Which Chiller?

[rkcca]

I'm upgrading my 80 gal to a 120 Oceanic Tech Series.

Which chiller would you recommend for an open top system running 2X250 MH with fans for evaporation.

I've been looking at 1/4 horse units with a dual stage temp controllers. No heater fighting the chiller. I run the AC at 85 when I'm not home. I keep the tank at 80. Mostly SPS.

Which unit fits these parameters best.

 

[rkcca]

Anyone?

 

[DarG]

http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod_chiller_size.asp

 

[Henry Bowman]

DarG gave you a good link. I have a Prime tower chiller on a 90. It is the 1/3 hp model. Not silent but also not loud. Cycles on and off 3-4 times a day when it's in the mid 80's here in VA. I also use a fan on my sump to help cool the tank. A fellow reefer has a JBJ and it's more qiuet than mine. Neither of us has had a problem with our chillers. Both chillers are over 2 yrs old.

HTH....

 

[DarG]

I have the Prime Modular 1/3 hp on my 90. Since December. Been a good chiller so far. The Matsuhita compressor is a good one but it does chug along. Not an issue in my situation but if you need as quiet a chiller as you can get, this isn't the quietest.

 

[Nuuze]

I just bought a 1/4 JBJ to replace my 1/10 and so far I really like it. Quiet is important to me since its in the family room. Careful when going bigger though with the amount of amps, you may overload your circuit. The 1/4 only turns on 10-15 minutes at a time keeping my 79G 79-80 degrees with 2-250w and 4-54w T5's.

 

[noodles9987]

I had a prime 1/4 hp unit until about 2 months ago. I used it for almost 1 year and I was happy with it. However, I had to send the unit back to current because I cracked the plastic water inlet fitting. The temperature probe went out and they senet me a new one, and when I went to replace the old one, I cracked the inlet. I told them what I had done, and they said "no problem", this happens alot. They didn't charge me anything for the swap out and they even upgraded me to a 1/3 hp unit. Who could compain about that?

Anywaay, the 1/3 hp unit is much quiter than the 1/4 hp unit. I was surprised by this. I would recommend the prime unit to anyone.

I should point out that I used to have my 1/4 hp unit in the family room next to my tank and since upgrading to a new tank, I moved everything downstairs. The 1/4 hp unit was pretty loud. It could get annoying.