Do I need a chiller? What are my options?

J

jazzy_n_fancy

New member
Hi everyone! I have a 36g that's been set up for about 3 months now. Everything seems to be going really well so far with 1 clownfish (had him for about 2 years in a previous tank), 2 chromis, 1 cleaner shrimp, plus some snails and hermits. I guess I tend to keep my apt on the warmer side and my tank stays right at 80°. Like I said, everyone and everything seems to be doing well, but I'd like to at some point get some coral as well and wondering if 80° is too warm. The little bit that I have looked at chillers, they almost seem more trouble than it might be worth. What do you think? Thanks!

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If you can somehow keep it constant in all seasons (plus or minus just a couple of degrees), 80 is perfect. On the other hand, people who learn to operate chillers swear by them, and so much the better for not suffering the loss of your tank in a heat spell.
 
You would be surprised how much a small fan blowing across the top of the tank can decrees temps, specially in such a small tank.



I have one of those desk clamp fans blowing across the top of my 80G cube. I can decrease temps by as much as 5 degrees. Of course you'll see more evaporation, but the temps stay normal.



FWIW, as long as you can stay at 80(+- 5 degrees) is totally fine as long as your animals(yes corals are technically animals) are acclimated to this higher temp, everything will be fine.
 
I would not even think about a chiller or anything until my tank temperature is over 83 deg F on average or over 85F at any time..

80deg F is not a problem at all..
Attempting anything (even a fan) at this point is attempting to solve a non-existent problem and is just causing a loss of efficiency (higher energy cost related to the fan running as well as the costs of the additional evaporation caused by that fan)..
The reason a fan works is because it increases the evaporation rate and evaporation causes cooling...

You are totally fine.. Nothing needed at 80deg F..

In the summer months my house stays at like 76-78 and I just unplug my heaters and all is fine.. I only run/plug in heaters during the winter when I keep my house at 71..
 
This is all helpful. Thank you. I won't worry too much about it but will maybe look into a small fan. I live in South Florida. Last year I lost power after Irma for a couple days.. that's the only time it would get any hotter than I leave it normally. Omg... I didn't even think about that til now. I need to figure out what I'm going to do if that happens again.

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jazzy_n_fancy said:
This is all helpful. Thank you. I won't worry too much about it but will maybe look into a small fan. I live in South Florida. Last year I lost power after Irma for a couple days.. that's the only time it would get any hotter than I leave it normally. Omg... I didn't even think about that til now. I need to figure out what I'm going to do if that happens again.

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Click to expand...

Generator.... generator...generator..
A generator is the second thing you buy when you live in Florida.. First is toilet paper.. Cause everyone needs toilet paper :) Third is sunscreen just in case you were wondering....
 
mcgyvr said:
Generator.... generator...generator..
A generator is the second thing you buy when you live in Florida.. First is toilet paper.. Cause everyone needs toilet paper :) Third is sunscreen just in case you were wondering....
Click to expand...
I live in an apt though.. all I have is sunscreen, flip flops, and a swim suit
Battery operated air pump?

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A battery powered air pump works in a smaller tank for short term power outages. Your rock and sand will still be doing its job. Also get a space blanket to wrap your tank to insulate and maintain the temperature.

My air pump takes 2 D batteries (will work with just one) and lasts a week on the one battery.

When you get corals, you will need a generator for your lights.
 
+1 on the fan, I used a computer fan and it did wonders for my 75g back in the day. Expect more evaporation though, since thats the cooling method your making with a fan.

Another option for short power outages are Uninteruptable Power Supplies. Won't help you long term but it can handle low watt pumps for 4-8 hours depending on what you get.
 
Do you NEED a chiller? The answer is no, but...

Once you have an established tank, where the fish start to get expensive and the corals can get crazy expensive to buy; and are worth a ton more once they become good size colonies, you'll be really glad you have a generator and probably even a small chiller... especially the OP since he lives in South Florida!

When a big thunderstorm, or a hurricane takes out your power in the heat of summer, your apartment could easily reach 95F, maybe even higher. We were without power for 2 1/2 days after Irma and I had zero issues because I have a generator and a chiller. Back when Hurricane Charlie came thru, we were without power for almost 14 days and I didn't have a generator. What a PITA that was!
 
I hear you guys, but I live in an apartment so a generator is not an option. A big no no actually. I'd like to keep everything alive, but I'm not ready to die for my tank! We just open windows and try to catch a breeze.

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jazzy_n_fancy said:
I hear you guys, but I live in an apartment so a generator is not an option. A big no no actually. I'd like to keep everything alive, but I'm not ready to die for my tank! We just open windows and try to catch a breeze.

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Click to expand...

There are lots of solar lithium battery powered generators out there. A small one would do just fine. In sunny Florida, you should have lots of opportunity to recharge one quickly in a window.
 
FWIW one of my older tanks used to hit 85, 86 degrees on a regular basis during the summer and nobody complained. Not only was it 100+ degrees outside, but I was running 4 110 watt VHO bulbs in a canopy with very little ventilation. A clip on fan aimed at the sump helped a little, but nothing spectacular. You might want to get yourself a cheap household fan at Walmart or Target. Aiming this at the tank might help. If not just return it and perhaps think about getting a larger unit.

Just as an example this is what I was using at one time to cool off my 20 gallon tank. It was about 4' away I think.

 
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