chiller location?

[4everwet]

I'm in the process of building my fishroom and I'm assuming that the chiller should be placed outside of the room and just run some plumbing thru the wall? Never had a fishroom before, but I'm thinking that heat will be the biggest enemy! Any advice appreciated!

 

[Kentanner11]

yes, depending on how big of a chiller you have/are getting some have external condenser/compression units which are run outside, with it coming inside.

 

[reefnetworth]

ive heard of some placed in the garage. i agree, if you put it in the fish room heat could be an issue.
ive read some post/threads where exaust fans have been placed in the ceiling or wall, depending on what you have to work with or through to install it.

 

[4everwet]

yea I installed a Broan Humidity sensing fan in the ceiling. Does everybody use waterproof lights in the fishroom or just regular lights? I'm going to put a light above the tank lights so that when I roll my tank lights back out to work in the tank I will still be able to see down in the tank. And another light at the other end of the room. I saw some waterproof flourescent enclosures at lowe's but if they are not nessesary then I'll just do some recessed lights.

 

[Elliott]

my 1.5 hp 220v chiller sits outside my fish room but in the garage, I wish it was outside since it shuts itself off in the summer due to the garage overheating and there is a pressure over ride switch on the chiller that turns it off. so I have to run an evaporative cooler blowing on the chiller 24/7 to prevent if from shutting off. I will have to move it outside or build a vent over it to exhaust the hot air that blows out of it.

as for lights I use a waterproof florescent light fixture, bought cheap at HD, all in one. Heat is a big issue, along with moisture. I plan to install a separate ac for the room before summer.

 

[Lao Wai]

What I did is to build one with a second hand 1 HP mini-split unit and a heat exchanger. It keeps the heat and the noise outside, saves a lot in electricity and the water never leaves the sump.

 

[MN. Reef crzy]

i would recommend water proof enclosures if i were you, there is no point in risking it for a few extra bucks.

 

[4everwet]

Ok now for ac in the fishroom, if I do a window unit it will exhaust into the garage. Now if my chiller and ac both are exhausting hot air in the garage I would think the garage would be an oven. I considered tapping into my house ac but I wondered since the thermostat is in the house then it would not be very effective? Any thoughts?

 

[Elliott]

you need a separate unit for your fish room on it's own thermostat, hot air should be exhausted to outside

 

[4everwet]

Well none of my fishroom walls meet up with exterior walls. Any ideas?

 

[Elliott]

use a mini split, the condenser hose can go through walls, etc. and can be installed on the roof or outside at ground level, the blower is installed on the wall inside the fish room, no vents are required.

 

[4everwet]

ok where can I find these at?

 

[Elliott]

just do a google search for mini split ac, here is one but there are many:

http://www.minisplitsystems.com/sanyo.html

here's another:

http://www.kingersons.com/index.html

 

[4everwet]

Thanks Elliott

 

[Elliott]

no problem