Chiller Question?

[Mac73]

Hello All:

I have a 46 gallon tank set-up in my covered porch and I am very concerned about temperature regulation as spring is quickly approaching.

I live in South Florida and the covered porch last summer averaged between 76 - 78 at night and 82 - 85 during the day. I light with a 150 watt MH over a glass canpoy.

What would be an appropriate sized chiller for the 46 gallon tank? Any brands better than others?

My tank has been set-up for 3 weeks and I have been able to keep it between 76 and 80 with a 350 watt heater. (We do get some "chilly" winter nights in Fl but I think keeping it cool is going to be more difficult than keeping it warm.)

Thanks in advance for suggesstions/comments.

-Mac 73

 

[BenH98]

Where I live in california we got 100+ during last summer. It was a constant battle to keep my water temp stable. Instead of buying an expensive chiller, I bought a cheap little clip on fan that blows over the top of the water during the day. I would say that it helped drop the temp a good 5-7 degrees.

My advivce... if you can afford a chiller - sorry I don't know what size to get) if you can't - get a fan!

 

[EdKruzel]

I agree with the clip on fan across the water surface. Remove the glass canopy to allow temperature/gas exchanges.

Ed

 

[jimbo045]

A homemade one is the key. Take the COLD blue part of a drinking water dispensor, and run it in the tank with gravity and power head and it is good to go. JD

 

[hans1976]

Fans did ok on my 72 (although I finally broke dwon and got a chiller)......with the 180 and halides, I do need the chiller. What is more important is the stability. Having a 4 degree swing is too much IMO.

 

[Palancar]

When it gets hot outside I just turn on my A/C

 

[supertech3]

I would wait on the chiller, until you know whether it is needed. I waited until running my MH for about four hours and the temp was going above 82degrees before I purchased one.
1st try removing your glass tops
2nd try fans
monitor your temp while testing with the lights on

 

[henkhugo]

Hey guys,

I'm a long time reader, 1st time poster. Regarding that chiller - what ever you do stay away from the Boyu chillers. They are seriously bad, heats the water instead of chilling it, leaks oil into the tank ect. The list goes on and on. I'm replacing mine with an AquaMedic one.

Keep well,

Henk Hugo

South Africa

 

[egdevilboy]

I have a 1/10hp chiller from Pacific Coast Imports (Model c-280) which is perfect for any tank under 100 gallons. I run it on my 45 during summer days and it can drop the h2o into the 50s if necessary (which would suck...)