New to Chillers - need advice

Gooli

Gooli

New member
I am constantly trying to improve the conditions of my 90g reef and I have finally come to the conclusion that i need to stabilize the temp of my tank as much as possible. Took me long enough :)

my tank currently swings betweeen 80-84 and i get crazy evaporation - like 3 gallons a day. I have two fans in the canopy and another clip on fan over the sump.

My questions:

1. I would like to know if a 1/4 arctica would be sufficient for my tank - it's about 100g total water volume. Also, it will act as a closed loop in a way which is cool - which pump is best suited?

2. Do i need to run the fans at all if i get a chiller?

3. I would like to have very little evaporation while not hurting the tank - am i on the right track here?

thanks
 
1) a 1/4 is definately enough for your tank. As far as your water volume, you have to remember that your live rock, sand and other equipment take up water volume so your actual number will be less. As far as a pump, if I were to have the chiller plumbed into my return line, I personally would use a Eheim 1260 or 1262. I'll be using a 1.5 HP Drop-In chiller on my new 90g set up so I don't have to deal with the plumbing.

2) Fans are optional. If you have a Neptune Aqua Controller, you can program it to have the fans turn on at a certain temp and then have the chiller kick in at a higher temp. You actually won't need the fans if you will be running a chiller, it's just more electricity being used. The chiller will cool the tank a lot faster than fans and your evaporation rate will be reduced dramatically by replacing the fans with a chiller.

3) Yes, you are on the right track. You won't be hurting the tank by adding a chiller. If you have the money for a chiller, then I'd go out and buy one. To me it's worth it and I wouldn't have to worry about evaporation as much when I'm on vacation. On my current 40g my evaporation rate with a chiller was about 3 cups a day compared to running fans it was about 20 cups or more a day. Just an example.
 
I'd go with a 1/3 hp and not the 1/4. I ran a 1/4 on a 110 and it took a while to pull the temp down. I prefer it to use more juice while it's on and go off sooner.

SteveU
 
I have seen two (2) 1000 gallon setups with a 1/10 chiller on them.
One tank in the house, no AC on.
One tank in the garage no AC.
All tank temps. where around 81.
I have a 90 with the same size chiller temp around 81 or so.
Sure I wouldn't be able to get it down to 78 but I don't need to go down that far. Just a thought.
JMO.
 
I have a 1/3 in a 90gal + 40gal sump, way to big imo. I'd stick with the 1/4 or even a 1/5 and keep the fans. H22 ran the same 1/3 on a 300+gal system in his garage with no problem.
 
wait...doesnt that mean that the bigger chiller would come on less often? i dont get it?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7850527#post7850527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raskal311
For sure, remember having the chiller come on then turn off too quick isn't the best.
Click to expand...
 
but if you have the chiller inside your house that will cause a lot of heat, then you will have to run your house ac to cool it, i think you have a baby or soon will that will be a pita... i would stick to fans and put your lights on a contoller that will turn them off when it gets hot... thats what i have done with my 300 and my temp swing is 3 degrees max.. 79-82
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7850567#post7850567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gooliver
wait...doesnt that mean that the bigger chiller would come on less often? i dont get it?
Click to expand...

Take it this way if you have a 1/3 which should take your temp down from say 81 to 78 in about 5 minutes, which is what my chiller does. That’s a 3 degree temp swing in 5 min vs. about 20 min with a 1/5(guess). Now once the chiller comes off it would take just as long no matter which chiller you have for the temp in your tank to reach 82 again. So one could deduct that the 1/3 would come on more often then the 1/5 because of the 15min diff in cooling time. Also having a chiller does add heat to the house but its only that general area. I have my chiller near the front door which does help the heat out. I've even seen people vent theirs by installing vents in the wall much like a dryer vent.
 
that makes sense raskal...thanks for that :)
gabriel..we already have the baby :)

I think im gonna end up getting the 1/5 chiller and run the fans in my canopy to supplement - maybe for like 5 hours


here he is...his name is Ethan

62010Ethan_1.jpg
 
Awwww how cute... good thing he resembles his mom.. lol jk:lol: :lol:


but i still say get a controller.... why not have it do everything for you? then you can spend more time with your son...;)
 
gabriel...i dont want to deal with all that evaporation - filling up the resovoir every day or two is a pain in the azz and i dont have room for a bigger resovoir.
 
resovoir? i use an ato.. man you really need to come over to my place to see how i have my tank set up... it would give you some great ideas...
 
lol its not expensive.. and it would be cheaper in the long run than running that chiller 5 hours a day... for real, come over when you have a chance and take a look at what i have set up... i never touch water with my setup....
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7850355#post7850355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gtrestoration
I'd go with a 1/3 hp and not the 1/4. I ran a 1/4 on a 110 and it took a while to pull the temp down. I prefer it to use more juice while it's on and go off sooner.

SteveU
Click to expand...

I agree, I'd opt for the 1/3 hp chiller.
 
well...i talked to JBJ...they also told me 1/5 would be good considering the fans i run in the canopy
 
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