Chiller questions

[Anonymous]

I have a couple of questions regarding chillers.

1. Do they make a weatherproof unit? None that I see advertized mention of they are weatherproof. I am assuming not.

It makes sense to me that you would want the chiller outside so that it doesn't add heat to your house.

2. If they are not available in weatherproof, do any models come with an exhaust duct that you could extend outside with a dryer vent?

I have not seen the option mentioned either in an of the ads I have looked at.

Louey

 

[dadstank]

how do you determine what size (capacity) to get?

 

[Anonymous]

I saw a guy on that other reef site that had an exterier type unit hooked to a chiller coil. It was a single room AC unit not a window unit.

 

[LA-Lawman]

louey, since you are DIYer.... why not build you a little chiller house...

I have seen people buy small dog houses for their chillers. they seem to work ok...

they just cut up a pet screen door protector and cover the opening in the front and cut vent holes in the top of the houe in the rear and place the thing on cinder blocks and blammm-o a chiller house.

 

[Len]

Louey,

None of the chillers I know are weather proof or have an exhaust designed to be vented outdoors. I'm sure you can diy such an exhaust though. I have my chiller outdoors, but built a hood for it to prevent rain from soaking it. Other then that, it has held up very well over the last decade against the elements. But I live in Los Angeles, so our weather is very mild.

 

[Len]

how do you determine what size (capacity) to get?

There's no hard set rule. It's determined by the total system volume, the degrees you wish to pull down, and the duration you'd like the chiller to run per "cycle." In general for reef tanks (with hot halides and pumps), I recommend the following:
50-90g, 1/6 to 1/5hp
90-150g, 1/4 to 1/3hp
150g-225g, 1/3rd to 1/2hp

 

[Anonymous]

1/2 HP is only good for 225, aye?

I thought that 1/2 HP would handle my 300G?

Do Chillers require pumps to feed them or do they have one built in?

What is the best brand or are they all the same?

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

bump

Still looking for replies to my last post.

Louey

 

[DRIVEN]

I have a 1 hp chiller from Cool Reef for my 390 gallon tank. I mounted it in the garage, running all the water lines up thru the attic. The garage is a little hotter since I added the chiller in there but It would have been to loud to have in the house.I also did not want to leave it outside in all the rain we get here in Florida. Mike

 

[JC2005]

I recently added a chiller to my 46gal bow and all of the chillers I researched required an external pump. I have a 1/8 hp AquaMedic with a Mag 5. My Mag is external to the tank which could be a bad thing after reading some reviews on them. Word is they tend to leak. I have had no problems with it yet, but it has only been running for 6 weeks. I have a buddy of mine who just a couple of weeks ago added a 1/10th hp Artica chiller with a QuietOne 3000 pump, and the pump already burned out on him. It's running on a 30 gal system. Not to say they are bad, just his experience... lol

 

[klayko]

Has anyone taken a look at Deltec's ECO cooler? :idea: :idea: The principle of the eco cooler borrows its technology from water cooling towers used in industrial applications. Seems kinda neat, anyone have an feedback?

http://deltecaquariumsolutions.com/coolers.php

 

[Len]

1/2 HP is only good for 225, aye?

I thought that 1/2 HP would handle my 300G?

Do Chillers require pumps to feed them or do they have one built in?

What is the best brand or are they all the same?

Louey

1/2hp should handle a 300G fine. If you need to drop the temp more then 15 degrees, you might have to go bigger.

Chillers come in two types: inline and drop in probe. The inlines needs a pump while the drop-in probe types do not. Inlines are more efficient and you can route the chiller as far away as you'd like. Probe type chillers need to be next to the body of water it's chiller and they're not as efficient.

I love Aqualogic. Mine has been working (outdoors) for about 10 years now without any problems.