26 °C.

That’s about 450 kWh a year, about as much as an old fridge. Marine tanks with circulation pumps and powerful lights use much more.

Consumption compared

TypeUsagekWh/yearCost/year
30 litres, cold water (filter + LED light)10 W88$16 · £23
100 litres, tropical50 W438$79 · £114
250 litres, tropical110 W964$173 · £251
400 litres, marine (pumps, skimmer, lights)250 W2,190$394 · £569

Yearly cost with 24 hours a day.

Work out your cost

Per hour
$0.009
Per month
$6.57
Per year
$79
Energy per year
438 kWh

The price is a typical all-in figure for your country: replace it with yours (bill total ÷ kWh).

How to use less

  • Use a lid: evaporation cools the water and makes the heater work harder.
  • Keep the tank away from windows and outside doors, and switch to LED lights if you still have fluorescent tubes.
  • Put the lights on a timer: 8–10 hours is enough for fish and plants and limits algae.
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FAQ

How much electricity does an aquarium use?
About 50 W, or 0.1 kWh for each hour of use; from 5 to 400 W depending on the model.
How much does it cost per year?
With 24 hours a day it uses about 438 kWh a year: about $79 · £114 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.
How can I reduce it?
Use a lid: evaporation cools the water and makes the heater work harder. Keep the tank away from windows and outside doors, and switch to LED lights if you still have fluorescent tubes.

And what does your whole home use?

The calculator estimates heating, hot water and appliances and tells you what to change first.

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