Mounting chiller outdoors

[Delphinus]

Well, thanks all for the thoughts. Interesting.

Aaron, when the time comes closer to put something in place, I'll drop you a line. It won't be soon, the summer's over and it will be September maybe even October before I begin work on the basement, and there's usually no need for a chiller on the tank(s) in the winter over here. But don't worry I will remember your offer - thanks.

The reason that got me to asking this question is that it's just something I've been wondering about. If you put a chiller next to a tank that it's chilling, the net heat transfer in the room is zero. If you put the chiller somewhere else then there's a heat transfer away from the tank, and it seems to me that this is a good idea. A/C units work by pumping the heat right outside so that's what got me to wonder about it. Plus, I saw an AdvancedAquarist.com featured tank recently where the guy had the chiller outdoors (looked like a standard A/C type unit though, not a tank chiller -- may have been a custom job - I don't recall, I'll have to look for that article again and re-read it).

A room air conditioner would have been an awesome idea but the problem is I have no window or ventilation in the tank room (this is a basement tank room, concrete walls). I looked into getting a window installed so I could just use a small room A/C unit but I was looking at almost $1000 for the concrete coring and window installation, AND the only place it would fit is right under my deck, so it doesn't really work anyhow.

One of those portable room air conditioners might work but they're $800. At that price you might just consider a chiller anyhow.

I would prefer something that doesn't involve venting air using fans because after 8 years of listening to fan noise for my tanks, I'm simply tired of the constant howling/whining of fans. When I build this tank, I want to see it, and maybe the only noise I hear is a little gurgling of water. Might be a pipe dream but it's something of a goal for this next tank.

Anyhow I appreciate all the thoughts, thanks everyone.