Chiller run time

jmadden · 08/30/2012, 05:37 PM

Okay guys, in need of some help understanding this chiller. I just purchased a JBJ 1/4 HP chiller a couple of days ago for my reef tank, because my aquarium has been hitting temperatures of 83+ degrees. Ambient room temperature is around 85 degrees. I want to know if my chiller is functioning as it should.

The chiller is set for 77 degrees.
It kicks on when the tank reaches 78 degrees.

Here's a break down of how it cycled.
Not long ago the chiller kicked on and dropped the tank down to 77.1 degrees in the first 3 minutes.
At 20 minutes the temperature is at 76.6 degrees.
At 25 minutes at 76.4 degrees.
At 34 minutes at 76.1 degrees.
At 35 minutes turned off at 75.9 degrees.

My system is roughly 75 gallons (60G display w/ 15G operating level sump) with 216w of T-5 lighting, two MP10's. I've got a mag 9 running my skimmer and a mag 7 for a return pump and a mag 7 feeding the chiller. I've also got a 15w light for my fuge. Heater for the tank is currently off.

The feed pump for the chiller is in the same chamber as the return for the display tank. The return of the chiller flows back into the return chamber for the display tank.

Is my chiller working properly and is it set up to function efficiently?

dan-in-gr · 08/30/2012, 06:21 PM

Hi, I have had the JBJ 1/3, and now have a 1/4 Aqualogic, the times seem right, it takes my chiller an average of 25 minutes to cool my 120 down 1 degree.

What seems wrong is you have the chiller input and output too close, keep them far apart. Two ways for your tank with this chiller are:
1) take your current return pump and have it go to chiller with the chiller output as return to your tank.
2) a closed loop, now this assumes your pump can work external, have a line on one side of tank bring water to chiller with the chiller output to other side of tank.

08/30/2012, 05:37 PM	#1
jmadden Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California Posts: 103	Chiller run time Okay guys, in need of some help understanding this chiller. I just purchased a JBJ 1/4 HP chiller a couple of days ago for my reef tank, because my aquarium has been hitting temperatures of 83+ degrees. Ambient room temperature is around 85 degrees. I want to know if my chiller is functioning as it should. The chiller is set for 77 degrees. It kicks on when the tank reaches 78 degrees. Here's a break down of how it cycled. Not long ago the chiller kicked on and dropped the tank down to 77.1 degrees in the first 3 minutes. At 20 minutes the temperature is at 76.6 degrees. At 25 minutes at 76.4 degrees. At 34 minutes at 76.1 degrees. At 35 minutes turned off at 75.9 degrees. My system is roughly 75 gallons (60G display w/ 15G operating level sump) with 216w of T-5 lighting, two MP10's. I've got a mag 9 running my skimmer and a mag 7 for a return pump and a mag 7 feeding the chiller. I've also got a 15w light for my fuge. Heater for the tank is currently off. The feed pump for the chiller is in the same chamber as the return for the display tank. The return of the chiller flows back into the return chamber for the display tank. Is my chiller working properly and is it set up to function efficiently?

08/30/2012, 06:21 PM	#2
dan-in-gr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 385	Hi, I have had the JBJ 1/3, and now have a 1/4 Aqualogic, the times seem right, it takes my chiller an average of 25 minutes to cool my 120 down 1 degree. What seems wrong is you have the chiller input and output too close, keep them far apart. Two ways for your tank with this chiller are: 1) take your current return pump and have it go to chiller with the chiller output as return to your tank. 2) a closed loop, now this assumes your pump can work external, have a line on one side of tank bring water to chiller with the chiller output to other side of tank.