Opinions on coolers...

Fellow 3reefers,

While I do not currently own a reef aquarium (I am new to the saltwater world), I am a former Texan resident and currently a Chicago, IL resident (Thank you, US Navy! - proud sailor who doesn't mind being away from the sea). I am presented with a new problem - cooling.

I am not the biggest fan of A/C, and it has come to my recent attention that Chicago could/will hit the triple digits during the summer. Throughout the past couple months, my SW aquarium has sat at 77 degrees because of it's 200W Heater.

Now that this area is finally warming up, does anyone have any opinions on coolers? I really don't care all that much for A/C in my modest apartment, and I would hate for my dear tank inhabitants to heat up.

Info: 34Gallon, 350gph dual biowheel filter (I'm new, this will be upgraded to a sump soon) 15lbs live rock, 40-60lbs live sand with 2 oc. Clowns and 1 chocolate chip starfish (Don't shame me for the sea star, it will be moved when time for reefs).

All criticism aside for the sea star, are there any mfg's of cooler's that are desired? On that note, will I need a cooler? I see the apartment reaching mid to upper eighties in the next month, if not hundreds by July. Should I even worry about my tank gang?

 

not sure what the weather is like in chicago really but if its gonna be that hot often i would really want to invest in one of these nano chillers. a fraction of the price of a full sized chiller. not really an expert on chillers as i live in colorado but im pretty sure this will work for your tank as it is only a 34 gallon.

1/20 HP Nano Arctica Chiller up to 25 gal. by JBJ* - AquaCave.com

 

You would be surprised what an inexpensive Wal Mart clip on fan will do. I'm in Phoenix, use a swamp cooler to keep the house livable until I absolutely have to switch to the AC and fans kept my fully enclosed 100G reef with 2x250w MH and 2x140w VHO lights on 10 hrs. a day at 79-80 degrees year round. I started out with a 1/4 HP chiller but after messing with fan placement and sizing the chiller didn't run for 2 years so was sold off to buy other reef related stuff. I never missed it and now that I have made the switch to LED lights I don't even run the fans anymore.

 

Your lighting will tell the story...I had 3-400w lights on my saltwater (I live in Houston) The chiller would come on once a night for about 45 min in the summer. I have converted my tank to fresh, and replaced with 250w lights. The chiller has yet to come on. I do have fans blowing in and out in the canopy. The summer will tell. But even in the hottest days the chiller only ran a couple of times a day. Mine is set to come on at 81 and shut off at 79.

 

Thank you all for the information, today hit the 80 degree range outside. I kept the windows closed but curtains drawn for some ambient light and turned off the aquarium light (remember, not a reef tank). So far the tank has been maintaining the 77 degree mark. I think I may have been overthinking the issue because I'm still a new parent when it comes to my tank.