Chiller setup question for my Biocube HQI

[jnrandall]

My Pacific Coast Chiller CL-280 unit arrives tomorrow. I am a bit unclear about setting it up in my Biocube. It seems that the popular setup (which is different from what the Oceanic rep told me on the phone) is from the return pump in Chamber 3 to the chiller and from the chiller directly in to the display tank. That seems simple enough however, I'm fairly certain that I'll need to replace my stock return pump. The CL-280 needs water flow between 500gph-800gph maximum. The hose connections are 1/2" or 5/8".
I assume that a Mag 7 (700GPH) should be more than enough pump to handle the job. What do you think about this setup?

Head Height/GPH
0' / 640
1' / 530
3' / 460
5' / 390

Thanks!

 

[KathyC]

I see your tank is 29G biocube (very nice btw!), do you have a sump plumbed to this tank? Best if you post a pic if there is a sump so we can see where you can best place the pump.

According to the head height chart you posted, a Mag 7 won't be enough once the chiller is placed more than a foot below the tank. Chillers are very particular about receiving the correct amount of flow to operate correctly.

Where do you plan to locate the chiller?

 

[MatthewScars]

Well, I wouldnt put cold water directly into the display. You want the DT to be one solid temp and not hot and cold in certain spots. I would just pump in water from the return water FROM the tank section of the sump and dump the water into the return TO the tank section.

Plus why get a chiller? A biocube is super easy to just use a fan on a controller to cool. I have a $15 amazon.com clip fan that keeps my 40g cube at 81.5 pretty much all the time.

 

[jnrandall]

I see your tank is 29G biocube (very nice btw!), do you have a sump plumbed to this tank? Best if you post a pic if there is a sump so we can see where you can best place the pump.

According to the head height chart you posted, a Mag 7 won't be enough once the chiller is placed more than a foot below the tank. Chillers are very particular about receiving the correct amount of flow to operate correctly.

Where do you plan to locate the chiller?

Hi,

I don't have a sump nor do I plan to ever have one. I am using the stock stand for tank which is pretty low. I can elevate the chiller so that it won't much more than 1-2 feet below the tank. It will sit right next to the stand. I assume I should be ok. If not, I can always get the Mag 9.5

Thanks!

 

[jnrandall]

Well, I wouldnt put cold water directly into the display. You want the DT to be one solid temp and not hot and cold in certain spots. I would just pump in water from the return water FROM the tank section of the sump and dump the water into the return TO the tank section.

Plus why get a chiller? A biocube is super easy to just use a fan on a controller to cool. I have a $15 amazon.com clip fan that keeps my 40g cube at 81.5 pretty much all the time.

Hi,

I don't have a sump. Oceanic suggested that I place a 2nd pump in chamber 2 (refugium) and pump to chiller. Then from the chiller to chamber 3 (return) and let the stock pump push it in the tank.

There's no a/c in my home office/tank room. I live in a 2BR apt and the a/c in the LR and MBR always kept this room comfortable. However, with no tank light on, the temp hovers at 82.3F. With the MH lighting, 86.xF. I haven't even turned on the refugium lighting yet. That will add some heat too, I'm sure. I didn't think that a fan installed in the hood cover would do the job. I don't want a giant fan blowing in the room with the glass cover open. Not very feng shui! So I got a chiller. :biggrin:

Thanks

 

[MatthewScars]

So you have a glass top on the tank? Thats probably the cause of the heat issue. Ever look into mesh or an open top?

 

[KathyC]

So you have a glass top on the tank? Thats probably the cause of the heat issue. Ever look into mesh or an open top?

+1 the glass top needs to go. Aside from being a huge heat trap it inhibits the oxygen exchange greatly in a tank.

Also - are you aware of how much heat a chiller puts out? IMHO you would be far better off refusing the chiller and taking the $ you spent on it and getting LED lighting. The tank will run much cooler, the room the tank is in will be a lot cooler, and if you get a decorative fan (they do make them, I even have one in the shape of a fish ) , your feng shui can remain intact

 

[jnrandall]

So you have a glass top on the tank? Thats probably the cause of the heat issue. Ever look into mesh or an open top?

I can look into a mesh solution. Are there any out there that you are aware of? I would not want to leave it open. Too much dust floating around NY!

 

[jnrandall]

+1 the glass top needs to go. Aside from being a huge heat trap it inhibits the oxygen exchange greatly in a tank.

Also - are you aware of how much heat a chiller puts out? IMHO you would be far better off refusing the chiller and taking the $ you spent on it and getting LED lighting. The tank will run much cooler, the room the tank is in will be a lot cooler, and if you get a decorative fan (they do make them, I even have one in the shape of a fish ) , your feng shui can remain intact

Ouch, but what about the extra couple of $100 I spent to get the lighting? I opted for the HQI setup instead of the standard Biocube. I like the fish fan idea!

 

[KathyC]

Did I hear someone say Mesh? ...I think I might be the queen of mesh :flirt:
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/77035-tank-cover-building-demonstration.html

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/22953-acrylic-mesh-tank-cover.html

..and the Mesh covers are far more to keep the fish in than the dust out. Your skimmer will do that for ya

 

[jnrandall]

Did I hear someone say Mesh? ...I think I might be the queen of mesh :flirt:
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/77035-tank-cover-building-demonstration.html

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/22953-acrylic-mesh-tank-cover.html

..and the Mesh covers are far more to keep the fish in than the dust out. Your skimmer will do that for ya

LMAO! Awesome! THanks!

 

[KathyC]

Ouch, but what about the extra couple of $100 I spent to get the lighting? I opted for the HQI setup instead of the standard Biocube. I like the fish fan idea!

That is why we have such a busy Marketplace here...sell that too
..then you'd definitely have enough to pay for the LED & feng shui fan

 

[MatthewScars]

+1 the glass top needs to go. Aside from being a huge heat trap it inhibits the oxygen exchange greatly in a tank.

Also - are you aware of how much heat a chiller puts out? IMHO you would be far better off refusing the chiller and taking the $ you spent on it and getting LED lighting. The tank will run much cooler, the room the tank is in will be a lot cooler, and if you get a decorative fan (they do make them, I even have one in the shape of a fish ) , your feng shui can remain intact

Or even T5 system. I have an ATI sunpower and it runs almost totally cool with 6 24" bulbs.

KathyC - that mesh can be 24/7 submerged, right?

 

[KathyC]

KathyC - that mesh can be 24/7 submerged, right?

Yup, sure can.

 

[jnrandall]

Well the chiller is installed and my tank temps are a steady 77.8F. I learned (and still learning) a HUGE lesson today. If I ever purchase a device that is USED and enters or affects my tank water in any way, test it first in another body of water! The chiller owner must have had some crap in his tank. When I fired it up, my water went from crystal clear to cloudy. I've cleaned the sponge which seemed to catch most of it. And I've done a 5 gallon water change. Well there goes my first week of cycling! Gonna do the water change again as I notice it clearer after the first one.

Lesson learned.

 

[jnrandall]

Latest update!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kZ5BuGMFCBo