Do i need a chiller?

seanbugeja · 01/12/2016, 02:36 PM

Hi guys im new to saltwater aquariums....i had in mind in getting some clown fish, blue and yellow tangs. maybe a couple of bubble tip anemones on my live rock.

Usually my other freshwater tank reaches 30Celcius / 86F in august which is our years maximum...Do you think i can get away without using a chiller? thanks

Sk8r · 01/12/2016, 02:38 PM

Fans built for the purpose.
For blue and yellow tangs, consider a 300 gallon tank.

seanbugeja · 01/12/2016, 02:45 PM

thanks my aquarium has in built fans at the top...will give it a try see what comes of it...thanks a lot!!

Nick92515 · 01/12/2016, 02:45 PM

Most saltwater fish won't tolerate above 80 which is a high side. See live Aquarias website for specific fish need as in tank size and temperature.

Tautoga · 01/12/2016, 02:47 PM

IMO, yes you need a chiller. 86 is way too high. I don't like my tank getting above 78-80.

Agree with making sure you are planning for a tank big enough for the tangs. They need a much bigger tank than the clownfish.

Www.liveaquaria.com has good guidelines for tank size for each species.

newsalt1 · 01/12/2016, 02:55 PM

A lot also depends on your lighting. If you are going to use metal halides then yes you will need a chiller. I have a 120 with a full enclosed hood I run 6 t5's the hood has three fans and no issues with heat build up. Metal Halides will produce a lot of heat,

power boat jim · 01/12/2016, 03:01 PM

86 is really the high end for a sustained temp. A more important component at that high a temp would be oxygen. Hot water holds less oxygen then cold. You may need to aeriate the tank during the warm monthes to avoid any problems.

seanbugeja · 01/12/2016, 04:24 PM

will run it with a couple of fish for a year see how temperature varies...my hood is running 2 t5 48W (24W each) so heat from them should be that much of a problem considering its running 2 fans...will ride it out for a year get a feel for temperature changes during the year...thanks a lot guys

fishgate · 01/12/2016, 04:50 PM

When I was surf diving in Pensacola the water temp was close to 90 and I saw lots of happy reef fish. I don't think 86 is a problem but the fans should bring it down some.

Sk8r · 01/12/2016, 04:56 PM

A fan blowing directly on the water surface can lower temp by about 10 degrees by evaporation: marine tanks evap a lot anyway. If you do overheat on your way to figuring out what you need, fling open the doors on the sump and let a house fan blast the area. You can also add ziploc bags with ice from the fridge. And some people in hot climes who work during the day also reverse or adjust the light cycle so as to have lights on when it's cooler, and so that they can enjoy their tank longer.
There are 5-fan arrays made to go on the inside of a canopy. And they'd keep the mh a lot happier, too.

kmbyrnes · 01/12/2016, 06:54 PM

I say wait and see what your tank does before spending the $$ on a chiller as a sump fan and some canopy fans may be all you need.
It gets 110+ here in AZ, but I keep the AC at 80. My tanks may get as high as 82, but a fan on the sump keeps things in line.

Scoted · 01/12/2016, 08:36 PM

Are you using a glass top on your freshwater tank?

pyithar · 01/12/2016, 11:32 PM

my tank's temperature reaches 86F or a bit more everyday except winter before i get my chiller. all my fishes including a yellow tang and two clownfish are fine along with soft corals, lps, and even some local sps corals.

01/12/2016, 02:36 PM	#1
seanbugeja Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 138	Do i need a chiller? Hi guys im new to saltwater aquariums....i had in mind in getting some clown fish, blue and yellow tangs. maybe a couple of bubble tip anemones on my live rock. Usually my other freshwater tank reaches 30Celcius / 86F in august which is our years maximum...Do you think i can get away without using a chiller? thanks

01/12/2016, 02:38 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Fans built for the purpose. For blue and yellow tangs, consider a 300 gallon tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/12/2016, 02:55 PM	#6
newsalt1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 564	A lot also depends on your lighting. If you are going to use metal halides then yes you will need a chiller. I have a 120 with a full enclosed hood I run 6 t5's the hood has three fans and no issues with heat build up. Metal Halides will produce a lot of heat, __________________ "I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly." Michel de Montaigne (1533 - 1592 Current Tank Info: 120 dual over flows 40 gal sump

01/12/2016, 04:50 PM	#9
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	When I was surf diving in Pensacola the water temp was close to 90 and I saw lots of happy reef fish. I don't think 86 is a problem but the fans should bring it down some. __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

01/12/2016, 04:56 PM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A fan blowing directly on the water surface can lower temp by about 10 degrees by evaporation: marine tanks evap a lot anyway. If you do overheat on your way to figuring out what you need, fling open the doors on the sump and let a house fan blast the area. You can also add ziploc bags with ice from the fridge. And some people in hot climes who work during the day also reverse or adjust the light cycle so as to have lights on when it's cooler, and so that they can enjoy their tank longer. There are 5-fan arrays made to go on the inside of a canopy. And they'd keep the mh a lot happier, too. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/12/2016, 02:45 PM	#3
seanbugeja Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 138	thanks my aquarium has in built fans at the top...will give it a try see what comes of it...thanks a lot!!

01/12/2016, 02:45 PM	#4
Nick92515 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: philadelphia Posts: 122	Most saltwater fish won't tolerate above 80 which is a high side. See live Aquarias website for specific fish need as in tank size and temperature.

01/12/2016, 02:47 PM	#5
Tautoga Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 113	IMO, yes you need a chiller. 86 is way too high. I don't like my tank getting above 78-80. Agree with making sure you are planning for a tank big enough for the tangs. They need a much bigger tank than the clownfish. Www.liveaquaria.com has good guidelines for tank size for each species.

01/12/2016, 03:01 PM	#7
power boat jim Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wisconsin, The big peninsula Posts: 2,100	86 is really the high end for a sustained temp. A more important component at that high a temp would be oxygen. Hot water holds less oxygen then cold. You may need to aeriate the tank during the warm monthes to avoid any problems.

01/12/2016, 04:24 PM	#8
seanbugeja Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 138	will run it with a couple of fish for a year see how temperature varies...my hood is running 2 t5 48W (24W each) so heat from them should be that much of a problem considering its running 2 fans...will ride it out for a year get a feel for temperature changes during the year...thanks a lot guys

01/12/2016, 06:54 PM	#11
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	I say wait and see what your tank does before spending the $$ on a chiller as a sump fan and some canopy fans may be all you need. It gets 110+ here in AZ, but I keep the AC at 80. My tanks may get as high as 82, but a fan on the sump keeps things in line. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

01/12/2016, 08:36 PM	#12
Scoted Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: South Jersey Posts: 126	Are you using a glass top on your freshwater tank?

01/12/2016, 11:32 PM	#13
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	my tank's temperature reaches 86F or a bit more everyday except winter before i get my chiller. all my fishes including a yellow tang and two clownfish are fine along with soft corals, lps, and even some local sps corals. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef