Chiller help, which one?

[JohnDeStef]

I have the opportunity to buy one of two chillers, both are used but less than $170 delivered to me. Could I please have your opinion on the two models?

The right chiller needs to be very quiet as it is going to be in a bedroom cooling my Nanowave9.

Thanks!

Pacific Coast Imports CL-85 Thermo electric heater/chiller

AquaMedic Titan 150 chiller

 

[sir_dudeguy]

something like this fan would be the only "chiller" i'd get unless this is gonna be for a coldwater tank. I wouldnt get that big of a fan, it was just the closest thing i could find to it in like 2 seconds on a google search haha.

But seriously...why pay 170 for a chiller (which uses a lot more electricity btw) when you could get a small clip on fan blowing across the surface of the water for under 10 bucks. At least thats a better 1st attempt than going full out w/a chiller. Worst case scenario if you get a clip on fan, it doesnt work good enough and you've got yourself a small clip on fan you can use for yourself.

Chillers are overrated imo. I'm in arizona and the house gets over 85-90 all the time when we're not home (dont run A/C when we're away). I've never used a chiller, just fans, and i've never had a problem w/heat.

 

[JohnDeStef]

Unfortunately my Nanowave9 has a very narrow canopy and the lights/splash guard comes very close to the water. There's really no where to put a fan to circulate air across the water.

I have already installed to Papst fans in the canopy to cool the enclosed bulb area, and lower the water line an inch or two. I dropped 2-3 degrees by doing that.

But my temps are stuck at 80-83 degrees constantly. I want to effectively and consistantly drop another 5 degrees...

I don't know which of these listed chillers has a reliable reputation and operates quietly...

 

[sir_dudeguy]

i see... and is there a place where you can have the chiller rigged up to it?

 

[JohnDeStef]

I'm going to remove the stock return pump, replace it with a unit to handle going to the chiller then use the return line from the chiller back to the return line into the tank.

The stock pump is 110gal/hr. There are notches in the back of the canopy to run external lines.

 

[reefsafe]

I love my cl85!! Definitely recommend it!

 

[sir_dudeguy]

in that last pic...where that flap opens up, is that like the back "sump" chamber part of the tank? And is there water right below that flap? And are you using that back chamber for a fuge? (i see the light but not sure if you're using it). If you're not using that light for anything, could you just take off that flap? That would be perfect for that clip on fan (and if you're having pH problems, that also may help w/that. Also maybe leaving that flap open will lower the temp a bit. Hard to say tho)

 

[scottk]

BTW: How do you like your NanoWave? Are you happy with the skimmer performance?

 

[Doglover_50]

two quick things. I'm not sure you need to drop 5 degrees. 80 degrees plus or minus is fine. Also--in my jbj nano cube 12g, when my house heats up in the summer, I just prop open the lid about an inch or two and run a fan similar to what sirdude mentioned. Really the only problems that causes are evap. and possibility that a fish could jump. The $ is yours to spend, but I think there are lower cost options.

 

[sditch]

I have modified my JBJ 24dx with a 70 watt HQI and 2 x 18 watt PC under the lid.....I just put a fan blowing air accross the top of the lid and side of the tank and it keeps me in the high 70's....

 

[JohnDeStef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9349362#post9349362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottk
BTW: How do you like your NanoWave? Are you happy with the skimmer performance?

Yes I am, but it is give and take. Keep the water level up and the skimmer's great, but then the lights act as a water heater when the water's close...

I added fans to the hood and directly vented the bulbs, and dropped the water level to just being visible, and I got the temps to 80-82 degrees.

 

[JohnDeStef]

Well I've got a veeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrry curious 3yr old.

Nuf said.



So the top stays closed. I settled on the Titan 150.

I just did the SoCal filter box mod to one of the filter baskets, just a little differently though. So now I have room to put in a much larger pump to go to the chiller then a direct line back into the tank.



Sorry for the blurry cellphone pics....

Those boxes are tapered, so I cut the blue sponge filter in half, and used the bottom half for that box.

I also put that new assembly in the slot between the fuge and return pump. I'm going to add crushed live rock to the other filter box and use that one inbetween the skimmer and fuge.

That way the junk from the tank will first be skimmed, then filtered with live rock, more junk will be filtered in the fuge (and fed to the blue legged crab back there), then sponge filtered, and *eventually* (when it's hooked up) clean SW will be pumped from the last chamber to a chiller then returned directly to the tank.

Whew!

Is it possible to install the chiller 3ft above the water line? It has more shiny buttons and fancy green lights!!!

 

[All Delight]

I had the pacific coast one. It was horrible. I returned it.

 

[JohnDeStef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9426185#post9426185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by All Delight
I had the pacific coast one. It was horrible. I returned it.

I talked to the factory rep and he did NOT recommend it. He said for a 9 gallon in sometimes an 80 degree room, get at least the 150 or definately the 280.

Kudos for Pacific Coast being straight up.:smokin:

 

[cherubfish pair]

Anybody use an IceProbe?

 

[cherubfish pair]

IceProbe?