chiller advise

[hermitage]

Hey all

I have a 210, with a 55 gal sump. I use 2 x12" fans to regulate tank temps. It's such a pain. Especially when I travel. I'm driving my wife, and hopefully not my fish, nuts!

In peak summer, I can only run my Mh's for an hour or two. The room temp where the tank is can reach 82.

I haven't had my tank through a winter yet, but so far this fall, keeping the tank temp consistent is crazy....and terribly frustrating.

Question 1 - Will installing a chiller keep the temp consistent during the summer and winter? Is it "hands-off" as far as temp management goes?

Question 2 - What size chiller should I buy?

Question 3 - Are there any other issues I should consider when buying a chiller?

I live in CT, so we're talking 0 in the winter and 100 in the summer. I try to keep my tank temp at 79.

TIA for your advise.

 

[Runfrumu]

I'm on board for this one, I'm getting one next week as well. With the Ac on 75 my tank reaches 83F some days.

 

[Wrench]

Two 12" fans should do the job. I use a single 6" fan under my canopy where I have 2 175w halides. The fan is controlled by an ACJR and turns on when water temps hit 82*f. Yesterday I left the A/C off while I was at work. It was 84* in my condo and the tank was 82.8.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

I have a 210. I do not have a chiller yet. I have an aquacontroller maintaining my tank. Right now I have 1 Vornado fan on the fuge. For the most part, thats all I need. When the tank temp hits 81, the fan goes on as well as 2 bathroom exhaust fans. If it gets to 83, the aquacontroller systematically turns off pumps, halides etc.. so the temp doesnt hit 84.

The only reason I dont have a chiller yet is that we are approaching winter and I will probably not need it until next summer. I think I am going to need 1/2 HP.

 

[trojank]

A chiller is great because you do not have to worry just set it and forget it. I would buy one with Japanese internals. The brand on the outside is not so important. You will need about a 1/2 hp unit. You will be supprised how much better you corals will look with a stable temp.

 

[hermitage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10953016#post10953016 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wrench
Two 12" fans should do the job. I use a single 6" fan under my canopy where I have 2 175w halides. The fan is controlled by an ACJR and turns on when water temps hit 82*f. Yesterday I left the A/C off while I was at work. It was 84* in my condo and the tank was 82.8.

Well, the 12" fans do work. It's just so difficult to monitor tnak temps, and set the fans on low, med, high, on, off, so on and so forth. Especially with the changing temps with fall coming. Recently, my worries are more about low tank temps than high.

Whats an ACJR? Maybe that's what I need. Do you have a link with info?

 

[hermitage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10953153#post10953153 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pmolan
I have a 210. I do not have a chiller yet. I have an aquacontroller maintaining my tank. Right now I have 1 Vornado fan on the fuge. For the most part, thats all I need. When the tank temp hits 81, the fan goes on as well as 2 bathroom exhaust fans. If it gets to 83, the aquacontroller systematically turns off pumps, halides etc.. so the temp doesnt hit 84.

Hmmm sounds like a setup that might work for me. I'll have to check into it. Thanks for the advise.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

 

[hermitage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10953359#post10953359 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trojank
A chiller is great because you do not have to worry just set it and forget it. I would buy one with Japanese internals. The brand on the outside is not so important. You will need about a 1/2 hp unit. You will be supprised how much better you corals will look with a stable temp.

I was hoping to do just that...set and forget it. I saw a 1/3 hp on ebay with mitsubishi internals...do you think that would work?

 

[hermitage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10953506#post10953506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pmolan

That's cool....can you view this info realtime over the internet? Can you remote control stuff in your tank? Crazy

 

[Roy G. Biv]

Yes and yes. Most controllers can give you real time, up to the minute at least, info. Look into the ones that have the ethernet built in. It simply connects to your home network. You can play god from your couch by turning things on and off with your laptop. The prices are comparable to a 1/2 hp chiller. Check out the threads under the sponsor forum. Neptune etc..

 

[Wrench]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10953384#post10953384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hermitage

Whats an ACJR? Maybe that's what I need. Do you have a link with info?

It's an AquaController Jr. It's a fancy timer box that you can use to automate your tank. It's got probes that read Temperature and pH. You can program it to turn on your fans at a certain temperature and even turn off your lights if the tank gets too hot. You can use the pH feature to control the CO2 injection if you're using it. You can also use it as a simple programmable timer. I have mine setup to where my tank temperature varies between only a degree throughout the day. From what you're saying, it sounds like it would do the job for you.

 

[Wrench]

Forgot to add that it's around $300 for everything you need to use it. Much cheaper than a chiller and it doesn't drive up your energy bill either.

 

[Tennsquire]

Some chillers can be one-stop solutions, but it depends on your chiller. I finally gave in and bought a PCI 1/4 hp for my 75 this summer, when it was sweltering here in Tennessee. It has a built-in outlet for my heater, and controls it as needed depending on the temps that I set. With some units, you need to run both the chiller and your heater on a 2 stage controller. Some units have heaters built into the chiller as well. I like the stability that it provides, and I get more enjoyment out of the tank now that I can run the lights pretty much anytime (I previously ran them at night for a large part of the year so they weren't on during the heat of the day).

 

[tspors]

One more thing to remember, although the chiller will control the temp down. Remember, the chiller is nothing but an air conditioner. It will generate alot of heat. If the chiller is under the tank it fights it's own purpose. If possible put the chiller in another room, or basement. Good luck, we are having fun now.

 

[hermitage]

I really like the aquacontroller option that Pmolan and wrnech suggested. A chiller is just pushing my budget right now...especially if I need a 1/2hp. I always thought controllers were REALLY expensive, but the Aqua Controller Jr is only $150!

Thanks for the advise all! Don't know what I'd do withot this forum.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10954070#post10954070 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hermitage
I really like the aquacontroller option that Pmolan and wrnech suggested. A chiller is just pushing my budget right now...especially if I need a 1/2hp. I always thought controllers were REALLY expensive, but the Aqua Controller Jr is only $150!

Thanks for the advise all! Don't know what I'd do withot this forum.

There is a lot to research. Probes and at least 1 DC4 or DC8. Also jrs are not network friendly. You need a computer with a serial connection to get the full benefits. There are other brands people like.. Lighthose is a popular one. It all depends on what you are looking to do.

 

[hermitage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10954171#post10954171 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pmolan
There is a lot to research. Probes and at least 1 DC4 or DC8. Also jrs are not network friendly. You need a computer with a serial connection to get the full benefits. There are other brands people like.. Lighthose is a popular one. It all depends on what you are looking to do.

I was thinking of ACJR with DC8 + Serial port (it looks like it comes with Temp probe, not sure if it comes with PH probe). $249. Not sure exactly why I'd need the DC8, I'll research that some more.

At this point, I'm only concerned with Temp control. With 2 fans, 3 heaters, and 3 ballasts, the DC8 sounds like it would make sense. However, I want to be able to use the controller if I upgrade my system down the road. Currently, I have a skimmer, lights, pumps, ato, and heaters. The only other thing I can think of adding is a Calc reactor. It sounds like the ACJR can automate Co2 injection also.

My rookie brain can't think of any negatives to this unit. Do you know of any issues I should be aware of? Or other features I should be looking for?

 

[Roy G. Biv]

Temp and pH probes are the most used ones. At my tank all of my DC8 is used. 3-halides 1-actinic 2-powerheads 1-fan 1-moonlights. At the sump I have another DC8.