2nd hand chiller?

hi people, i just picked up a 2nd hand chiller from my lfs as he set up a tank for a bloke a month or two ago who got divorced and sold everythin back to the shop..so i got a near new chiller for about 150 bucks. which is good for me as here in australia winter just finished and by the time it hits summer im definately gonna be needing to cool my tank.

now my lfs owner has assured me its big enough for my tank but i dont know any of the flow rates or tank limits as theres no manual, info, etc.
bloke at my lfs just said to buy a submersible pump, plop that in the sump and run flexi tube to the chiller (next to the tank on the floor) and than from the chiller back to the sump.

is this generally how its done? i mean i know you can set up a chiller on the return line, but i dont want to have to stuff about that much trouble, so straight in and out of the sump okay?

 

basically yes thats OK - I run mine that way - I have the pump at one side of the tank
and the return at the other end, so Im not cooling the same water all the time

what is important is to know the rating of the chiller as that will tell you what size pump you need for it

to big a pump and the water does not spend long enough in there for the chiller to remove heat molecules

to small a pump and the flow rate is to slow to do any effective cooling plus the back pressure on the pump would shorten its life

if you can find any markings on the chiller - brand and model number if possible
then google that - you should be able to get the information you need as to the flow rate range required ( it will list a min and max sized pump GPH or LPH required and many people including me aim for about half way)

Steve

 

Just to add to what Steve said, it really is critical you find the acceptable flow rates required for this unit. Try finding any number sequence you can off the unit and put it through google. That should help.

If you undersize your pump, you send water in too slowly, and the condenser will burn out in no time. Too quickly, and it could run full time, which will be ineffective, use way more energy, and will greatly shorten the life of the unit.

It's important that flow rate match (right in the middle is optimal) the specs for the unit.

 

Thanks guys.. I shall google the model number In the morning to determine the flow rate. If the pump is in the sump tho won't it be taking water straight back in that has already been through and thus been cooled?

 

fezzz - the water is constantly cycled through the chiller, the pump works 24/7 and water keeps going around your system and into your chiller and out again

when the water is at pre set temp - the unit stops cooling, but the water continues to go through - when the temp rises again, the unit comes on again and cools again

Steve