1/4hp chiller enough for a 210?

The title pretty much says it. It is time to add a chiller to my office 210. During the summer it can drift up to 85-86 unless I run the AC non-stop. Normally it floats between 78-82. Last year the AC was "accidentally" turned off for a hot weekend and I lost a 1/2 my corals and I don't want to risk that again. The $500 1/4 unit I'm looking at states it will pull down a 185 10+ degrees. I'm estimating the 210 will only get 88% of that yield. To go to the 1/2 hp unit it jump to $800, but it will pull a 185 down 20+ degrees.

Oh the 210 is an EZ reef. Just softies with some T5s for light. I'm also redoing my filtration as long as I'm at it. I have a large W/D and 2 external pumps (Dolphin 2700 and MD55 clone) driving the return and the skimmer. I'm going to a 40 gallon sump/fuge and a spare single md100rlt to power the return, chiller and skimmer.

I think the 1/4hp will do it, but there isn't much capacity for "overkill" and I do like my overkill. In my mind 1/3hp would be perfect, but the 1/3hp chillers are as much as the 1/2hp I'm looking at. As it is, I'm looking at $800 of upgrades and really don't want to drop $1,100 on the tank. Amazing how fast this stuff adds up. :

Thanks

 

The 1/4hp should do the trick. You could also duct an AC vent to go inside the canopy of the tank, so when the AC kicks on, it blasts the tank surface with cold air and cut it off in the winter.

 

THX, interesting idea with the AC duct, but I'm not too sure about the looks in my office.

Now, blowing on the basement sump is a whole other situation...

 

That work and be more productive at cooling aswell. more surface contact with the AC and water.

 

That would be almost the exact same as a chiller

 

Well I opted for a 1/3rd hp Prime in-line tower chiller.

Aquarium Chillers: Current USA Prime In-line Tower Chiller

For the price I don't think I can go too wrong. Hopefully, it won't need to work as hard as 1/4 and will be as effecient and last longer. For an additional $25 it seems to be a no brainer.

BTW, does anyone have a calculator that will tell me how much a 4,000BTU chiller can lower the temperature on a 210 (250 including the sump) tank? My LFS said about 15 degrees. That seems like a lot.