Explain chillers for me please?!

Soccer · #1 02/03/2006, 02:33 PM

Hello all,

I am currently running a 15g tank with 5g sump/fuge. Both tank and fuge lights are pendants. I have a fluorescent fixture for the fuge, and a 250w Metal Halide for the main tank. I am having a very tough time getting this tank to stay below 80 during the day and it is winter here in canada! I have a Mag 3 on a closed loop, and a maxijet mounted externally. I have one aquaclear 70 powerhead mounted in the tank, and I have a coralife super skimmer, waiting to get up and running, but I think with its pump mounted in the tank it will put me over the edge temp wise. I have been looking at thermoelectric chillers and mounting fans to run over the top of the tank, but I keep leaning towards buying a Pacific Coast 1/10HP inline chiller. My questions are what would you suggest I do here. I am a student with limited cash, and next year I am probably going to have to tear the tank down as I'll be out of the house. At the same time I hate having this temp problem in the back of my mind. Any suggestions? Also something that might make me scrape the inline chiller, is what kind of plubing is involved, and will it require me to buy a new pump to run this thing???

Thanx for any help

sterling18 · #2 02/03/2006, 02:48 PM

250W, you can cook stuff with that much light.

Can I suggest you go with something smaller. Try 70W MH. There are folks who's JBJ Nano 12gal, uses 70W MH and they are getting great results. The problem is you are putting too much heat in such a small volume of water.

Instead of a chiller, maybe a larger tank. You can reuse all your equipment.

Rao · #3 02/03/2006, 02:53 PM

Fan colers blowing the acuarium surface shuld down 1-2 degrees in temp. I use this for several years and it was ok. I have to add a chiller this year for the outstang heat here in Venezuela, and for the 2X250 Mh and the 2X400 mh i have, but i think you will be fine with fan colers, and for the chiller, yes, you need a pump to flow water to the chiller, not a complicated plumbing but you need the pump.

Regards

Fishfreak218 · #4 02/03/2006, 03:14 PM

ya my tank hit 88degrees (30g. Oceanic cube with 150w MH and 130w PC) and i went to Lowes and Home Depot and Walmart none of them had the small clip on fans so iused the only one i could (an 18" or 14 or 16" i forget) and now my tank runs 80-81 which is great.. anyway try some small clip on fans.. but you will get alot of Evap.