My Chiller Setup **Lots of pictures**

[ReefRelated]

Thanks everybody. I am extremely happy with this chiller.

 

[scubadude]

The best possible way is to have the coil inside where it's cool and leave the heat outside.

Very good point Tony! That is your key point you hit on IMO.

 

[mracroman]

Tony, where did you get the mesh socks in your sump, and what hold them in place

 

[ReefRelated]

Tony, where did you get the mesh socks in your sump, and what hold them in place

Scubadude...do you want to tell him or do you want me to tell him? JK

The owner of my LFS (John @ Fish and other Ichthy Stuff http://www.ichthythings.com 813-891-4291) designed this sump and he sells them. The socks themselves are 25 micron and they have a hard plastic ring in the top of them that hold them in place. They are held by a flat piece of acrylic with big circles drilled out of it.

 

[mracroman]

Thanks tony

 

[ReefRelated]

NP

 

[markmcc]

Anybody else using this type of setup? Please show us your pictures.

Thanks

 

[markmcc]

Tonytooth,

What size AC unit should I use for a 600 gallon tank, how many btu's? Just an estimate would be nice.

I think I could put together most of this system fairly well, the only thing I don't understand is how do you refill and charge the entire system once its set up? What do you use to charge the system?

Any pics of the dryer?

This set up is going to save me hundreds, thanks!

Thanks again,
Mark

 

[RGibson]

Chiller

Chiller

I have spent 35 years with chillers and boilers and you have built a real chiller for a reef tank i hope some day that the builders of chillers can do as good. Keeping the heat and noise out side is the way to go. RGibson

 

[ReefRelated]

Thanks RGibson!

Mark,
This setup I have would work fine but if you wanted to step it up a little you could go with a 3/4 ton system. 9000 BTU would be 3/4 ton if I am correct (6000 is 1/2 ton so 9000 would be 3/4 ton) so I would get a 3/4 ton coil and a 9000 BTU window unit WOW overkill but efficient! You have to add a valve in line to charge the system. I'll try and get you some pics later.

 

[markmcc]

Thanks Tonytooth. I look forward to seeing those pics.

Thanks again for your creativity!

 

[RGibson]

Tonytooth did you stay R22 refrigerant. In building your chiller you have shown many out there that it can be done and that a split system is the real way to go. I hope you will take the time to build and sell them with a pre charged lines so most people could install it them self. RGibson

 

[ReefRelated]

Yes it's R22. That would be nice if they were ready to go but it's not that easy.

 

[ReefMon]

Great job! I'm planning on building one ASAP!

Couple of questions:

How do you wire the temperature controller to the unit?

What do you do to disable the room fan & how do you make the indoor portion of the window unit waterproof?

I'm thinking of using a 12,000 BTU unit for my 3 tank 500 gal system (if it works, soon to be 6 tank 650 gal)

 

[fraggintime]

Chiller

Chiller

Nice job there..
In South Florida these are really common.I have a 1.75 ton AC condensing unit, got the titanium coil from UMI. It works like a charm. I am also using the Ranco 1 stage controller.
My unit is really large because I have my frag tank in a room outside (ambient temp up to 100 degrees)..

You are right these chillers are really efficient.

 

[nickoz]

looks very nice.. youve got me thinking..... ; )

-nick

 

[ReefRelated]

ReefMon,

The controller was wired by my friend. You will need someone who knows AC to do this for you so it is done correctly.

As far as the room fan goes...the window unit is basically cut in half and the only fan used is the one outside to cool the unit.

12,000 BTU will work great for your system

 

[snowman]

dual stage Ranco controller

dual stage Ranco controller

Tony

You have given much needed vision to the subject. Thanks. Do you think that the dual stage unit prewired from diyreef.com for $100.00 will work the way it is wired or did you do something different? Could you list the number of the Whirlpool unit you used and was there a special reason you went with this model over others? Thanks Jarrell (snowman)

 

[ReefRelated]

I would assume the diyreef.com one would work just fine. I believe it is the same one I have. The reason I got the whirlpool is because it was the only 6000 BTU windo unit I could find locally at the time. If you want a recomendation from me, I say look for a unit that has a Copeland compressor inside. I know Bryant units use them. You don't have to have a Copeland but they are a good compressor.

 

[markmcc]

Tonytooth,
What is the third titanium outlet in the dead centre of the heat exchanger for? I can't think of any use or it. Just curious. I'm still playing with the idea of DIYing the coil/tube exchanger. What outer diameter does the titanium tube have?

Thanks again,