Help me choose a Chiller for the summer

CSS Reef · 05/11/2007, 05:58 PM

Its starting to get hot and I need a chiller for a 120 gallon tank. I have owned aqua logic and JBJ in the past and both worked great. AquaLogic was rock solid but a bit loud. The JBJ was quiet but was only a 1/10HP and I sold it after only 8 months becuase I got rid of my nano. Can someone rank these chillers for quality, performance and noise level? Here are my option right now:

1) Aqua Logic Trimline 1/5 (are these quieter than the original??)
2) JBJ 1/5
3) Tradewind Chiller IL-15-S
4) Current Prime 1/4
5) AquaEuroUSA 1/5
6) Teco 1/5

I am looking for comments of people who had experiences with any of these and let me know if you love your chiller or think its a piece. Also very important on noise level since its in my living room. Thanks.

rickh · 05/12/2007, 03:51 PM

I have used a JBJ for 11/2 years. You can't even tell if it's running. R

DarG · 05/12/2007, 04:22 PM

Out of those listed, I would say the Current but not because it is necessarily better but it's the largest one you have listed.
I have a Current 1/3 and it isnt what I would classify as quiet. But the larger the chiller, the louder for any given model. Relative to the 1/5th HP Universal Marine (the best) I had before, the Current is louder but I would say that it is probably just proportionally louder because it is 2 sizes larger than the UM.

The Aqualogic is probably considered the best built of the group. The Tradewinds has an excellent reputation and the Current USA was recommended to me and I have no regrets. It has worked great for me for 6 months now. There are a few manufacturers that use the term Quiet as one of their hard selling points. I would assume that these are probably quieter than some of the others. Haven't heard much about the Teco or the Aquaeuro but I know that the JBJ Arctica as well as Pacific Imports seem to have several owners on this board.

BTW JBJ has the best chiller calculator I have seen ... http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod_chiller_size.asp

CSS Reef · 05/14/2007, 12:04 AM

Thanks for the insight anyone ele care to chime in? Aqualogic and Tradewind are local so may be they are my best bet for service etc....

05/11/2007, 05:58 PM	#1
CSS Reef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Diego Posts: 595	Help me choose a Chiller for the summer Its starting to get hot and I need a chiller for a 120 gallon tank. I have owned aqua logic and JBJ in the past and both worked great. AquaLogic was rock solid but a bit loud. The JBJ was quiet but was only a 1/10HP and I sold it after only 8 months becuase I got rid of my nano. Can someone rank these chillers for quality, performance and noise level? Here are my option right now: 1) Aqua Logic Trimline 1/5 (are these quieter than the original??) 2) JBJ 1/5 3) Tradewind Chiller IL-15-S 4) Current Prime 1/4 5) AquaEuroUSA 1/5 6) Teco 1/5 I am looking for comments of people who had experiences with any of these and let me know if you love your chiller or think its a piece. Also very important on noise level since its in my living room. Thanks. Last edited by CSS Reef; 05/11/2007 at 06:21 PM.

05/12/2007, 03:51 PM	#2
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	I have used a JBJ for 11/2 years. You can't even tell if it's running. R

05/12/2007, 04:22 PM	#3
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Out of those listed, I would say the Current but not because it is necessarily better but it's the largest one you have listed. I have a Current 1/3 and it isnt what I would classify as quiet. But the larger the chiller, the louder for any given model. Relative to the 1/5th HP Universal Marine (the best) I had before, the Current is louder but I would say that it is probably just proportionally louder because it is 2 sizes larger than the UM. The Aqualogic is probably considered the best built of the group. The Tradewinds has an excellent reputation and the Current USA was recommended to me and I have no regrets. It has worked great for me for 6 months now. There are a few manufacturers that use the term Quiet as one of their hard selling points. I would assume that these are probably quieter than some of the others. Haven't heard much about the Teco or the Aquaeuro but I know that the JBJ Arctica as well as Pacific Imports seem to have several owners on this board. BTW JBJ has the best chiller calculator I have seen ... http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod_chiller_size.asp

05/14/2007, 12:04 AM	#4
CSS Reef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Diego Posts: 595	Thanks for the insight anyone ele care to chime in? Aqualogic and Tradewind are local so may be they are my best bet for service etc....