Chillers are chilling me!

[reefdope]

Could someone please explain to me why a chiller (and yes I do have one for my larger tank, but not my 50) costs as much as a medium sized fridge :eek3: and yet its not really much other than parts of a fridge? Also, does anyone have a solution out there, other than those DIY dorm fridges for under $400 that would cool this tank during summer? BTW I already have fans blowing across the sump.....doesn't do enough...

[reefdope]

Oh and does anyone know if how a water cooler/drinking fountain works and whether they would be stronge enough to do the job?

[golfish]

Do you have fans in the canopy?

[reefdope]

Hey Golfish,

Yes I do...one's from Hellolights.com (sound like a 747 on the runway). They do a good job now, but there's no way that they'll keep the temp down during summer. So I either figure this out now or buy yet another over priced (IMO) chiller.

[tendar]

Basically anything doing with this hobby cost twice as much as normal just because they can get away with it.

[reefdope]

tendar -

I know what your saying, but for the cost of a regular chiller these days, I could buy a fridge big enough to put the tank in and just open the door to the fridge when I need to see or work on the tank. Or how about just taking the door off a fridge, making it water tight, puting some starfire glass on the front were the door was and that could be the tank.. BLAH...it just bothers me that these things are so ridiculously priced.

[JasonL]

No if you purchased a fridge or a water fountain it would not do the job it just does not have the BTUs in cooling that it would require to cool a tank esp. if we are taking about 100+ gallons. If you want a cheap way out you might be able to modify a old A/C unit which has I want to say 10x the BTUs a fridge or fountain has. They are also cheaper but the problem is the mods you are going to have to do. I have seen someone do it but do not have plans.

Good Luck...

Jason

[reefdope]

Jason -

Thanks....I've seen most of the DIY stuff out there and now have a strange feeling I'll end up with a chiller somehow