CHILLER: Drop-In versus In-Line

[Kevin207]

I was thinking about getting a drop in chiller instead of an inline chiller since you can scrub that drop in coil if you want to. I know the in line chillers are usually guaranteed for life, but I like to be able to get the cooling area cleaned off in case it gets a bit encrusted. Is inline better that drop in for any reason, or just user preference?

Any recommendations on brand?
How about sizing?

I'd like to use one for my 120 gallon tank now but have it big enough to handle a 350 gallon tank next winter.

I am leaning toward 1/3 horsepower Current USA Prime Drop In unit:
http://www.current-usa.com/primechillerdropin.html

 

[Kevin207]

I read through a thread over at reefcentral and gathered that placement was an issue since good ventilation is necessary regardless if you choose inline or dropin.

When I first looked into getting a chiller, someone at my local aquarium store suggested

"Why not get an air conditioner and make everyone in the room happy?"

I ended up getting a roll around inside air conditioner that vents to the outside via a window. I have been pointing it to my sump area by simply opening up one of the aquarium cabinet doors underneath the tank. This DOES keep the tank from getting too hot, even with my metal halides. However, it is far from the most efficient method, and is a bit unsightly. It gets me through the summer months here in Maine where it is usually not much more than 80 degrees out in the summer.

When I go to a 350 gallon tank, I fear that I won't be able to keep up with the heat load. I may vent the area that I store the chiller (a closet on the floor below with sump and such) by putting an in wall fan that will draw in air under the closet door and blow it out the top. Either that or I could use a remote NuTone fan with temperature controller and 4" dryer hose to vent it to the outside.

Any other ideas for getting the hot air out? It still seems that there is no clear winner for inline versus drop in after reading various threads.

 

[Anonymous]

There are pros and cons for the inline/drop in. For efficiency and flexibility, people usually go with inline. Both can be cleaned, and if you bother to get the probe and clean it by soaking in vinegar solution, there is nothing more trouble to pour the solution in the inline version and flush it out. A lot of it does not make much of a difference, since there are workaround. That's why they still make both verisons, and there are still Pepsi and Coke.

It is usually more efficient to chill the tank directly if you can vent the hot air out. There is only so much you can do if you chill the air compare to chill the tank water directly.