Questions about used equipment

JReefaddict · 12/05/2013, 10:57 PM

Hi guys, when purchasing used equipment, I'm looking at purchasing a chiller but would like to know in general, are there any special steps that need to be taken as far as cleaning the equipment out or just rinsing it out and then hooking it up?
Thanks guys

Ron Reefman · 12/06/2013, 07:47 AM

I've had several used chillers over the years. I'd fill it up with vinegar for 24 hours and then rinse it out with plain water. That should clear any mineral deposits and collected debris from inside. You might consider hooking up a pump with just a short hose back and forth to the chiller (lets call it a closed loop) and run it for a while just to test it out for cooling and leaks before you try hooking it into your system.

JReefaddict · 12/06/2013, 08:53 AM

Ok sweet. The one I'm looking at is a JBJ 1/10 that's 4 years old. What's the life span of one of these? It will be going on a deep blue rimless 57 gallon reef.

Timber77 · 12/07/2013, 09:32 PM

life span would depend on how it was used. If it came off a tank with halides and was undersized would say a little 1/10 hp spent most of its life actually running. If it was on a tank and rarely turned on it probably has more life left in it. I would look for a used delta star 5 or something like that if you want something thats proven to have long life.

JReefaddict · 12/07/2013, 09:38 PM

I've never had a chiller so I don't have any experience. I was told to look into the JBJ chillers. I'm planning on getting one that is oversize for the tank to reduce the duty cycle. I'll check into that other one though

Timber77 · 12/07/2013, 10:14 PM

In general if a chiller is undersized it will run more often. I did not even know they made them that small 1/10 hp. With the current craze for led's i would think a lot of used chillers are out there near you. Im in chicago and there are plenty up here in the used market. Aqua logic makes very good chillers. JBJ 4 years old being1/10 hp, not unless its a garage sale type price.

JReefaddict · 12/08/2013, 01:10 AM

That what I was thinking. The led craze seems to have made chillers obsolete. I'm not ready to convert yet. I like my t5s. If we didn't have hurricanes down here in south fl I could almost get by with fans. I'd rather be safe than sorry though

Ron Reefman · 12/08/2013, 06:36 AM

I ran a JBJ 1/10th hp chiller on a 140g system (75g tank, 35g display refugium and 30g sump) for 3 years. I sold it to a friend who is still using it today (4+ years later). I think JBJ makes very good quality chillers. But I needed a 1hp for my current system. 350+ gallons and 1250w of MH before I switched to leds. Now the chiller hardly runs at all!

JReefaddict · 12/08/2013, 09:01 AM

Wow. So the 1/10 should be more than enough for my 57gallon display, and I believe it's a 20 gallon sump, when I bought the setup the guy at the store just said it was a sump for a 125gallon, this was when I was first getting into reefing and saltwater.

12/05/2013, 10:57 PM	#1
JReefaddict Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: PBC, Florida Posts: 168	Questions about used equipment Hi guys, when purchasing used equipment, I'm looking at purchasing a chiller but would like to know in general, are there any special steps that need to be taken as far as cleaning the equipment out or just rinsing it out and then hooking it up? Thanks guys

12/06/2013, 07:47 AM	#2
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I've had several used chillers over the years. I'd fill it up with vinegar for 24 hours and then rinse it out with plain water. That should clear any mineral deposits and collected debris from inside. You might consider hooking up a pump with just a short hose back and forth to the chiller (lets call it a closed loop) and run it for a while just to test it out for cooling and leaks before you try hooking it into your system. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

12/08/2013, 06:36 AM	#8
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I ran a JBJ 1/10th hp chiller on a 140g system (75g tank, 35g display refugium and 30g sump) for 3 years. I sold it to a friend who is still using it today (4+ years later). I think JBJ makes very good quality chillers. But I needed a 1hp for my current system. 350+ gallons and 1250w of MH before I switched to leds. Now the chiller hardly runs at all! __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

12/06/2013, 08:53 AM	#3
JReefaddict Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: PBC, Florida Posts: 168	Ok sweet. The one I'm looking at is a JBJ 1/10 that's 4 years old. What's the life span of one of these? It will be going on a deep blue rimless 57 gallon reef.

12/07/2013, 09:32 PM	#4
Timber77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 754	life span would depend on how it was used. If it came off a tank with halides and was undersized would say a little 1/10 hp spent most of its life actually running. If it was on a tank and rarely turned on it probably has more life left in it. I would look for a used delta star 5 or something like that if you want something thats proven to have long life.

12/07/2013, 09:38 PM	#5
JReefaddict Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: PBC, Florida Posts: 168	I've never had a chiller so I don't have any experience. I was told to look into the JBJ chillers. I'm planning on getting one that is oversize for the tank to reduce the duty cycle. I'll check into that other one though

12/07/2013, 10:14 PM	#6
Timber77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 754	In general if a chiller is undersized it will run more often. I did not even know they made them that small 1/10 hp. With the current craze for led's i would think a lot of used chillers are out there near you. Im in chicago and there are plenty up here in the used market. Aqua logic makes very good chillers. JBJ 4 years old being1/10 hp, not unless its a garage sale type price.

12/08/2013, 01:10 AM	#7
JReefaddict Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: PBC, Florida Posts: 168	That what I was thinking. The led craze seems to have made chillers obsolete. I'm not ready to convert yet. I like my t5s. If we didn't have hurricanes down here in south fl I could almost get by with fans. I'd rather be safe than sorry though

12/08/2013, 09:01 AM	#9
JReefaddict Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: PBC, Florida Posts: 168	Wow. So the 1/10 should be more than enough for my 57gallon display, and I believe it's a 20 gallon sump, when I bought the setup the guy at the store just said it was a sump for a 125gallon, this was when I was first getting into reefing and saltwater.