Looks like I will need a Chiller

messina06 · 07/10/2007, 08:28 AM

Was hoping the fans would work but I live in FL and the tank was at 82.5 yesturday.

I have sepent enough on lighting / equipment, it doesn't make sense for me not to purchase a chiller so that the temp tank stays stable.

So any recommendations out there? I have a 90g with Sunlight Supply 8 bulb 54 tek t5s. They are placved in a canopy with not much room sorrounding it so I will keep the fans to help keep them cool.

I only need the tank to drop about 2-3 degrees.

I was looking at the Pacific Coast 1/10. Not that bad of a price.

Also, how is the set up on these things? I only have about 1ft x 1ft in the cabinet as far as room which should suffice. What about the plummiing? Do i need an extra pump or will my mag 1200 provide enought flow?

thanks

Zann · 07/10/2007, 08:31 AM

is the back of you canopy open if so you can get a small fan like a 9 in one to blow across and into the back of it it will drop your temp
but you will have to top off everyday
an auto top off with be the best to do that

messina06 · 07/10/2007, 08:52 AM

thanks for the response but have two cans in the canopy and one in the sump. I have the JBJ ATO but as mentioned, the tank is still exceeding 82

nss9400 · 07/10/2007, 09:12 AM

You might just invest in a chiller and save the headaches. I use to live in FL and had the same problem and bought a chiller. As far as water flow in a chiller you will probably need 150 to 300 gph for that size but check the manfacturer specs. The slower the flow the more contact with the chiller the cooler the water.

messina06 · 07/10/2007, 09:49 AM

great thanks

just made the investment in a Pacific Coast from premium acquatics. I agree in avoiding as many headaches as possible

SaltyDr · 07/10/2007, 09:52 AM

There are lots of tanks that run at 82 with no problems. Are you having any problems or is the temp of 82 just causing you uneasiness? If you are not having any problems, I wouldn't sweat it (pun partially intended).

kaihonu82 · 07/10/2007, 10:15 AM

have you tried reversing your photoperiods to keep your tank cooler during the day?

Lotus99 · 07/10/2007, 09:35 PM

You should definitely get a pump in the rating for your chiller, which will make the chiller its most effective. It looks like that one needs around a 500gph pump.

Most chillers can't be placed inside the stand, as they need a lot of airflow around them.

amike5 · 07/10/2007, 09:55 PM

It would defeat the purpose of the chiller if you tried putting it into the stand. It will give out more heat than it creates in cooling power.

messina06 · 07/11/2007, 08:50 AM

even if i have vents on both sides of the stand and a fan in there?

Is it best to have it on the side and just feed the tubing through the vents?

If so, thanks for the heads up b/c i hadn't even thought of that

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/11/2007, 09:29 AM

The chiller doesn't "get rid" of heat, it just moves it from one place to another. If you put the chiller in your stand, you're just sucking heat out of the water and dumping it into the air RIGHT NEXT TO THE WATER. Unless you have super-good ventilation, that's not going to do much at all. And if your ventilation was that good to begin with, you probably wouldn't need a chiller.

Get the chiller as far away from everything as possible! Read the instructions that came with it carefully, many models have specifications that need to be met in order to operate properly (i.e. no obstructions of any kind within X distance of the back of the chiller, etc.)

Personally, I'm not a fan of chillers, especially if you only need a few degrees - but to each his own. I can certainly understand owning one in FL.

07/10/2007, 08:28 AM	#1
messina06 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ft lauderdale, FL Posts: 364	Looks like I will need a Chiller Was hoping the fans would work but I live in FL and the tank was at 82.5 yesturday. I have sepent enough on lighting / equipment, it doesn't make sense for me not to purchase a chiller so that the temp tank stays stable. So any recommendations out there? I have a 90g with Sunlight Supply 8 bulb 54 tek t5s. They are placved in a canopy with not much room sorrounding it so I will keep the fans to help keep them cool. I only need the tank to drop about 2-3 degrees. I was looking at the Pacific Coast 1/10. Not that bad of a price. Also, how is the set up on these things? I only have about 1ft x 1ft in the cabinet as far as room which should suffice. What about the plummiing? Do i need an extra pump or will my mag 1200 provide enought flow? thanks

07/10/2007, 10:15 AM	#7
kaihonu82 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bay area, ca Posts: 454	have you tried reversing your photoperiods to keep your tank cooler during the day? __________________ lindsay

07/10/2007, 09:35 PM	#8
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	You should definitely get a pump in the rating for your chiller, which will make the chiller its most effective. It looks like that one needs around a 500gph pump. Most chillers can't be placed inside the stand, as they need a lot of airflow around them. __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks

07/11/2007, 09:29 AM	#11
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	The chiller doesn't "get rid" of heat, it just moves it from one place to another. If you put the chiller in your stand, you're just sucking heat out of the water and dumping it into the air RIGHT NEXT TO THE WATER. Unless you have super-good ventilation, that's not going to do much at all. And if your ventilation was that good to begin with, you probably wouldn't need a chiller. Get the chiller as far away from everything as possible! Read the instructions that came with it carefully, many models have specifications that need to be met in order to operate properly (i.e. no obstructions of any kind within X distance of the back of the chiller, etc.) Personally, I'm not a fan of chillers, especially if you only need a few degrees - but to each his own. I can certainly understand owning one in FL. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/10/2007, 08:31 AM	#2
Zann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Southaven Ms Posts: 569	is the back of you canopy open if so you can get a small fan like a 9 in one to blow across and into the back of it it will drop your temp but you will have to top off everyday an auto top off with be the best to do that

07/10/2007, 08:52 AM	#3
messina06 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ft lauderdale, FL Posts: 364	thanks for the response but have two cans in the canopy and one in the sump. I have the JBJ ATO but as mentioned, the tank is still exceeding 82

07/10/2007, 09:12 AM	#4
nss9400 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 102	You might just invest in a chiller and save the headaches. I use to live in FL and had the same problem and bought a chiller. As far as water flow in a chiller you will probably need 150 to 300 gph for that size but check the manfacturer specs. The slower the flow the more contact with the chiller the cooler the water.

07/10/2007, 09:49 AM	#5
messina06 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ft lauderdale, FL Posts: 364	great thanks just made the investment in a Pacific Coast from premium acquatics. I agree in avoiding as many headaches as possible

07/10/2007, 09:52 AM	#6
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	There are lots of tanks that run at 82 with no problems. Are you having any problems or is the temp of 82 just causing you uneasiness? If you are not having any problems, I wouldn't sweat it (pun partially intended).

07/10/2007, 09:55 PM	#9
amike5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 724	It would defeat the purpose of the chiller if you tried putting it into the stand. It will give out more heat than it creates in cooling power.

07/11/2007, 08:50 AM	#10
messina06 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ft lauderdale, FL Posts: 364	even if i have vents on both sides of the stand and a fan in there? Is it best to have it on the side and just feed the tubing through the vents? If so, thanks for the heads up b/c i hadn't even thought of that