Chiller on the Way

[aquaconnect]

I don't know about the rest of you, but this past week has shot my tank's temp up, even though I've fanned it, and raised the lights, amongst numberest other attempts to lower the temp. I also don't want my 2 1/2 ton a/c running all the time. Solution=Teco 1/3hp Chiller. It should be here by the weekend, so when I get it hooked up I'll let you know. Maybe I'll be able to mount the halides 1" from the water surface, lol. Anyway, these are supposed to be good so we'll see.

 

[triggerjay]

I still like the water line coiled in an apartment size fridge. lol

Jason

 

[Jah2707]

What temp do you try to keep your tank at?

 

[fewells]

When you need to pull a 180 down 6 or more degrees you just cant get by with a mini fridge.

 

[triggerjay]

get a walk in freezer.. lol.. j/k. Josh, I try to keep mine at 80.. gets up to 82 when I am not running the AC. My sump sits in front of a register...

Jason

 

[Shaun120]

Unfortunately that chiller will be pulling quite a few amps. Hopefully the total will be less than your homes A/C, since it will probably be running almost all the time.

Heat issues STINK!!!! Thank goodness I have mine in the basement.

 

[aquaconnect]

It's only 480 watts, so I'm not really concerned. My a/c ran all weekend, so I think it'll be much cheaper.

 

[triggerjay]

480w / 120v = 4A. About 1/2 of what your home fridge pulls. Not too bad! seems pretty efficent.

Jason

 

[kb0vhy]

Well?? did you get it?? What's the verdict??

 

[aquaconnect]

UPS soccer balled it. I'm going to have a replacement next week, then I'll update you.

 

[triggerjay]

Gotta love UPS...

Jason

 

[aquaconnect]

Got the replacement today. I can now put my 3 X 250 halides about 3" off the water and maintain a consistent 78 degrees. I put the lights that low, hit 85 degrees for a baseline, and then had the chiller pull down in about 2 hrs time, so I'm very pleased. Pretty awesome!!!

 

[Jah2707]

Wow if three 250s do that to a 180 I can imagine I am going to have problems with the two 250s I am going to have with on my 75. They don't heat up my 40 hex but they are like 9 inches off of the water.

 

[aquaconnect]

Well, 9" is fine and where they should be. I'm just going extreme w/3". If I can chill it, than why not. Orginally, I kept mine about 10" off the water, but with the room temp of 78, and all my equipment running, heat was an issue. But no longer!

 

[fewells]

The teco chillers is one of the nicest chiller I have seen. Very compact and QUIET. It even has a silent mode that dave does not even need to use. Well worth the money. It even has an air filter so you do not have to worry about cleaning the radiator and damaging it.

 

[triggerjay]

radiator? that thing got an engine too?? j/k.. Condenser...

Jason

 

[fewells]

yeah the condenser. Most people call it a radiator b/c that is what it looked like.

 

[triggerjay]

I had to mess with you on that one... lol

Jason

 

[hambandit]

anyone ever thought about making their own chiller by running part of the sump through a car a/c condensor or some sort of radiator and putting a fan on it? would be pretty cheap to try, ive got all the parts needed, when i get my **** all going, i might make one. only thing i would be concerned about is cleaning the old coolant from the condensor or radiator or whatever device used.

 

[SoupySteve]

i know that the refrigerant used in most of the models is the r134... o'reilly's carries the stuff fwiw.