Aquarium Chiller ?

I am in the process of seting up a 55 gallon reef and was wondering if a chiller was a must ? I'm from Ohio so the summer temps arent to bad . Figured the lighting would be the biggest heat source . I am using 4 48" VHO's I'm not looking to blow more money if I dont have to . Drop in's on ebay running around 450 bucks . Thanks for any help .

 

Well even though the summers are not bad you have to worry about your central air quitting on you one day. It really comes down to how much you have invested in your livestock. I run a chiller that I only need in the summer time but it is sure nice knowing I have that insurance.
You could probably get by with putting fans across the top of the tank or in the sump but if the house ever gets real hot the water will pick up the temp.

 

As a point of comparison, I have a 55 gal here in Florida. I keep my AC on 70 year-round. My tank temp doesn't rise above 80. This is probably the absolute max temp for a reef tank. I don't own a chiller; but I don't run Metal Halides either. I have a 5 bulb T5 fixture. However, I'm just getting started. I only own 2 corals so far; some mushrooms and a rock covered with zoanthus. So far so good.

 

i'm in pittsburgh area and never use a chiller.i have 4 54watt t5's and the canopy their in has lots of open space for heat to drift out.only during our hottest days will i put a fan neer it.it would't hurt to put in some fans to keep it down on those very hot summer days.

 

Ditto on what Ziggy said! A small table or clip on fan works great, blowing across the underneath of your lights works just fine. I use one in the summer too.

 

I would do everything you can to avoid a Chiller. They are very expensive to run and very noisy.

I had a 75G with 2x250W MH + 2 110W VHO and never needed a chiller. Just fans in the summer

J

 

Just use a room AC when needed. That way you can enjoy benefit also.

 

Thanks guys

I guess I will wait on buying the chiller for now . How hot is to hot for the water to get ?

 

over 80 degrees.

 

I also dont think a chiller is VERY necessary unless you dont use/have an a/c. Using fans over the top of the tank and sump will do wonders, not to mention, cheaper!! My a/c recently took a crap for 2-3 days straight and the temp. never went higher than 82. I had a two fan unit on the top and one over the sump. Look into one of these;
or
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