Chiller Advice Please

THP · 09/19/2009, 08:01 PM

I'm afraid I will need a chiller for my new tank setup. My question is what chiller would you recommend for performance, reliability and power consumption? In other words, whats the best chiller out there?

The tank is a standard 180g which struggles to keep the tank near 78 with lights on. I have a Profilux controlling a series of fans to maintain 78. The tank settles at 81 with lights on at best and 79.9 over night. I'm afraid the summer months will be much worse even though I have AC and the tank is in the basement. By the way, the lights consist of 3x 400w CoralVue in Luminarc III reflectors inside a mock wall unit.

Obviously a cabinet/tank setup does not contribute to good heat exchange but I like the look. The fans consist of 4x 80w computer fans blowing across the length of that tank, 2x 1 foot fans over the light fixtures and a Profilux 5x 120w series of fans blowing onto the sump surface water. Both ends of the wall unit have slotted 1/4" grooves running the width of the tank. Slots from top to bottom for air flow. Room temperature is between 73 - 78.8 F year round. The tank has about 220 gallons with sump and display and settles at 79.9 - 81F +. What type and size should I get to keep the fans from running non-stop and same for the chiller? I'm aiming for 79 F .

bergzy · 09/19/2009, 09:49 PM

wow!

that is a lot of light for a 180g.

what are your corals? sps and clams (maxima's and crocea's)?

other than that, i dont think you need that much light. i am guessing that electricity is pretty cheap (upper tier is about 50 cents a kwh here!!!) for y'all canucks!

if you truly need that much light...

some solutions could be to open up the canopy (if you have one) and let the fans blow across the tank surface.

the other solution is to open up your sump are and use a blower or powerful fan to blow across the sump (not top down). the best fan out there i have used is a vornado.

that should help but then you will run into ambient humidity issues. hopefully you can run your room ac to dehumidify and/or open a window.

thus, onto a chiller.

i would try the opening of the hood and cabinet first along with the fans set up i mentioned.

if your temps are still pretty high up there, then a chiller would be a good thing to have. but dont forget that if you vent it into your room, your room gets hot and will need ac turned on and/or a window open.

81 is not 'that' high for a reef tank...though i have my fan temp controller set at 78. if the fans cant keep up, then a 1/2 hp aqualogic chiller comes online at 82 F. aqualogics are solid but noisy...mine anyway. i have a teco chiller that is very quiet...but for a 180g get at least a 1/2 hp whether it is an aqualogic or teco.

THP · 09/20/2009, 10:49 AM

Thanks for the info. I have been doing some research on the chillers you mentioned. At the moment I don't have any corals as I am just finishing the build. The tank has been running with LR and agresive skimming and near full flow for 2.5 years. Yes, 2.5 years - long story.

It will be for SPS and clams. Turn over is near 67 times/hr through 14 outlets. 4 of which are on a OM closed loop, 6 others on a secondary loop running 4 fixed 1" outlets in the rear and 2 wavyseas at the front corners. 2 outlets from the sump and 2 MP40s.

I like a bright tank with lots of flow

I will try augmenting the fans blowing across the length of the tank and sump as you suggest but opening the canopy is unfortunately not an option. Each end of the tank is ventilated from top to bottom. Though not as efficient as opening the canopy, I have to keep it this way.

Have you heard any reviews from Oceanic chillers? The look professional but not sure how they fair otherwise.

MaLi · 09/22/2009, 04:38 PM

Greetings,

I have recently upgraded from a Biocube 29 with a 6G sump to a 60G cube with a 29G sump. While for the Biocube two Dalton 135 CFM were capable to lower temp in a short time to 80F, for the new setup the two fans are not much of a help (82F daytime, 80F night time) running almost continuously. That calls for a lot of evaporation.
MarineDepot.com is running a sale on chiller and I bought a 1/10 HP (1450 BTU) EuroAqua chiller. This way I will get the temperature back to 79F and get rid of outrageous evaporation and salty smell in the room.

hope it helps,
Marian

PS. For 180G I will get at least a 2500 BTU chiller.

Mako · 09/22/2009, 05:07 PM

I would plumb an inline 1/3hp Tradewinds chiller to a well ventilated exterior location to get the results you desire.

09/19/2009, 08:01 PM	#1
THP Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Great White North Posts: 452	Chiller Advice Please I'm afraid I will need a chiller for my new tank setup. My question is what chiller would you recommend for performance, reliability and power consumption? In other words, whats the best chiller out there? The tank is a standard 180g which struggles to keep the tank near 78 with lights on. I have a Profilux controlling a series of fans to maintain 78. The tank settles at 81 with lights on at best and 79.9 over night. I'm afraid the summer months will be much worse even though I have AC and the tank is in the basement. By the way, the lights consist of 3x 400w CoralVue in Luminarc III reflectors inside a mock wall unit. Obviously a cabinet/tank setup does not contribute to good heat exchange but I like the look. The fans consist of 4x 80w computer fans blowing across the length of that tank, 2x 1 foot fans over the light fixtures and a Profilux 5x 120w series of fans blowing onto the sump surface water. Both ends of the wall unit have slotted 1/4" grooves running the width of the tank. Slots from top to bottom for air flow. Room temperature is between 73 - 78.8 F year round. The tank has about 220 gallons with sump and display and settles at 79.9 - 81F +. What type and size should I get to keep the fans from running non-stop and same for the chiller? I'm aiming for 79 F . __________________ pickled radishes flourish in the clear moon light Current Tank Info: 180g AG, OM4 way CL on Dart pump, BlueLine main, 50-60g sump, MT skimmer w/2 Sedra circulation pumps, 3x400w 12k Reeflux bulbs/CoralVue elec. ballasts in Luminarc III reflectors.

09/19/2009, 09:49 PM	#2
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	wow! that is a lot of light for a 180g. what are your corals? sps and clams (maxima's and crocea's)? other than that, i dont think you need that much light. i am guessing that electricity is pretty cheap (upper tier is about 50 cents a kwh here!!!) for y'all canucks! if you truly need that much light... some solutions could be to open up the canopy (if you have one) and let the fans blow across the tank surface. the other solution is to open up your sump are and use a blower or powerful fan to blow across the sump (not top down). the best fan out there i have used is a vornado. that should help but then you will run into ambient humidity issues. hopefully you can run your room ac to dehumidify and/or open a window. thus, onto a chiller. i would try the opening of the hood and cabinet first along with the fans set up i mentioned. if your temps are still pretty high up there, then a chiller would be a good thing to have. but dont forget that if you vent it into your room, your room gets hot and will need ac turned on and/or a window open. 81 is not 'that' high for a reef tank...though i have my fan temp controller set at 78. if the fans cant keep up, then a 1/2 hp aqualogic chiller comes online at 82 F. aqualogics are solid but noisy...mine anyway. i have a teco chiller that is very quiet...but for a 180g get at least a 1/2 hp whether it is an aqualogic or teco. __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.

09/20/2009, 10:49 AM	#3
THP Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Great White North Posts: 452	Thanks for the info. I have been doing some research on the chillers you mentioned. At the moment I don't have any corals as I am just finishing the build. The tank has been running with LR and agresive skimming and near full flow for 2.5 years. Yes, 2.5 years - long story. It will be for SPS and clams. Turn over is near 67 times/hr through 14 outlets. 4 of which are on a OM closed loop, 6 others on a secondary loop running 4 fixed 1" outlets in the rear and 2 wavyseas at the front corners. 2 outlets from the sump and 2 MP40s. I like a bright tank with lots of flow I will try augmenting the fans blowing across the length of the tank and sump as you suggest but opening the canopy is unfortunately not an option. Each end of the tank is ventilated from top to bottom. Though not as efficient as opening the canopy, I have to keep it this way. Have you heard any reviews from Oceanic chillers? The look professional but not sure how they fair otherwise. __________________ pickled radishes flourish in the clear moon light Current Tank Info: 180g AG, OM4 way CL on Dart pump, BlueLine main, 50-60g sump, MT skimmer w/2 Sedra circulation pumps, 3x400w 12k Reeflux bulbs/CoralVue elec. ballasts in Luminarc III reflectors.

09/22/2009, 04:38 PM	#4
MaLi Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Columbus, IN Posts: 532	chiller Greetings, I have recently upgraded from a Biocube 29 with a 6G sump to a 60G cube with a 29G sump. While for the Biocube two Dalton 135 CFM were capable to lower temp in a short time to 80F, for the new setup the two fans are not much of a help (82F daytime, 80F night time) running almost continuously. That calls for a lot of evaporation. MarineDepot.com is running a sale on chiller and I bought a 1/10 HP (1450 BTU) EuroAqua chiller. This way I will get the temperature back to 79F and get rid of outrageous evaporation and salty smell in the room. hope it helps, Marian PS. For 180G I will get at least a 2500 BTU chiller.

09/22/2009, 05:07 PM	#5
Mako Will Dive For Food Join Date: May 2001 Location: FL Posts: 5,652	I would plumb an inline 1/3hp Tradewinds chiller to a well ventilated exterior location to get the results you desire. __________________ -Chuck "One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say." -- W Durant Current Tank Info: 300 mixed reef