Realistically...What Size Chiller Do I Need??

[hurrifan]

I have a 180 reef tank that I currently do not have a chiller on. Right now my temp never goes above 85, during the day with the A/C off (it was only done as an experiment). My lights are 2 400W MH, but I am adding 1, maybe 2 more soon. I leave the A/C on all day and my temp stays constantly at 80. Once I add the new MH I will need a chiller, I know. However, I will not need one by very much. All of the charts talk about pull down temps. I have also heard other people say that on a 180, the smallest I should go is 1/3. If I only need a pull down of 10 or less, even in the hotest temps, can't I get away with a much smaller unit?

Also, is there a big difference in performance from in-line to drop in?

Any advice or guidance would be appreciated.

 

[esmithiii]

How many fans do you have pointing at the water?

Ernie

 

[hurrifan]

None at the water. One one each bulb. THat is all.

 

[esmithiii]

Use a small clip-on fan first. I have one set up on my 180 w/ same setup as you have. If the room stays 80 F or below then the water never gets above 82 F. It does add to evaporation though! I have it connected through a temperature controller, which you would need for a chiller too.

Ernie

 

[viking]

Hurrifan,
I use a 1/4 hp chiller on a 300 gal. I live in the tropics and it works just fine. Its an in line chiller from Aqua logic. I bought it with the temp controller. Now i can keep the tank within 1 degree "C". One of the best thiongs i ever bought for my system. I tried fans and they worked, sort of but on realy hot days just couldnt cope and the evaporation was huge.
Cheers,
Viking.

 

[texman]

I have 4 400W lamps over my 600g tank with 4 fans blowing. The fans did make a large difference. I find that the heat transferred by the lamps is probably less than is that imparted by my Iwaki pumps. Even at night, when all lights are off, my chiller kicks in about once every 2 hours. This does not change much during the day when the lights are on. I am running 3 X 55RLT pumps + my skimmer pump which is a 100RLT. I use a 3/4 hp inline chiller and have not had any problems in 2 years. It takes about 30 min to bring the temp down by 1 degree and then stays off for about 2 hrs.