Chiller placement

snowcap · 07/18/2010, 09:10 AM

Need advice please. Have a 120 tank that will drain into a 50 gallon sump. Need to install a chiller. I will be using an in sump return pump back to the tank.Is it wise for me to take the discharge of the return pump and plumb it to the chiller and chiller back to the tank and if so could you recommend a pump with enough pressure to allow for sufficient turnover should I decide to have the chiller set up this way.
Any suggestions would be appreciated

Dustin1300 · 07/18/2010, 09:20 AM

I would say plumb it by itself. I doubt you are wanting to 'chill' all the water returning to DT. Also, with it being plumbed in the sump you may have better luck with it there as the water that is coldest will not directly return to the DT.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

BFG · 07/18/2010, 09:31 AM

You could plumb the pump discharge into the chiller and from the chiller back to the main tank. But you gonna need to have an external temperature probe on that chiller and place that temperature probe in the sump. Reason being, with an internal temperature probe, the water in the chiller compartment might be cooler than the temperature of the water in the tank. It create a false reading that the water is cooled and the chiller shuts off, only to switch on again a couple of minute later. Constant switching on and off the chiller might shorten it's life span. A chiller, with an external temperature probe in the sump measure the actual temperature of the tank water. So, when the total volume of water reaches the desired cooling temperature which you have set it, the chiller will shut off it's chilling cycle and rest. The longer the rest time and the shorter the activation phase, the chiller is efficient. Mine is switch on for 25 minute and rest for 2hr 15 minute. When it rains, it stay off for longer, 3hr and above.

Another tip is to get a chiller 1 model above the actual chiller model you need. Reason being, with the higher capacity, the chiller will be able to work adequately when the hot month are upon us. If you use a rated chiller and the weather gets quite warm, the chiller might not be able to cope with the added load of the hot weather.

Hope this helps!

mfinn · 07/18/2010, 09:38 AM

I use 2 different pumps for my return. One is only for the chiller and it draws water from the sump and returns it back to the display.

snowcap · 07/18/2010, 10:04 AM

Thanks everyone

mfinn · 07/18/2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowcap

could you recommend a pump with enough pressure to allow for sufficient turnover should I decide to have the chiller set up this way.

It really depends on how far away your chiller is (mine is 12' away from the tank outside on my patio), how many fittings, and how high the rise is from the chiller to the top lip of the tank. Plus it also depends on what the manufacture recommends for flow through the chiller.

reefkeeps · 09/12/2010, 06:06 PM

mfinn, what brand of chiller do you have?

07/18/2010, 09:10 AM	#1
snowcap Moved On Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 69	Chiller placement Need advice please. Have a 120 tank that will drain into a 50 gallon sump. Need to install a chiller. I will be using an in sump return pump back to the tank.Is it wise for me to take the discharge of the return pump and plumb it to the chiller and chiller back to the tank and if so could you recommend a pump with enough pressure to allow for sufficient turnover should I decide to have the chiller set up this way. Any suggestions would be appreciated

07/18/2010, 09:20 AM	#2
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I would say plumb it by itself. I doubt you are wanting to 'chill' all the water returning to DT. Also, with it being plumbed in the sump you may have better luck with it there as the water that is coldest will not directly return to the DT. Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

07/18/2010, 09:31 AM	#3
BFG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 700	You could plumb the pump discharge into the chiller and from the chiller back to the main tank. But you gonna need to have an external temperature probe on that chiller and place that temperature probe in the sump. Reason being, with an internal temperature probe, the water in the chiller compartment might be cooler than the temperature of the water in the tank. It create a false reading that the water is cooled and the chiller shuts off, only to switch on again a couple of minute later. Constant switching on and off the chiller might shorten it's life span. A chiller, with an external temperature probe in the sump measure the actual temperature of the tank water. So, when the total volume of water reaches the desired cooling temperature which you have set it, the chiller will shut off it's chilling cycle and rest. The longer the rest time and the shorter the activation phase, the chiller is efficient. Mine is switch on for 25 minute and rest for 2hr 15 minute. When it rains, it stay off for longer, 3hr and above. Another tip is to get a chiller 1 model above the actual chiller model you need. Reason being, with the higher capacity, the chiller will be able to work adequately when the hot month are upon us. If you use a rated chiller and the weather gets quite warm, the chiller might not be able to cope with the added load of the hot weather. Hope this helps! __________________ If you've learnt, teach. If you have, give.

07/18/2010, 09:38 AM	#4
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I use 2 different pumps for my return. One is only for the chiller and it draws water from the sump and returns it back to the display. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

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07/18/2010, 10:04 AM	#5
snowcap Moved On Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 69	Thanks everyone

09/12/2010, 06:06 PM	#7
reefkeeps Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alpharetta Ga Posts: 1,093	mfinn, what brand of chiller do you have?