Chiller

Well it seems as if I'm going to have to get a chiller. I have a 90G tank, a sump with about 8G, run 2 x 250W halides and 2-96W PC actinics. My water is about 80 overnight at the tank's coolest. My home AC is set for a constant 72*F, so this helps--but not enough. At the peak, my water temp will almost hit 85, but it's more usually 83 or so.

I've decided I'm going to buy a chiller. I'd love some input on good brands, capacity (1/4 hp?), and quality vs. price.

 

Aquarium lighting, aquarium filters, protein skimmers, aquarium pumps, aquarium products

http://www.pacificcoastimports.com/...9703L99V181V166V69L34723696X563&c=1&kys=&pg=1

 

Hey Sparky--Sorry you have to take the plunge...however, after you get over the pain of writing that check. It was the best money I spent so far. The worry of temperature dis-appears. I have a JBJ Arctica. I really like it. Only runs about 2-3 times a day and keeps it within 1 degree. I also like the red digital read-out on the front. JBJ makes a 1/4 hp too. Mine is a 1/3.

 

The Arcticia or Pacific coast are all good units .. Just be sure what ever you get that it has a scroll compressor inside moving the gas around the loop...

 

Hey Roger. I've read about, and think I understand what scroll compressor models do/are. However I'm not able to determine from any product description of any model, whether this is a feature. Do you know personally of chillers that have scroll compressor function?

 

I run a TradeWinds on my tank. It runs a Copeland compressor. 1/3hp had done me great.

 

Thanks Otty. But now I'm really confused. When I use the "How To Size A Chiller" tool on JBJ's site, when I enter the wattage of all my pumps, powerheads and lighting, it tells me I need a 1/3 minimum! And I only have a 90G tank!

It seems that 1/4HP would be plenty from other stuff I've been reading. But you say 1/3 works for you--and you run 265 gallons, right? My water is 85 degrees at absolute max. And that's rare.

Anyway, it's going to take a bit more reading and shopping around than I thought. Those tradewinds chillers are pretty industrial looking, too. This is going in my living room right underneath the flat-screen TV. I'm going to need a decent balance of utility and aesthetics, here. Which unit are you using out of the 4 pics on Tradewinds' homescreen?

 

Sparky, if it helps at all, I'm running a 1/3 on my 190 gallon (total) system and it works great. I would go for the 1/4 if I were you. Just my .02. BTW the jbj unit is a nice one.

 

You can't just say a 1/3 or a 1/4 or even a 1 HP will or will not do the trick.. You have to figure BUT load Temp Rise and ambient temps of the area the chiller will set a 1/10 HP flowed properly setting in a ambient air temp of say 71F would out perform a 1/3 hp setting in 80F ambient.

Sparky in you area I'd go with a 1/3 H.P myself not that much amperage difference and if your A/C fail then you have a little left in the hole for your tank .. I run a 1hp But it runs for 2.1/2 minuets 3 times an hour its setting in the Garage But the average heating degree day up here is far less then in Richmond .. It ran the same amount of time on the 180 also . But all the extracted heat is put outside the house like a Central air condenser . Its a scroll compressor .

I sent out a 1/4 HP to Grotto here last April and he said its kicking butt on his 90 with the M/H I sent him also But he is in a Northern area and has a fan to remove the heat from the room out into a common hallway . If you can keep the chiller cool then a 1/4 will run away with it . But in the sunny south and should your Main A/C pop off when its a 100F and 98 % Humidity then you will wish you had the 1/3 Hp unit then.

 

Top right. Mine is in a fish room so I don't care what it looks like, just need it to cool the water.