Pacific Coast Imports or JBJ?

blenny90 · 06/14/2006, 08:31 PM

We've had a 1/2 horse Coralife chiller on order with our LFS for almost a month now and it's still on back order.

Looking at either the JBJ 1/2 horse or a Pacific Coast Imports 1/2 horse chiller.

Any comments, opinions? Where's the best place to buy the larger chillers? Seems like most of the online stores only sell up to 1/3 horse.

The chiller will be out in the open in our living room. However, during the day when it would run most of the time, no one is in that room.

210 Reef - 40 gallon sump
3 - 400 watt MH's inside the canopy

Thanks

sugartooth · 06/14/2006, 08:44 PM

I've been told Pacific Coast is a reliable and somewhat quiet (60db) chiller.
I was going to order a 1/2 horse too, from Premium Aquatics. They have it I think for $899 instead of $1K that I see online.
I also heard of some JBJ's catching on fire....

Bebo77 · 06/14/2006, 09:01 PM

jbj

http://www.aquariumsupplystore.com/P...a_chillers.htm

blenny90 · 06/14/2006, 09:49 PM

Thanks - is the JBJ worth the extra $300 over the PCI?'

HaKs310 · 06/14/2006, 10:06 PM

You do get a 2 year warranty. Most everyone else only offers a 1 year warranty. Plus there is always 1 or 2 group buys for JBJs around this time time of the year. One just ended as a matter of fact. I've never seen a thread of a JBJ chiller catching on fire. I would like to see it if it's true.

blenny90 · 06/14/2006, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HaKs310
You do get a 2 year warranty. Most everyone else only offers a 1 year warranty. Plus there is always 1 or 2 group buys for JBJs around this time time of the year. One just ended as a matter of fact. I've never seen a thread of a JBJ chiller catching on fire. I would like to see it if it's true.

It doesn't seem like I've heard anything bad about either one. I think the 1/2 horse is considered commercial and only has a 1 year warranty. But as chillers go, it's not bad looking! I'm all for quiet as this is in our living room.

david8956 · 06/15/2006, 10:14 AM

I don't have any experience with chillers that large, however, I compared these 2 brands before I bought my JBJ Arctica chiller. I found, in the smaller size, the JBJ's were more energy efficient, quieter, and had a better (+/- 1 degree instead of +/- 2 degrees on the Pacific Coast) built in temp. controller than the Pacific Coast chillers. May be some areas to compare on the larger chillers.

blenny90 · 06/15/2006, 11:12 AM

Thanks David -

It's tough trying to justify $$. But when we have so much invested in our tanks, a couple of hundred is really a drop in the bucket!

06/14/2006, 08:31 PM	#1
blenny90 Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 270	Pacific Coast Imports or JBJ? We've had a 1/2 horse Coralife chiller on order with our LFS for almost a month now and it's still on back order. Looking at either the JBJ 1/2 horse or a Pacific Coast Imports 1/2 horse chiller. Any comments, opinions? Where's the best place to buy the larger chillers? Seems like most of the online stores only sell up to 1/3 horse. The chiller will be out in the open in our living room. However, during the day when it would run most of the time, no one is in that room. 210 Reef - 40 gallon sump 3 - 400 watt MH's inside the canopy Thanks

06/14/2006, 09:01 PM	#3
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	jbj http://www.aquariumsupplystore.com/P...a_chillers.htm __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

06/14/2006, 10:06 PM	#5
HaKs310 Forever Learning Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 1,241	You do get a 2 year warranty. Most everyone else only offers a 1 year warranty. Plus there is always 1 or 2 group buys for JBJs around this time time of the year. One just ended as a matter of fact. I've never seen a thread of a JBJ chiller catching on fire. I would like to see it if it's true. __________________ IM Fusion Pro 20 Peninsula \| Nanobox Duo Plus M \| AquaIllumination Nero 3 \| XP Aqua Duetto Dual-Sensor ATO \| Eheim Jager 75w Heater

06/15/2006, 10:14 AM	#7
david8956 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Citrus Park, FL Posts: 1,133	I don't have any experience with chillers that large, however, I compared these 2 brands before I bought my JBJ Arctica chiller. I found, in the smaller size, the JBJ's were more energy efficient, quieter, and had a better (+/- 1 degree instead of +/- 2 degrees on the Pacific Coast) built in temp. controller than the Pacific Coast chillers. May be some areas to compare on the larger chillers. __________________ David Current Tank Info: 72 G Bowfront reef with custom Maple stand & canopy. 20 G sump, Eheim 1262 return pump, 2 MJ Stream mods. 2 - 250 watt SE 14K AquaConnects & 2 X 110 watt VHO. EuroReef ES 6-1 skimmer. 1/10hp Arctica chiller.

06/14/2006, 08:44 PM	#2
sugartooth Reef bully Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: IL Posts: 2,832	I've been told Pacific Coast is a reliable and somewhat quiet (60db) chiller. I was going to order a 1/2 horse too, from Premium Aquatics. They have it I think for $899 instead of $1K that I see online. I also heard of some JBJ's catching on fire....

06/14/2006, 09:49 PM	#4
blenny90 Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 270	Thanks - is the JBJ worth the extra $300 over the PCI?'

06/15/2006, 11:12 AM	#8
blenny90 Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 270	Thanks David - It's tough trying to justify $$. But when we have so much invested in our tanks, a couple of hundred is really a drop in the bucket!