chiller question
- Thread starter JCnflies
- Start date
but, beware that submersible pumps add a lot more heat to your tank than external pumps.
I mix my saltwater with a mag 12 because it keeps 40 gallons at about 80 degrees without needing an external heater. If I assume room temp. is 70, thats 10 degrees added to 40 gallons! That's a lot of extra heat.
In my old tank I used 2 sub. pumps, a mag 18 for skimmer, and one mag 12 for return. Since upgrading, and utilizing a Dart w/ manifold, I use none, and have not needed a chiller in 2 years.
I'd imagine you're returning with a submersible also (since you don't want to drill holes.) You may be better off drilling a large enough hole so you could use an external pump to feed your return, your chiller, skimmer and whatever else.
You might actually find that you dont even need a chiller or that you can avoid using one by altering your lighting schedule during the hottest weeks of the year. You wouldnt need a dart, btw. Probably get by with a much smaller pump, ie Iwaki 40.
HTH
I mix my saltwater with a mag 12 because it keeps 40 gallons at about 80 degrees without needing an external heater. If I assume room temp. is 70, thats 10 degrees added to 40 gallons! That's a lot of extra heat.
In my old tank I used 2 sub. pumps, a mag 18 for skimmer, and one mag 12 for return. Since upgrading, and utilizing a Dart w/ manifold, I use none, and have not needed a chiller in 2 years.
I'd imagine you're returning with a submersible also (since you don't want to drill holes.) You may be better off drilling a large enough hole so you could use an external pump to feed your return, your chiller, skimmer and whatever else.
You might actually find that you dont even need a chiller or that you can avoid using one by altering your lighting schedule during the hottest weeks of the year. You wouldnt need a dart, btw. Probably get by with a much smaller pump, ie Iwaki 40.
HTH
Lastly, If you do go this route (and I highly suggest it), I have an Iwaki 40 you could borrow to try it out. Actually, I probably have a few drilled sumps here too.
See the Lonnie tank threads for what I mean by a manifold.
I know going to an external is a pain, but really it's the only to go once you get serious.
See the Lonnie tank threads for what I mean by a manifold.
I know going to an external is a pain, but really it's the only to go once you get serious.
keefsama2003
In Memoriam
I agree i have all of my pumps external and during the hottest part of the summer my tank got up to about 84-85 but im averaging 82 anyway and thats without any kind of heater needed now with the winter its staying at 82 no deviations at all i had it upto 86 for a while trying to induce my clowns to spawn but i have since moved them to their own tank and my tank while it is still running is rock steady at 82 with 1 heater running a 150watt heater.
so you may really want to try out external setup and see how it is. when i had my 90 gal tank up with all the internal pumps i needed a chiller on the tank as it wouldnt go below 87 and thats with no heaters on that tank.
so you may really want to try out external setup and see how it is. when i had my 90 gal tank up with all the internal pumps i needed a chiller on the tank as it wouldnt go below 87 and thats with no heaters on that tank.
