Who runs a chiller on thier large tank and brand?
- Thread starter Dmorty217
- Start date
I have a 1/2 hp Aqua Logic installed for my 330 gal total system volume....this is only my second season using it....I purchased it used. Due to the shipping of the unit, although packed very well, the unit was initially quite noisy ....until I realized it was the fan that had come loose. After tightening the fan bolts the chiller runs pretty quiet. My tank runs at a constant 79 degrees.....1 degree variant triggers the chiller. My DT is built in wall with a fish room that I built in my garage on the other side of the DT. The chiller is outside the fish room but inside the garage....it gets pretty hot in there so believe it or not I have an external fan running on the chiller. The chiller is around 5 years old......so far so good !!!!
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ArmanS
Active member
I ran a JBJ 1/3HP Chiller on my smaller setup and it was great, but the exhaust would raise the temp at least 5 degrees on warm days! I can't imagine having a 1 HP or 1.5HP Chiller in my fish room. I am debating on weather to add a mini split a/c for my fish room or a chiller. The Tradewinds out door chillers look like a very attractive option.
The RD3 230w Pumps are top quality pumps! I have 3 on the way that will be shipped in my dream box! I cannot wait to get it! 1 for return and 2 for closed loops on ocean motions 4 ways!
SPotter
Active member
I built my fish room in my garage which was getting extremely hot during the summer months. Last year I ended up putting a mini split in my garage to help with that heat. I placed the chiller in the garage outside of the fish room so the heat from the chiller wouldn't contribute any heat to my system. I wish I had added the mini split before purchasing the chiller because I know I could have gone with a much smaller chiller.
Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
You will be pleased, Best decision I made. Considering ditching my 2.5 month old Vectra L1 thats currently on my CL to another RD3 230
I am starting to research Ductless mini split systems. I could mount the air handler in the ceiling above the tank or mount it on the outside wall above the tank and hopefully provide enough cool air to reduce the water temp 3-5 degrees. I don't need significant pull down, 5-6 degrees max. No option(s) are cheap (less than 1K) chiller or mini split
wishntoboutside
professional snow flake
Ideally I would love to chill my tank with the home AC. However to me my chiller is there in place to help maintain consistency of this. if I leave for the weekend and turn down the AC in the home I know all is going to survive. This chiller will be used mainly in the summer time so I don't see it running all of the time. although my tank is still dry I am interested in seeing what temperature it will idle at. I do know having a fish room in my garage for years a chiller was necessary. Now with most of the water going to be inside the house it may differ but with how expensive coral and livestock is I justified the investment of a stable temp.
Check out my thread. I was having heat issues. My water temp spiked to almost 85 degrees. Figured out the culprit was too much heat above the tank in the hood from the lights.
By venting the heat, my temp is now around 82 degrees and dropping.
I have a mini split in my fish room. I'm plumbed for a chiller but I don't think I will need one once my tank temp stabilizes with the venting of the excess heat in the hood.
By venting the heat, my temp is now around 82 degrees and dropping.
I have a mini split in my fish room. I'm plumbed for a chiller but I don't think I will need one once my tank temp stabilizes with the venting of the excess heat in the hood.
ArmanS
Active member
I will end up just going with a chiller. Like you mentioned Richard, the chiller will be used to provide extremely stable temperature for all my inhabitants.
It is kind of difficult to try to justify not spending the $2K on a chiller when we will be having 3-4x that in livestock.
My cost estimate has already doubled and I haven't even plumbed my tank lol.
It is kind of difficult to try to justify not spending the $2K on a chiller when we will be having 3-4x that in livestock.
My cost estimate has already doubled and I haven't even plumbed my tank lol.
Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
This is what I keep telling myself too! SoCal, I was reading about your issues with the fans not working. My tank is open on the back end when you walk thru a doorway, I could add a fan or two but I don't think I will achieve much in the way of temp drop. It's not really hot up by my LED's currently since the back is open
That's what I thought until I checked the temp. It was above 90 in the hood. I added a fan and temp is now ambient- same as rest of house. My fish room is now at 68. It's only been a day but temp has been coming down slowly all day. Lights are on right now and temp spiked to 82.1. Tomorrow will be telling- after overnight of fans and exhaust running, I'm curious how low temp will get. I'm hoping the top end of the temp range is 80 degrees. I'm fairly confident I'll get there which means that I will likely not add a chiller to the system.
Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
Please let me know how it goes, would love to not spend 2-4K on a chiller and mini split system
This morning the temp is stable at 82.1. I'm still experimenting as this is just the exhaust fan- doors are closed and no external fan. I'll run this combo for a few days and let the temp settle. Next step is to run the exhaust fan with a couple of the doors open to see if that makes a difference.
The top is not airtight by anymeans- but I want to see if I can em get enough flow as is or if the doors will need to be modified.
The top is not airtight by anymeans- but I want to see if I can em get enough flow as is or if the doors will need to be modified.
