Chiller

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by BCOrchidGuy

Christy, I meant to use the Air Conditioner in the room doesn't have to go in the window. I'd assume though that this would increase your evaporation rate or maybe not... with the air being dried from the AC... hmm

Doug

air conditioning is a limited fix, my tank will run at 12 degrees above ambient if I am running no fans or chiller. With the chiller I can run below ambient no problem, but with an air conditioner you have a few problems.
first problem is air has a heat capacity that is 1/4 of that of water, so cold air will take 4 times longer to cool something that the equivalent mass of water,

two, if your tank runs at 10 degrees above ambient now for a air conditioner to work you will have to keep the room temp at 10 degrees below what you want the tank to be.

three, a room air conditioner will not limit temp swings as good as a chiller.

and finally using a room AC to cool it will be a lot more expensive in power bills than a chiller as you have to cool down a room with pretty much constant chilling on hot days instead of targeting a more efficient cooling medium as a chiller does.

Oh and ducted room AC's start at 600.00ish also

Steve