Bryant, I tried the ice idea years ago in desperation. I was running freshwater tanks back then and even went so far as to put the canister filters in buckets of cold water.
With a 36g and 125g I went through 2 bags of ice in a couple hours and no help on the big tank. The little tank faired a bit better, but it wasn't enough. Although the bucket trick kept the 36 below 85f ...
I bought chillers the next day.
As for the heat they put out, ya it can add up. It could be 80 in the living room where my 75g is, but it would easily hit 85 in my office where the sump and chiller are. Don't know if you caught it last year but I run the chiller exhaust outside now using a couple fans etc. BIG difference.
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