My chiller is weird...

[reefs4life]

So I have a Via Aqua Polar Bear Chiller CC-25 on a 75 gallon fish tank and I'm using a magnum 350 to circulate the water through it. For some reason it doesn't seem to be cooling off the tank enough, I know it's been pretty hot lately but it doesn't seem like the chiller is really keeping up with it. It definitely works because I stopped the flow through it and put it to it's minimum of 41 degrees and I let the water flow into my hand and it wasw pretty cold. Anyone know what could be wrong, I usually keep it set between 77 and 80 but the temp was at a high of 86 today with it on. Any ideas?

 

[KathyC]

I tried to Google your chiller and came up with few results for it. One challenge with it might be that your tank being 75g is at the high end of the volume of water these chillers are capable of chilling (tanks size suggested for use is 20-75gallons).
Do you also have a sump?..how many gallons?
Are you using a canister filter to circulate the water through it?

 

[reefs4life]

Yeah I have a 30 gallon sump, I just thought about that now. I didn't really have a problem with it last year though, that's when I first hooked it up. I guess it's because the room was relatively cooler than this year. And yes I have a canister filter, the Magnum 350, to circulate water through it.

 

[KathyC]

Might just be due to the excessive amount of heat we're having now too.
Have you also tried adding a clip on fan to blow across your tank or floating some bottles of frozen water in your sump..might help get the temp down a little more

 

[reefs4life]

No I haven't. Thanks for the tips

 

[reefman]

dont know how many hp your chiller is, but i'm betting it isnt strong enough.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

u said u didn't have a problem with it last year well I think u said that skimming this thread have u had the freeon or whatever is inside checked out?

 

[bad coffee]

what is the manufacturer's suggested flow rate? You might not be pushing enough water through the chiller with the magnum.

B

 

[reefs4life]

reefman- It's 1/5 hp chiller and you're most likely right. I'm going to see if I can sell it or trade it for something stronger.

Tonyscoots84- yes I did say i didn't have a problem last year but I also said that the room was cooler last year because I had an AC too and I don't have one this year. The chiller works fine I made it cool a smaller amount of water to 41 degrees and it worked.

bad coffee- manufacturer recommended flow rate is 100-400gph

 

[Tim]

A 1/4 hp should be strong enough for your tank. I looked at a few other 1/4 hp and there flow through rates are much higher. Artica:480 min./1920max Prime:300min/600max Pacific Coast:750min/1000max and JBJ They gave 8 gpm or 480.Hope this helps. Also try putting a fan blowing on the chiller to help disapate (sp) the heat.

 

[House of Laughter]

if it is one of those $200+ via aqua's likely it's a 1/10th HP and they have been known to need thermostat replacements regularly - touch base with them, they will mail you the part and charge you shipping ($10 grrrr . . . . )

I had one of these on a 90g bow front with sump and fuge and dual 250's - it worked fine. It's not the size of the aquarium unless they make a smaller one or the one you have is different than the one I had.

Either way, I'd drop them a line.

House

 

[wxl14]

If you had an AC in the Room last year it would be a lot easier for your chiller to work. Because instead of operating in 80 degree temps. Its operating at 70. Which could make a big difference on you tank. specially if the room is cooler the tanks is cooler. I would go with a bigger chiller. hopefully everything works out.

 

[alistair]

I had one of these chillers on my 90g last year and it worked fine. I used a MJ1500 for flow.
If your flow rate is to quick it will not have enough time in the chiller to reduce the temp. Also make sure you are pumping from one section of the sump and returning to the return pump section. You don't want to keep recirculating the chilled water.

 

[reefs4life]

General statement...the chiller is 1/5 hp and I just put the AC in my room finally and it seems to be dropping the temp at a good pace.


House of Laughter- It's not the $200, more like the $350 kind lol. And I don't think there's anything wrong with the thermostat because I also have a seperate thermometer and it displays the same temp as the chiller

wxl14- Yeah you're right it is working a lot easier now that the AC is in. I'm also going to try and get a bigger chiller like you said if I can sell this one first

alistair- Thanks for your input with your experience. Like I said, I'm running it with a Magnum 350 and the water actually goes from the sump through the Magnum 350, into the chiller, and then its outlet is in the actual display tank on the opposite side of the overflow so I doubt there's any recirculation of chilled water, it's all spread out.


Thanks for all the replies guys. My decision is to try and get a bigger chiller so if any of you know of anyone that wants to buy mine (it's only been used for about a year) let me know I would greatly appreciate it

 

[BZOFIQ]

Did you unplug your heater? :duh: