any ideas?? chiller for total 900 gal setup w/300gal sump-refugium
- Thread starter cbui2
- Start date
polywise
OLD SCHOOL-ish
cbui2,
Here is the deal. They come with a temp control of 2 degree range. good for fish, but in my opinion - not enough control for delicate corals. When I needed to run both (summer) I could never get them to run in tandem. one would shut off and the other would not be ready to do the same ,and just keep running. It was fustrating. I ended up using the control from a medusa, and let it turn on a relay that would then make a connection for the temp signal in each unit. I used set minimum set points on the chiller for a turn off safety if the medusa failed. I If my memory is correct, if the power is interrupted to th chiller, you need to manualy re start it. that's why I used the signal from the temp probes. (Hope this helps)
Here is the deal. They come with a temp control of 2 degree range. good for fish, but in my opinion - not enough control for delicate corals. When I needed to run both (summer) I could never get them to run in tandem. one would shut off and the other would not be ready to do the same ,and just keep running. It was fustrating. I ended up using the control from a medusa, and let it turn on a relay that would then make a connection for the temp signal in each unit. I used set minimum set points on the chiller for a turn off safety if the medusa failed. I If my memory is correct, if the power is interrupted to th chiller, you need to manualy re start it. that's why I used the signal from the temp probes. (Hope this helps)
I've worked with several sizes of the aqualogic chillers, and have found them to be very reliable, though you will want to be careful installing any chiller outside, as corrosion will shorten the service life considerably. I've seen chillers (various brands) routinely burn out in 2-3 years in humid greenhouse type facilities while the same models run 7-8 years+ in temperature controlled buildings.
purpletang26
New member
i am running alittle over 1000gallons of water and i have a 1Hp chiller from current and it works perfect, even comes with a remote.
pch90265
Premium Member
cbui2... i had a 1000G system running in SoCal before I moved to Colorado. i used an aqualogic heat-pump. it's basically a small-home air conditioner (traine) split unit mounted on top of a heat-transfer coil (titanium in PVC shell.) it's totally outdoor rated (NEMA 4 enclosure) and built sturdy as a rock. i used a 1 1/2 HP unit because my neighborhood got up to 115deg in the summer, and I didn't have A/C in the outbuilding that the tank was installed inside of. if your garage doesn't have A/C, might be a good fit for you . . .
the biggest benefit to the heat-pump is that it pushes heat into the water, was well as drawing it out. in other words, one unit becomes your heater and chiller.
you can check them out on the aquatic eco systems web site under "heat pumps"
--sean--
the biggest benefit to the heat-pump is that it pushes heat into the water, was well as drawing it out. in other words, one unit becomes your heater and chiller.
you can check them out on the aquatic eco systems web site under "heat pumps"
--sean--
BruiseAndy
New member
Can't make a suggestion on brand but can on sizing...I'd shoot for the 18,000 btu (1.5hp) range. Maybe you could find hvac guy locally to use a regular A/C unit and online bought Ti HX. With the humidity and heat you get down there you wont be getting much from evaporation losses. Other factors are not known though such as lighting, ambient temp in garage, number of pumps, type of pumps and so forth. 18,000 is just a guess but you couldnt get a more definite number once you get the tank installed w/o livestock if possible.
Far as temperature goes there are numerous systems out there using capacity control that can control down to .1 of a degree but probably nothing off the shelf.
Far as temperature goes there are numerous systems out there using capacity control that can control down to .1 of a degree but probably nothing off the shelf.
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