Temp swing range - need a chiller?

[CloruroDiSodio]

Hi gang,

How big of a temperature swing is acceptable to determine if you need a chiller or not? I have a 180gal and I'll be running two Tunze 6045 circ pumps and two visitherm 200 W submersibles. For lighting I have two 36" 6 bulb T5 nova extreme pros. If there is any "added heat" I'm assuming most of it will come from lighting. Does anyone have a ballpark figure on how much heat these fluorescent fixtures will add to a 180gal?

thanks

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

3-4 degrees swing would be acceptable. As far as lighting it all depends on if you have fans in your light and how high they are from the water surface.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

temp all adds up from pumps to lighting to ambient temp in the room the tank is in. You shouldn't have a problem with high temps in your tank. The only concern I would have that would determine if you need a chiller is what the temp would be in the summer time? Do you have central air conditioning or at least A/C in the room the tank is in?

 

[CloruroDiSodio]

Hi Sisterlimonpot. The lights have internal fans on them, they are about 1 1/2" above the cover glass, so maybe 2 inches off the surface? As far as room temp, the tank is in the basement which is pretty much a constant temperature at our house. We have baseboard heating so with all of the steam pipes running through the basement it is about 68 - 70 in the winter. Summer it's cooler at low to mid 60's.

 

[Rjukan]

I'm going to say you won't need a chiller. Sounds like you have a great setup that will be a constant temp all year.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

+1 as far as temp stability the basement is the best place

 

[CloruroDiSodio]

Cool, thanks guys! We're almost there!

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

pictures always enhance a thread

 

[greenbean36191]

You don't need a chiller for any temp swing. You only need a chiller to control high maximum temperatures, which I doubt will be a problem with your tank.