Chiller question

[grisha]

hey gang, im trying to decide if i should be getting a chiller for my rsr 350. I keep it in the basement that doesnt have AC and was wondering if the chiller is a necessity giving my basement is cooler than a house.
Does anyone have experience keeping reef in the basement and how often do you use the chiller. My Lights are LED with 4 t5s 48" long 18" high
any input appriciated

 

[Qibinzhang1989]

It’s different for every tank. Whats your temp fluctuation now?

 

[grisha]

Thank you Qibinzhang
My temp fluctuation is withing 1 degree apex set. No fans. I target 77

 

[Qibinzhang1989]

I also have a reefer 350 too. Outside temperature was 88 yesterday and the temp swing was 3 degrees, so I added a Honeywell wall mounted fan this morning. It working so far.

 

[Qibinzhang1989]

I use a neptune too. I programmed the Neptune to turn on the fan when temp reach 78.8.

 

[grisha]

Very cool.
I dont expect fans to knock off 8 degrees but it all depends how long outside temp is that high. It takes time for 100g water to slowly heat

 

[Qibinzhang1989]

Very cool.
I dont expect fans to knock off 8 degrees but it all depends how long outside temp is that high. It takes time for 100g water to slowly heat

Lol so far so good. Crossing my fingers, hopefully I don’t have to spend few hundreds on a chiller.

 

[grisha]

Lol so far so good. Crossing my fingers, hopefully I don’t have to spend few hundreds on a chiller.

That’s my thinking too. What I’m afraid of is a week of really hot weather, nights in the 90’s. Fans are not gonna be enough if there is no ac in the basement

 

[Qibinzhang1989]

That’s my thinking too. What I’m afraid of is a week of really hot weather, nights in the 90’s. Fans are not gonna be enough if there is no ac in the basement

It went well today. Outside temperature was 90, and tank stayed between 78-79.

 

[editour2]

The issue is preparedness. I previously did not have a chiller. I relied on 2 fans and opening the panel above my tank to let some AC from my house enter the fish room where the DT sits, (thd DT is in the wall of my den, the fish room is in my garage which is adjacent to my den). When the summer hit and we consistently had hot days I could not get the tank water lower than 83 degrees. I started having issues and started loosing 1 colony after another. It was painful. After that debacle I bought a chiller. I personally don't want to go through that again.