chiller options

[Junjokun]

I've noticed that even though the air tempature in my house is 70 degrees farienheit, my tank is already 78-80f under the lights. My wife doesn't like to keep that air conditioning on when no one is home, so I need to find a way to keep my tank cool during the day this summer. Besides spending $400 - $600 on chiller, is there any other good options for 60 gallon tank? My wife will kill me if she notcies I dropped $500 on yet another expensive piece of equipment for my tank.

Thanks, Patrick

 

[chadfarmer]

fan over the sump but evaporation will be more

 

[sbeason]

I agree with Chad, the fan over the sump or main tank is definitely cheaper, but you will see alot more water evaporation. -Steve

 

[Junjokun]

Just any kind of fan. Any recomendations?

 

[DrBDC]

Any kind. A regular box fan works great or if you want to keep the size down those Honeywell vortex fans put out some air.

Keep in mind too the temps we've had. I know we haven't turned on the a/c yet and I'm hitting close to the hottest my tank ever gets. Because any hotter and the a/c will probably be turned on. I actually thought about it yesterday but then I thought "that's rediculous". In fact this morning it's only back down to 80.5 whereas it was 82.0 yesterday. 81-83 is a normal and optimal temp range for most marine invertabrates. But I do aim for the 79-80 temp. In fact my heater kicks on if it goes under 79.

 

[saltyunderground]

We run a fan over the sump and use egg crate instead or glass covers in the summer. We also run the lights early in the day when it's coolest too. It generally does not go above 84 at the most with three MH lights and 4 t5s.

 

[spooda420]

I have lobster chiller that I am willing to part with. Its not the prettiest thing, infact it would work best in a remote sump area. it is capable of chilling 100g+ down to 40 - 50 degrees. its an industrial piece of equipment that you would find at Schucks chilling the live lobster tanks... if interested I'll post a pic and the price is $150.

Or I have a wine room chiller (basically a fancy way to chill a room) you can set the exact temp and it has an external 'wine probe' to keep the room at a desired temp, $400 retails for close to $1000

PM me and I can send you pics if interested....