Chiller Suggestions

[kimoyo]

I live in an older apartment building and the wiring is not so good. I don't believe they management company is going to upgrade it either anytime soon.

For my 120G I got an aqualogic delta 1/3hp chiller. This past summer I couldn't run my chiller with my halides. So I'm going to buy another chiller and sell the one I have, but I'm trying to figure out what to go with. I have to get something that runs lower amps eventhough it might run longer. I was looking at the 1/5 or 1/4hp models. Its tuff because I don't want to get a 1/4hp model and not be able to push it either. What complicates the situation more is I'm upgrading my skimmer and will be going from 70W for return and skimmer to about 150-200W return and skimmer. Considering all this I'm leaning towards a dropin 1/5 model. Any suggestions on which model/brand I should go for? Thanks.

 

[cali_reef]

Did your room got hotter when you were running the chiller? I personally don't like drop in chiller because the limited locations you can place it.

My chiller is outside of my house, next to the central air compressors. The move from the basement made the chiller come on a lot less.

 

[kimoyo]

Yeah my room did. I couldn't place the aqualogic at the window without rigging something because of how its made. Hopefully whichever one I get i will be able to put it at the window. I can't put the chiller outside and the window is close to the tank so I'm ok with the drop in. What brand did you go with? Any that you like/dislike, why?

 

[kimoyo]

I know most of you guys got chillers, would you recommend those again?

 

[herman]

Cillers are always a tough one when living in an upartment that has not been updated. There are two things I have seen done that work using things that were around the house already.

The first was a mini fridge. I did this one too a while back. Drill 2 holes on the side of of a minifridge and rum a hose along the walls of the fridge so you still have space for drinks in the middle. The drinks keep the ambient temp of the fridge constant when the feed pump is rumming. Just set the pump to go on when the temperature goes up to high.

The second one incolves a window AC. Take a ducting tube and divert some of the ACs flow in the stand. or canopy.

As far as chillers go the pacific coast chillers are not bad. I think Pierce is selling one.

 

[DRZL]

The second one incolves a window AC. Take a ducting tube and divert some of the ACs flow in the stand

Thats what I did, and here I was thinking I was ingenious

it kept my room very cool (had to run it at half power) and my tank perfect 78-80, there was even a time I set it to high (little 6500 BTU crap) and it brought my tank down to 70, no losses but a big scare, but all this was on a 36G w/ 40g sump

Ive never had a chiller but thats my experience w/ tank cooling

 

[DRZL]

Paul how about the eco-chiller u were thinking up? is that ix-nay?

 

[kimoyo]

Herman - Those are some inventive ways to get around a chiller .

I only have one window in my room where the tank is. I had an ac in the window towards the end of the summer but I don't like having it on all the time. I'm planning on buy a portable (free standing) ac later on.

DRZL - Yeah I am, but my whole setup is about to change so I want to get the chiller decided on first. And I don't want to build it until I get the new sump and everything.

I was also planning on putting together an exhaust for whatever chiller I get.

 

[kimoyo]

These are the new chillers from aqualogic.

I think they look good. And because of the cover it looks like it might be easy to setup an exhaust.

 

[cali_reef]

I used three CSL's and I never had any problem with them, other than they went out of business last year.

 

[jhale]

good luck Paul.

I'm going to have my own chiller problems this summer.

I'm thinking of sticking my chiller in the fireplace with an exhasut fan on a temperature controller. I might have to set up a new CL just for the chiller.

 

[herman]

Those chiller look good man! I always hated when the input and output is on the top of the chiller. Too messy!

 

[kimoyo]

I used three CSL's and I never had any problem with them, other than they went out of business last year.

:scratchch umm okay :lol:.

good luck Paul.

I'm going to have my own chiller problems this summer.

I'm thinking of sticking my chiller in the fireplace with an exhasut fan on a temperature controller. I might have to set up a new CL just for the chiller.

Jon - can you list all the stuff on your tank that uses electricity and your what your chiller is. Thanks.

Those chiller look good man! I always hated when the input and output is on the top of the chiller. Too messy!

They do look stylish don't they.

 

[jhale]

Jon - can you list all the stuff on your tank that uses electricity and your what your chiller is. Thanks.

the chiller is a red sea 1/2 HP 11.5 amps/1265watts (I think I have the amps right but it's up there)

lighting (will change soon but usage will be similar)
1-250w mh on an evc electronic ballast - on for 6 hours
2x 175 mh on magnetic ballasts - on for 6 hours
2x 110w vho on icecap 430 - on for 5 hours
2x140w vho on icecap 430 - on for 12 hours

ventilation
2x icecap fan in hood - on full time
1x4" fan in hood - on 6 hours

flow and pumps
1 tunze 6060 - on full time
1 tunze 6080 - on full time
2x mj-1200 on a tsunami wave maker
quiet one 6000 pump in sump 140w
mj600 on phosban reactor in sump
rio2100 on skimmer 38w in sump

misc.
250w heater
2x solenoids for top off
1x dual auto top off sensor in sump

 

[kimoyo]

the chiller is a red sea 1/2 HP 11.5 amps/1265watts (I think I have the amps right but it's up there)

Jon, you shouldn't need this big of chiller on your tank. How long does it take for your chiller to pull you water down a degree or two? And is it running now during the winter?

lighting (will change soon but usage will be similar)
1-250w mh on an evc electronic ballast - on for 6 hours
2x 175 mh on magnetic ballasts - on for 6 hours
2x 110w vho on icecap 430 - on for 5 hours
2x140w vho on icecap 430 - on for 12 hours

At what temperatures? I know you might be surprised by this but lower kelvin light (like 10K) add more heat to the tank. Have you ever noticed that pure water from your ro/di unit has a blue tint? Thats because the water is absorbing most of the other light. And its also the reason that water is bluer the further you go down in the ocean.

flow and pumps
1 tunze 6060 - on full time
1 tunze 6080 - on full time
2x mj-1200 on a tsunami wave maker
quiet one 6000 pump in sump 140w
mj600 on phosban reactor in sump
rio2100 on skimmer 38w in sump

The tunze are efficient (so lower wattage and less heat) but I don't know about the rest. The more wattage a pump has the more suspect I am of it.

250w heater

Is your heat on a controller? If not, are you sure the heater isn't leaking heat into the tank? My pro heat was and now I have it on my controller.

 

[jhale]

ah, you forgot what my loft looks like. think greenhouse.
I need the large chiller, in the summer the ambient temps will hit 100 on a 90 degree day. the chiller is disconnected in the winter, my tank stays at 78.

the mh are all 10K, your right I did not think to include that info.

I have the heater set to come on at 76, it's rarely on.

 

[kimoyo]

ah, you forgot what my loft looks like. think greenhouse.
I need the large chiller, in the summer the ambient temps will hit 100 on a 90 degree day. the chiller is disconnected in the winter, my tank stays at 78.

That sucks. I mean having the sunlight is cool but those temps are crazy. Whats up with the ac?

78 without a chiller is good.

 

[jhale]

I have a 35,000 btu unit that will make the whole apartment feel like the northpole.

however it's a 220amp MONSTER when it comes to the e-bill it will make you cry like a little girl.

I'm trying to think of non-electrical ways to keep the apartment cooler,
we are on the top floor, the roof is not insulated, the ceiling is 19', the sun just blasts us all day. reflective material over the tar roof, and window tinting over the 25'x10' skylights? any help would be appreciated

 

[kimoyo]

I have a 35,000 btu unit that will make the whole apartment feel like the northpole.

however it's a 220amp MONSTER when it comes to the e-bill it will make you cry like a little girl.

I would get a beating from my momma.

I'm trying to think of non-electrical ways to keep the apartment cooler,
we are on the top floor, the roof is not insulated, the ceiling is 19', the sun just blasts us all day. reflective material over the tar roof, and window tinting over the 25'x10' skylights? any help would be appreciated

Sounds good, will the management company say something? Make sure you find out about the heat transfer of whatever you get, maybe have a second layer for it.

How about shades for the skylights, so you can just open them up when you want to?

I'm curious what others will suggest.

 

[jhale]

thanks, did not want to highjack your thread,

the management company lets me do pretty much whatever I want.
I would not be changing anything on the roof, just covering the parts over my apartment with something to reflect the sun. the neighbors above me might not like it.
as for shades, for the size I need they are mucho expensive. and it's not that much direct light that comes into the apt. the windows face north.
most of the direct light is in the am, so maybe having silver shades to reflect the sun might work. rigging them up will be the challenge.