Experience with chillers?

[sduda]

I am seeing some input on experience with chillers. I have a 34 gallon all glass bowfront reef/fish setup. I have a problem with heat buildup in my tank from my HO lights and other equipment. My temp typically runs at 80 degrees farenheit. During the summer, I have to keep my air in my house set at 65 to keep the temp of the tank down. My wife thinks I am friggen nuts to pay an electric bill of several hundered dollars per month during the summer to cool my tank. This is a smaller tank and I would anticipate that I would likely upgrade to about 100 gallon tank in the future. I need some input from you folks that are experienced with chillers to suggest things I should look for in a unit, setup and use, suggested manufacturers, etc. Any help would really be appreciated.

 

[richard rendos]

Flow through models are more efficient than coil or drop in types. I would suggest Aqualogic for reliability and noise level. Other than that they all work about the same way. For a 100 gallon, I would get a 1/4 HP model. For the 34, a 1/6 HP would be fine. If you are going to eventually get a bigger tank, get the 1/4 HP.

 

[hotjob4]

I agree with Richard. If you are going to upgrade your tank it would be better to go a little bigger. I have had 2 Custom Sea Life chillers on my reef tanks. First one was 1/5 hp on a 80 gallon tank. I then upgraded to a 180 and sold the 1/5 hp and bought a 1/3 hp. No problems with either Custom Sea Life chiller. Like any compressor, you will have a heat built up where you put the chiller so make sure you have a ventilated area. It is definately cheaper to chill the water than the house. Aqua locic uses compression fittings where Custom Sea Life uses brazed fittings. Personal preferance. good luck

 

[reef fool]

If you were going to keep the small tank, I would highly recommend the "Ice Probe" mini-chiller by Coolworks. It helps considerably on my 46 bowfront and I don't have a/c. Yes! it does get pretty friggin' hot up here in NY in the summer!