plumbing chiller ?s

justinm0424 · 10/03/2006, 02:31 PM

Hey,
I just purchased a 1/3hp current usa chiller. I was wondering how i should plumb it. Would it be a problem to plumb using my skimmer pump or using my return pump then to the skimmer/tank? I am just trying not to purchase another pump. the chiller reccommends 750-1300 GPH.

bureau13 · 10/03/2006, 02:47 PM

In general, the chiller should come after any filtration, including, I would think, the skimmer. The rate of flow through the skimmer is important...too fast and it won't get cool enough, too slow and it will get too cold and turn anything it touches into an icycle (perhaps I exaggerate

) If your return pump is manly enough you can T off of it and run the chiller return back to your sump...that's what I did. Use a gate valve so you can set your flow where you need it.

I'm not familiar with that chiller, but isn't that a LOT of chiller for a 40gal tank?

jds

justinm0424 · 10/03/2006, 05:31 PM

yeah I got it at a really good price and I plan to upgrade soon. Should I shoot for the low gph or the high gph bc of my small tank? or does it really matter?

Reefjunkee · 10/03/2006, 06:51 PM

I ran mine inline with my return pump.Works great.I bought the 1/4h current.

phorton · 10/03/2006, 08:00 PM

I have mine hard plumbing at 600 gph (700 mag with 2 ft of pipe - Current seems to encourage flex tubing, but I like the calculated, stability of PVC pipe). All the advice is to exceed the chillers sepc per systems capacity. This keeps the chiller from over working and keeps the system in tight parameters. Let me know how it goes!

justinm0424 · 10/04/2006, 01:07 PM

phorton what size chiller do you have?

phorton · 10/04/2006, 01:30 PM

I have a 1/3 hp chiller on a 60gall. I got the bigger chiller because I plan on upgrading to a 150g next year.

10/03/2006, 02:31 PM	#1
justinm0424 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, OH Posts: 358	plumbing chiller ?s Hey, I just purchased a 1/3hp current usa chiller. I was wondering how i should plumb it. Would it be a problem to plumb using my skimmer pump or using my return pump then to the skimmer/tank? I am just trying not to purchase another pump. the chiller reccommends 750-1300 GPH.

10/03/2006, 06:51 PM	#4
Reefjunkee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Evans,Georgia Posts: 633	I ran mine inline with my return pump.Works great.I bought the 1/4h current. __________________ "It was only 20 dollars honey (yeah right)and when it grows bigger I can frag it sell it and triple my money!!!" Current Tank Info: 92 corner bow,160lb`s Figi,SPS,LPS and a few softies,EuroReef CS8-3 skimmer,MRC dual reactor,OM supersquirt on Iwaki MD30rlxt w/4 returns,2 Tunze 6055`s w/multicontroller,poseiden auto top off,aqualogic 1/3 chiller,blah,blah,blah,blah

10/04/2006, 01:30 PM	#7
phorton Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	Size of chiller I have a 1/3 hp chiller on a 60gall. I got the bigger chiller because I plan on upgrading to a 150g next year.

10/03/2006, 02:47 PM	#2
bureau13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,936	In general, the chiller should come after any filtration, including, I would think, the skimmer. The rate of flow through the skimmer is important...too fast and it won't get cool enough, too slow and it will get too cold and turn anything it touches into an icycle (perhaps I exaggerate ) If your return pump is manly enough you can T off of it and run the chiller return back to your sump...that's what I did. Use a gate valve so you can set your flow where you need it. I'm not familiar with that chiller, but isn't that a LOT of chiller for a 40gal tank? jds

10/03/2006, 05:31 PM	#3
justinm0424 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, OH Posts: 358	yeah I got it at a really good price and I plan to upgrade soon. Should I shoot for the low gph or the high gph bc of my small tank? or does it really matter?

10/03/2006, 08:00 PM	#5
phorton Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	I have mine hard plumbing at 600 gph (700 mag with 2 ft of pipe - Current seems to encourage flex tubing, but I like the calculated, stability of PVC pipe). All the advice is to exceed the chillers sepc per systems capacity. This keeps the chiller from over working and keeps the system in tight parameters. Let me know how it goes!

10/04/2006, 01:07 PM	#6
justinm0424 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, OH Posts: 358	phorton what size chiller do you have?