chilling a 300 gallon more or less flow?

[K5reefer]

I have a 1/3 hp JBJ and im trying to pull off chilling a 300 gallon tank with it. total water volume arond 420 gallons. i have it set to kick on around 80F calabraterd to tank so tank is really 80.5 when the chiller kicks on. its plumbed into the system threw the sump and the return spits out into a two inch bulk head to the external return pump. so whats better more of less flow threw the chiller?

thanks

-kyle

 

[polywise]

read the manual for the chiller for flow requirements.

I think you are way undersized for that size tank even before you think about heat from pumps, and even basic lighting.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Generally speaking, more flow is better as the rate of heat transfer is largely driven by the temperature difference between the hot thing and the cold thing. The biggest temperature difference occurs at the entrance of the chiller. As the water flows through the chiller, it cools, and the heat transfer slows a bit. So if you can keep the water moving fast, the chiller will cool a bit more efficiently.

That being said, unless you have a very low thermal load, your chiller is undersized. It will certainly work for a while, and maybe even be just fine. But if you have a high heat load, the chiller will run very often, perhaps even all the time, which will dramatically shorten its life.

Also remember that your not cooling 300 gallons, your cooling 420! That's 40% more!!!!

 

[polywise]

Fiziksgeek,
bingo !
well written

 

[K5reefer]

i hear ya thats what i was thinkin im gonna have to get a 1 hp chiller and put it outside. i have a lot of heat 3 400watt mh. i have been running the tank at night with the doors open the chiller has been running hard im gonna have to up grade... anyone use a 1 hp chiller what brands/models are you running?

 

[savethereef]

you can Still use that Chiller. Do you have any fans on your tank. do you have a controler? if you do you can have the fan come one as the chiller comes on to help cool down faster. or you can program it to kick the fan on about 1 degree before the chiller to assist it. i also have a 1/3 chiller on my total volume 227g and since i put my fan on a timer the chiller comes on maybe 1 time a day some time not at all. Its been 1 week since my chiller came on.

 

[Reefer Brian]

Can you exhaust to heat from the light into the attic or something like that. Green Coast Hydro can help you out with that stuff. An inline fan, some duct work and a cycle timer or thermostat switch would suit you best. With that implemented your chiller will be working minimally. Let me know if it works out. Just some ideas. Removing the heat off the lamps is key.....

 

[marinelife]

I have 3 400Watt MHs on my 375 and I use a 1/3 HP chiller with a Iwaki 40 pushing water to it. It runs for just a short time and works great to keep the tank cool.

 

[K5reefer]

what did you set your chiller to kick on at marinelife/
savethereef. i think that maybe im trying to cool it down too much it kicks on at 80
:lol: im gonna make it kick on a 81/82 i have a acjr,still trying to work it all out with the fan. thanks for the ideas.

 

[marinelife]

My comes on to keep the tank at 80