Chiller Q.

[doch]

Anybody know of an affordable chiller out there? I went to proce them out at the store and they were asking $1650!!!! Scares the hell out of me for August!

[vanreefer]

http://www.oceanaquatics.com/index.php?cat_id=38&PHPSESSID=4297e5a8f3638911b46a26dc597556f2

[Chaloupa]

I just got one from J&L's and the price was great! What size tank do you have and what chiller are you looking at......? Mine was just a 1/10hp for my 65g with sump...works GREAT! and easy to hook up! Hope that helps. :biggrin:

[DanG]

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/tlist/chillers/pacific.php?category_ID=51

What size tank and how much do you need to drop the temp?

[jimmyray]

O and A they will alway's beat J l's price

[Canadbis]

buy a mini fridge and piping

[doch]

Looks like JL is cheaper than OA. I have a 90 w/30 G Sump... when it's HOT out I need to drop the temp about 4-5 deg. It has got as warm as 31 or 32.

[jimmyray]

Phone O&A wendell will beat it. I looked at chillers last week and bought one from O&A

[doch]

Has anybody done the mini fridge and piping idea? I've been thinking about it, but haven't heard of anyone actually doing it. That would be my best choice... keep the fish cool and not have to walk as far for a beer!!!

[demon666]

sound like a plan to me!!!!!!!! cold beer and cool fish all with in arms reach:mrgreen:

[Canadbis]

I just thought if you could drill a couple holes in the fridge and run the piping through it, be sure to seal the holes and fiddle with the temp till you have it where you want it.

[atcguy]

sounds like a newfie joke. Put that with the Newfie Green Golf balls!!!!!

Ya it wouldnt work and there have been posts about that in the past.

[DanG]

I've seen articles on why you shouldn't use a fridge as a chiller, but can't find the article now.

[TheReefGeek]

Have you tried other methods of cooling your tank? I have had a 100g tank with metal halide lighting, and no sump, in a second story apartment without air conditioning and never had heat problems in Edmonton.

Before investing in a chiller, you should install some fans across the surface of your sump to increase evaporation.

Also try to keep the heat from your lights out of your tank with fans as well.

What kind of hood are you using? Is your tank open top? If not open top should solve the heat issue. If you can't do open top, install some fans in your hood.

[muck]

The mini-fridge chiller mod has been done many times and pretty much all have found out it doesn't work. The compressors on a fridge are not designed to run continually. (which would happen if you keep pumping warm water into it) The compressor would not be able to keep up and would burn out in no time. Save yourself the hassle and the money and buy a proper chiller. They are specifically designed for that purpose.

[Chad]

Here is something I did..

take a MJ1200 - I got a nice sized cooler and took 2x 1 litter bottles. Have a tube in the tank, take the tube that is now in the tank and coil it around both 2 - 1 Litter bottles (filled with water and frozen), then have the PH inside the cooler to pump the water back up to the tank. Using a temperature controller you have the controller turn the pump on when the tank gets too hot.. and shuts off when its too cold.. I also filled the cooler up with crushed ice once. The plastic tubing does not transfer heat too well, so you really have to pack it in there.

I have no pics unfortunately. I dismantled it last summer and used it for something else.. but I will be doing it again this year..

[doch]

I'm not sure I understtand what you did. Are the 1 liter bottles cold, and if so, how? Also, what is an MJ1200? Powerhead?

[Richard_Dicosimo]

why couldnt u get a comercial compressor for like a meat room or a flower room, i had a conversation like this with a fish store owner locally, and he said its completley possable and has seen it done before. what does safeways and co-op use on thier salt tanks?

Richard

[Chad]

I'm not sure I understtand what you did. Are the 1 liter bottles cold, and if so, how? Also, what is an MJ1200? Powerhead?

Yeah, sorry, should have said 2x 1 litter bottles filled with water and frozen. Yes Mj1200 is a common power head.