Chiller Recommendations

T

tiberiusjones

Premium Member
Sooo I got the sump problem fixed, lights going, pump is quiet, everything is hunky dory.. got even a new ETSS Reef Devil Deluxe, not producing much skimmate but then agian i got nothing in the tank but sand...
I checked my salinity, Ph and Temp and HOLY CHRISTMAS 86.4 Degrees Fahrenheit! What the fahrvegnugen is going on here? Ididnt think it got that hot yesterday afternoon, my windows were open and I had a breeze going.
SO I tried putting a fan circulating next to the hood holding 4 48" T12's. I will check again when I get home my temps.
My question is, what is a good Chiller to get for my 125 gallon system. I dont wanna be running my AC all day in the summer and I know my house will get hot.... recommendaitons???
 
I'm running into the same problem myself... My tank was running about 85 yesterday. Not good... this is the first day that it's gotten that hot. Normally it runs right on target at about 78 degrees - 80 degrees. I've been trying to figure out a budget way to cool the tank... no sump and I definitely don't have half a grand to drop on a chiller. ;)

Let me know what you figure out. I thought about getting a floor fan and circulating hot air out of the room... not sure how well it will work though.
 
Time for me to open my stand base and get the circular fan going. :)

I am too cheap to buy a chiller...
 
like runner said, put a small fan in your sump...you won't believe the difference it can make on heat dissipation. Plus I have a fan blow across the top of the tank...so far, no need for a chiller. Plus don't really have room for a chiller.
dave
 
As far as the fan blowing across the top of the tank... how do you keep it waterproof? What do you do if you don't have a canopy? Right now I've got a 48" light on top of a 36" tank... that would be a pretty funny looking canopy, lol.
 
The only problem with just using a fan is on humid days without air conditioning you will not evaporator much water if any, which means no major cooling will take place. Also saying you don't want to run your A/C when not home will cause your tank temp to reach room temp or very close to it. So think of it this way. house is 100 degrees during the day tank will be close to that plus the heat from the lights and equipment will not only heat the tank but will also heat the house. So just using a fan will not be a good option. For a 125 as you are talking about without A/C you may need a 1/3 HP chiller or larger to bring the temps down. If you run your A/C you may still need a chiller unless you keep your house cool. Not what you wanted to hear but this is the reality.
 
Now I'm glad I held off on the metal halides! The PC's still put out a bit more light than expected though...

I'll keep checking to see how things work out for you! Let me know what you find works best, whether it be a few fans or a chiller.
 
My 1/4 hp chiller has been kicking in the past few days on my 125 gallon. I wouldn't go any smaller on the chiller for a 125, though. Chillers will add a lot of heat to your home, though, so you'll be fighting it with your AC.

Careful choice of pumps, eliminating all submersibles wherever possible (incl. power heads and dreaded Seio heaters), will make some difference. Reducing the photoperiods and staggering when the lights come on also help. A fan across the sump and the tank top, if open, will help, but if you run high intensity lighting, you'll probably need a chiller unless you want to keep your house well below the desired tank temp.
 
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My chiller has been in bad need of service...we've only noticed it over the past week or so though. I staggered my lights so that they are off by the mid-afternoon (on when I come downstairs for breakfast).
 
The solution is to locate your aquarium so the garage is on the other side of the wall behind it. Then you can drill a few holes in the wall. :)

Or locate it in the crawl space under your house and put a hole or two in the floor. Perhaps a good idea for flood prevention, anyway.

Neither will do good for your house value and should be done with your spouse is away visiting her parents. :)
 
my lil poseidon pump is putting out a lot of heat, i think thats the major source of heat, but the house is pretty warm.. so i think im gonna go with a jbj 1/3 hp chiller
 
Ok I am ordering a Aqualogic Trimline Cyclone 1/3 HP chiller ( dropin) from Marinedepot.com today, i will post my results once I get it set up.
 
I got it set up, wow what a difference too... it works fast... boy it sure heats up the room, nice on cold days like we had this week but uh oh summer will be another story, fortunately its next to a window so i will just "exhaust" the hot air out the window...
 
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