Chiller info please

[tango]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking about buying a chiller and would like some feed back on what brands are better and why. Also do chillers come with their own internal pumps or do I need to plumb one to it. Noise will also be an issue as I want one that is fairly quiet. What size do you think I will need, I have a 90gal. reef/fish w/30gal. refugium I'm probably looking to pull the temp down 10-15deg.(not too sure though) Should I pump it through my refugium or go through the tank? Price is really not a big issue.
Thanks, Chris

[Poseidon]

Hi Chris, I use a Pacific Coast 1/4 HP unit on my tank, which is the same size as you describe, even the sump size. It does not have a pump, but I get by with a Hagen 802. I think going to the sump will be fine, depending on how many GPH you put through there, in mine I move about 800GPH

[tango]

Thanks Mike,
how quiet is that chiller? Pump size I think I'll be fine, I have more pump then I need now, so adding the chiller should not be a problem.
Chris

[BubbaWPB]

Anyone else out there other than Mike using chillers? I'm interested, too. What about JBJ's Arctica series? Does anyone know of a good review article on chillers?

[Poseidon]

The chiller is fairly quiet, it sounds like a mini fridge when it kicks on. I would not call it LOUD, but you can hear it. My skimmer is louder that is for sure.

[golfish]

Chris,
Try to get the chiller outside if you can. Their heat exchangers, they take the heat out of the water and release it back into the area the chiller is located. If you run the chiller in the same room it will be much less efficient. I've had an Aqua Logic 1/3 hp for about 4-5 years with no problems at all. I did try to run it in a small area under the house for a while, there wasn't enough air flow under there so the chiller didn't work very well at all.

The Trade winds chillers are probably the best hobby made chiller out there right now. I've talked to a few refridge experts and they say the compressors on these chillers are the best. Plus you can get em with large PVC fittings for more flow.

got to run, let me know if you need any more info.

Mark

[Steven Pro]

Are you setting up a cold water display? I am just curious as to why you would need to drop the temperature 10-15*F in Connecticut.

[Poseidon]

Are you setting up a cold water display? I am just curious as to why you would need to drop the temperature 10-15*F in Connecticut.

Last summer I had to drop mine 12 degrees, it was the HOTTEST summer in years, and it was the first time in 10 years I did NOT have AC!

We had several days over 95, I think it was a week straight at one point, and my house was more like an OVEN!

[Steven Pro]

Yeah, without central air heat can be a real problem.

[tango]

I'm not planning on running the chiller all the time but last summer during july and august my tank got up to the mid 80's w/o having halides. Now I have them and who knows how hot it may get. I don't have central air but I have a couple of big window units for the upstairs & downstairs if it gets really hot.
I own a log home so it's not too bad in the house. I'm just a little worried that w/improvements I added this past fall, (better lighting, refugium w/it's lights on 24/7 ) I really don't want to wait till summer and find out I'm going to have a hot water issue in the tank.
thanks for all the input though, and keep the suggestions comming I'll let you know what I decide.

[chrisbrph]

For the past 5 years, I have efficiently run a custom sealife (now current) 1/4HP drop in style- on my 92 corner with 25 gal sump. I was not interested in plumbing a chiller and adding an additional pump into the small 92 like I have for my 175 bow.

I also did not have the room to place the chiller inside the stand (not recommended anyway) the chiller currently sits alongside the stand a few feet away with the drop in residing in the sump.

If you are interested in an easy chiller solution, I would absolutely recommend the 1/4HP drop in model by current- comes with thermostat that can be set to the desired temp and change required to activate unit.

I purchased my drop in 5 years ago from thatpetplace.com in lancaster PA- they still carry the full line under their "temperature control" section under the fish heading.

Best of luck

[chrisbrph]

Also- keep in mind that the pump for the inline chiller would need to run year round to avoid standing water in the lines which can easily become toxic while fermenting in the chiller not to mention the cost of running the pump all year.

If I were you I would only look at the drop in style...

Chris

[BubbaWPB]

I appreciate everyone's input on this. I just ordered a Current 1/3 hp drop in.

I'm not sure what hot is up north in summer, but just this last week it was 87° here in February....

[tango]

Hey BubbaWPB,
Let me know how you like your chiller when you get it. where did you order it from? Look foward to hearing from you.
Thanks,Chris

[BubbaWPB]

Hey BubbaWPB,
Let me know how you like your chiller when you get it. where did you order it from? Look foward to hearing from you.
Thanks,Chris

I got it! It looks just fine in the box out in the garage! Unfortunately, my tank doesn't have water in it, so I'm not too sure about the function. I ordered it from a LFS.... got about the same price as online without having to pay for 60 pounds of freight shipping.