To chiller..or not to chiller??

[Reefcowboy]

Everyone have their opinions, and i think a chiller is as needed as a skimmer if you are a serious hobbyist. Somethings in this hobby are a "no-no" and swings in temperature are unacceptable in my opinion. Granted i hated handing out 400 to buy a chiller, would much rather have spent that in corals and some $15 fans, but if you want to be successful and not have surprises in this hobby, you need a stable system. I know many here have no isses for years+ using only fans. But there are many more that lost corals bc of no chillers.


Ive checked my electric bill and the cost of leaving the ac on all day to keep the tank temp stable is higher than leaving the ac off when you leave the house while you have a chiller on. My chiller keeps the temp at 79 all day, and granted being a 1/4hp, it generates lots of heat. I come home, turn on the ac and in a few my apt is at great temp. I know people here have fans and im not criticizing anybody's methods. I just also think spending tons on $ on corals and livestock+ time working on a tank having the whole system depending on a $15 chinese fan is not a smart decision. You also dont have peace of mind to enjoy the hobby as much(with an eye on the temp 24/7).
You dont want to come home from a long day look at your temp, see a whoping 85F and see some nice coral browning out...Temperature losses are insane. These days in NYC are an all time heat record. I cant immagine people running their systems with no chillers seriously.

 

[pmark85]

+1 to reefcowboy. Last year I didn't have a chiller and my tank was at 83-85 during the summer. Some of my corals bleached out and died. For all the $ we put into the livestock, an extra $400 for a chiller that will last several years and give you peace of mind is a great insurance policy.

I ended up with an aqua euro chiller, great price and great performance.

 

[BaaMNYC]

I always worry that the chiller will burn out one day. I usually keep my ac on anyway.

Scary thing when it's 95 degrees in a house and chiller running heating the room even more.

 

[E.intheC]

I also keep the AC on during the day because we have a dog who doesn't handle heat well.

This is definitely a tough decision. For the small tank owners, drs foster and smith have their jbj 1/15 hp chiller on sale for about $350 brand new.

 

[vio]

+1 Reefcowboy, well said, right now i working to find a way to keep my chiller outside the basement, inside the wood box ,well vent, and waterproof, he release lots of heat.

 

[jaBX1]

Is there no conversion kit or some sort of DIY project to vent the exhaust from the chiller outside?

I know I've seen ppl with huge tanks who have a chiller (small home air conditioner) outside.

Must be a chiller like those free standing a/c units w a vent you put in window. Right?
I mean cooling the tank by heating the room just seems asinine. But hey i have a 30gal that is ok w a/c+ fan.

 

[Reefcowboy]

I always worry that the chiller will burn out one day. I usually keep my ac on anyway.

Scary thing when it's 95 degrees in a house and chiller running heating the room even more.

True, there is a risk of failure as with any equipment. Maintenance and cleaning is key. I bought the Oceanic brand which was a washable removable screen so with use, as it clogs up with dirt, you take it appart and clean it. While at it, i use a hose vacuum cleaner to clean inside in the motor compartment. Chillers should go a long way, as long as you dont neglect it, sort of an ac unit. I would say an inspection every six months will keep it in great condition.

The one thing you dont want is to run a small chiller with a big tank. That way you will overwork it and chances are you could end up having it dor less time.

 

[SanmanReefer]

+1 definitely go with the A/C first.
My tanks are in my home office and I use a portable A/C that vents out the window (only 1 window so I do want to still be able to open it on cooler days & not stuff it up with an AC).
With this unit I don't need to run chillers on my tanks, but I do keep it on 24/7 for the entire summer @ 74 during the day and 76 at night and my temp tanks don't fluctuate.

As mentioned chillers throw off a HUGE amount of hot air into the room (at close to 100 degree exhaust).

I also agree on the AC first. I keep my AC (28000 BTU's) @72 degrees and I also run ceiling fans throughout the house and the tank is always stable at around 78.

 

[SanmanReefer]

I also keep the AC on during the day because we have a dog who doesn't handle heat well.

This is definitely a tough decision. For the small tank owners, drs foster and smith have their jbj 1/15 hp chiller on sale for about $350 brand new.

It is a tough decision, my wife has a dog boarding business and we have dogs here all the time so the AC is on 24/7. My electric bill is around $250-$300 only in the summer, then it goes down to about $125 and I have a large 4 bedroom house. I thought about buying a chiller but the tank has been very stable with the AC on.

 

[vio]

Is there no conversion kit or some sort of DIY project to vent the exhaust from the chiller outside?

I know I've seen ppl with huge tanks who have a chiller (small home air conditioner) outside.

Must be a chiller like those free standing a/c units w a vent you put in window. Right?
I mean cooling the tank by heating the room just seems asinine. But hey i have a 30gal that is ok w a/c+ fan.

That what i just did.........

 

[Reefcowboy]

Great job! Looks good! No heat and cool water!

 

[edd]

nice vio, the only way to run a chiller.

 

[BaaMNYC]

Is that waterproof ? What if it rains?

 

[Dilbag]

Fhdhdjfjf

 

[reefer4eva]

I have a 2 year old running around and has his hands in everything I had no choice but to put my chiller under the tank in the stand.(and yes I know that's a big huge NO..NO..)with my landlords permission I cut a square hole in the wall behind the stand to let the exhaust go into the hallway.i then used sheet metal and made a vent from the chiller to the hole in the wall.and for finishing touches I screwed a vent plate to cover the hole in the hallway.....I just came home from vacation Sunday after not being home for a week and my apartment hit 95 degrees....no casualties,my water was at a cool 78 degrees.best investment hands down in this hobby is having a chiller in my opinion .provided that you do the maintainence regularly.

 

[jaBX1]

That what i just did.........

Nice. That's what I would do if i wasnt in an apartment. Looks like you broke through brick. Was that a tough job?

 

[albano]

That what i just did.........

Since they are not designed for outdoor use, they might require some additional filtering to keep out dust and dirt

 

[vio]

Since they are not designed for outdoor use, they might require some additional filtering to keep out dust and dirt

i got more hair , from my two dogs and dust inside the basement then outside, i put two AC filters, lol.

 

[vio]

Nice. That's what I would do if i wasnt in an apartment. Looks like you broke through brick. Was that a tough job?

Not briks, Granite stone mix, 24" W the wall, not easy to drill, but i make it, i use one wood box paint w/Torocoat paint, two windows (one intake,second for exhaust) No water in if rain, i spit more water on him before when i do water change, now my AC inside the basement works on Low mode, super cool .
Tough job, was drilling the wall, rest nothing.

 

[Og Drogon]

I see it this way, if its to hot where your tank is at then get an AC. It Will be the day that I'm sweating looking at my fish swim by in there fur coats