Chiller storage

brittonv · 05/13/2016, 10:34 AM

As Hurricane season approaches I am getting my disaster plan together for my tank. Currently My tank is stable at 78 degrees with just my AC and a Fan.

I am getting ready to purchase a small inverter type generator to power my Aquarium/fridge. However I will need to get a Chiller as well as with no AC and its 85 degrees in my house, there is no hope a fan will keep my tank at temp any longer.

How do chillers do with not running? I am thinking if I install it and set the temp to 80 it will never turn on unless my AC fails (Has happened) or if the power is out and it is running on generator. Do the chillers last if they are never or are very infrequently run? My tank is 65 gallons, what size inverter/how many BTU's do I need to keep my tank at 78 degrees when the ambient temperature could be in the 90's?

Reef Frog · 05/13/2016, 11:30 AM

i think your plan is solid. I use my 1/10 hp chiller in much the same way. It rarely cycles on because the temp is set to avoid a disaster, not fighting the heat from high air temperatures or the heat produced by lights & pumps,'in order to keep a consistently lower cooler temp in the tank. I have no problems with this.

But of course water MUST be running through the chiller at all times. The plumbing holds a surprisingly large amount of water. Enough to skunk my 65g tank if it were left with water sitting in the chiller for a prolonged period and then turned back on, dumping it into the tank. The Hydrogen sulfide could kill your fish.

The chiller should be emptied & cleaned with a vinegar solution if the water has been left inside to sit & fester uncirculated for a while.

kurt_n · 05/13/2016, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef Frog

...
But of course water MUST be running through the chiller at all times. The plumbing holds a surprisingly large amount of water. Enough to skunk my 65g tank if it were left with water sitting in the chiller for a prolonged period and then turned back on, dumping it into the tank. The Hydrogen sulfide could kill your fish. ...

Huh? How does Hydogren Sulfide generate in stagnant chiller lines?

As far as my experience, my tank does just fine with the water sitting stagnant in the lines - at least for 24 hours. I turn on the chiller feed pump once a day, for about 5 minutes, then turn it off. It might come on "for real" a dozen times during the summer.

Reef Frog · 05/13/2016, 11:08 PM

Most aquarium water has organics in it. It simply decomposes (rots) and stinks to high heaven. Rotten eggs (I hope ingot the chemical compound right). I know this for a fact.

I got a case of the stupids once and turned off my dedicated chiller pump and I forgot to empty the water in the plumbing and the chiller itself. I turned the pump back on perhaps a few weeks later and the smell was horrible. Luckily I was able to turn it off instantly and nothing died because very little water got in the tank.

I also learned the hard way about the dangers of this sulfer compound with a fish kill event. My bio pellet reactor pump went off. The water stagnated but I was unaware. I turned the pump back on but I wasn't quick enough on pulling the plug. Same rotten egg smell. All of my 4 small fish started gasping for a few seconds, then rolled over and died almost instantly. I was really bummed and quite angry at myself. I learned my lesson. Stagnant water + rotten egg smell = fish death. No damage to corals whatsoever. No more bio pellets for me. No problem as nitrates naturally self regulated with tank maturity & proper maintenance.

It doesn't matter if the chiller itself is off for a year. It is about the pump or manifold being turned off causing stagnant water to be trapped in a closed environment. Water should be moving through it at all times IMO to avoid this scenario or else your swimming with the Sharks with a bacon wet suit. 24 hours of stagnant water is not nearly enough time for it to get toxic in most cases. It would take significantly more time.

Of course the amount of organics in the water plays a big role. Maybe super clean water would never be a problem. Also system water volume plays a huge role. My stinky chiller event & bio pellet apocalypse happened with a 65 gallon system. It might be a different story with the same volume of stagnant water in a large aquarium due to dilution. A 500 gallon system probably would have done just fine. But I wouldn't risk it.

CONCLUSION: Just don't let stagnant water into your aquarium. I knoweth of what I speak.

Vinny Kreyling · 05/14/2016, 08:27 AM

There are no worries if the chiller sits idle with water running through it.
Mine ran that way 9 months of the year.

05/13/2016, 10:34 AM	#1
brittonv Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 227	Chiller storage As Hurricane season approaches I am getting my disaster plan together for my tank. Currently My tank is stable at 78 degrees with just my AC and a Fan. I am getting ready to purchase a small inverter type generator to power my Aquarium/fridge. However I will need to get a Chiller as well as with no AC and its 85 degrees in my house, there is no hope a fan will keep my tank at temp any longer. How do chillers do with not running? I am thinking if I install it and set the temp to 80 it will never turn on unless my AC fails (Has happened) or if the power is out and it is running on generator. Do the chillers last if they are never or are very infrequently run? My tank is 65 gallons, what size inverter/how many BTU's do I need to keep my tank at 78 degrees when the ambient temperature could be in the 90's? __________________ Current Tank Info: 65 Gallon with Corner Overflow \| EShopps R110 Reefugium running Chaeto and Miracle Mud Apex Neptune Controller with WXM Module \| Echotech XR30 & XR15 Pros with Dual MP10

05/14/2016, 08:27 AM	#5
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	There are no worries if the chiller sits idle with water running through it. Mine ran that way 9 months of the year. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

05/13/2016, 11:30 AM	#2
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	i think your plan is solid. I use my 1/10 hp chiller in much the same way. It rarely cycles on because the temp is set to avoid a disaster, not fighting the heat from high air temperatures or the heat produced by lights & pumps,'in order to keep a consistently lower cooler temp in the tank. I have no problems with this. But of course water MUST be running through the chiller at all times. The plumbing holds a surprisingly large amount of water. Enough to skunk my 65g tank if it were left with water sitting in the chiller for a prolonged period and then turned back on, dumping it into the tank. The Hydrogen sulfide could kill your fish. The chiller should be emptied & cleaned with a vinegar solution if the water has been left inside to sit & fester uncirculated for a while.

05/13/2016, 11:08 PM	#4
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	Most aquarium water has organics in it. It simply decomposes (rots) and stinks to high heaven. Rotten eggs (I hope ingot the chemical compound right). I know this for a fact. I got a case of the stupids once and turned off my dedicated chiller pump and I forgot to empty the water in the plumbing and the chiller itself. I turned the pump back on perhaps a few weeks later and the smell was horrible. Luckily I was able to turn it off instantly and nothing died because very little water got in the tank. I also learned the hard way about the dangers of this sulfer compound with a fish kill event. My bio pellet reactor pump went off. The water stagnated but I was unaware. I turned the pump back on but I wasn't quick enough on pulling the plug. Same rotten egg smell. All of my 4 small fish started gasping for a few seconds, then rolled over and died almost instantly. I was really bummed and quite angry at myself. I learned my lesson. Stagnant water + rotten egg smell = fish death. No damage to corals whatsoever. No more bio pellets for me. No problem as nitrates naturally self regulated with tank maturity & proper maintenance. It doesn't matter if the chiller itself is off for a year. It is about the pump or manifold being turned off causing stagnant water to be trapped in a closed environment. Water should be moving through it at all times IMO to avoid this scenario or else your swimming with the Sharks with a bacon wet suit. 24 hours of stagnant water is not nearly enough time for it to get toxic in most cases. It would take significantly more time. Of course the amount of organics in the water plays a big role. Maybe super clean water would never be a problem. Also system water volume plays a huge role. My stinky chiller event & bio pellet apocalypse happened with a 65 gallon system. It might be a different story with the same volume of stagnant water in a large aquarium due to dilution. A 500 gallon system probably would have done just fine. But I wouldn't risk it. CONCLUSION: Just don't let stagnant water into your aquarium. I knoweth of what I speak.