Recommend a cheap chiller for a 29g...

[Reefguide]

Looking for a cheap chiller for a 29g... even if it's overkill. Not looking to spend alot. LFS had a generic stlye chiller that for a 40g that would reduce by 2 degrees for $150.00... looking for something similar.. . looking to drop about 3 degrees... Thanks..

 

[buff1]

I know that Champion Lighting sells a small chiller called an Ice Probe. It sounds like it may fit your needs perfectly. I have never used one, but it looks interesting.

 

[Len]

I use the Iceprobe on my 10g, and I don't know if I'd recommend it for a 29. There are these bigger Peltier cousins being sold by Pet Warehouse, although I have no first hand experience with them:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... CatId=8173

It's rather pricey, and B/O untiled 9/22.

Other then that, I think you should just go with lots of fans over your tank. Or shop our used marketplace (place a want to buy ad).

 

[Todd March]

The Ice Probe or the MicroChiller (which is just an IceProbe mounted in an Aquaclear filter) are both okay for VERY small amounts of chilling, but both require a seperate controller to control the temp... Bill Esposito did an excellent test of the IceProbe and posted his results at Reef Central:

http://www.reefcentral.com/library/revi ... efault.htm

I was glad for Bill's page, as it showed me that an IceProbe was VERY limited and NOT for my setup..

By the time you buy an IceProbe and temperature controller, you're looking at $200+ bucks for only a couple degrees of cooling. For around $400 you can get a Teclima Micro Chiller (also not a true chiller like the IceProbe–both are Peltier devices that remove heat from the water rather than chilling). The Teclima will bring down the temp in a 20-30 gallon tank more like 10-20 degrees, plus it also heats the water in the winter, eliminating the need for a seperate heater. The Teclima comes with a digitial display and thermometer; you just punch in what temp you want and VOILA–it cools or heats and very accurately keeps the temp to within .5 degrees of your setting, and always shows you the current temp in digital display.

Like a traditional chiller, the Teclima needs to be plumbed inline somehow (120-180 gallons per hour flow. I use a Sedra 2500A pump which is perfect), but this little chiller is only 8" by 8" (plus a seperate power converter box) so it takes little precious space. I think it's a marvelous product for tanks under 30 gallons.

Bio-Con labs currently has the Teclima Micro on special for $395 delivered. You can find it at:

http://www.bioconlabs.com/chillers.html

I cannot recommend this product enough; just marvelous!

Hope this helps.


Todd

 

[ReefMon]

I get clip on fans from Walmart for around $10 a piece. Unless you have dual 400's on that tank I would think (even in FL) you could keep the temp in the acceptable range with evaporative cooling.

 

[Anonymous]

after my cleaner shrimp died in the last heat wave, I just bought a 12,000 BTU fedders air conditioner. It would keep my hose at a nice 74 degrees if my roomate would quit opening the windows. For the same amount of money as a decent chiller, I get to enjoy the cool as well. My cats also like it...


just a thought.
Brett

 

[Reefguide]

Will explore my options.. Im running 80f during the daytime and 77f at night (only cause I have heater set to 77f.. without heater will drop to 75f)... I'd like to be able to be below 77f so I can have my heater take over under that... My Xenias love it at 77f but get pissed of above that... A chiller might be a bit over-kill... Might try adding another fan...

thanks guys...

 

[Entacmaea]

Good luck cooling your tank, I just got a used chiller for the same reason. However, you might want to read the AF article on real reef temps and salinities (don't have the link, sorry, but I think there is a mirror somewhere on this site). They average 82-84 degrees, so 77 might be on the low side long term... Just a thought

Good luck!

Peter