Anyone make a DIY Chiller?

[DanyL]

But it's only 34 gallons. I used ice and fans to keep it cool(as best I could) Thursday because of the emergency

It’s tiny, for that size you can actually get a small Teco TK150, which isn’t as expensive as the bigger models, and than the AC would be your emergency if something happens.

It keeps me cool as well

How do you control (lower) the temperature in your home when it gets that hot out?

We are using an AC to cool the house as well, just like you do. The big difference is that most of the week, and the hot hours we are outside and the AC isn’t running at home - that’s what the chiller is for.
Also, with high temps like the extremes I mentioned before - an AC would struggle to cool down a large tank, even with a beefy AC, so it isn’t really a replacement for us.

It took hours to get from 86 degrees back to 72 degrees, is why it's on 24/7 for half the year

Makes sense, but the same is true for a chiller, although it’ll probably do it a bit faster given that it only has to chill the tank rather than the whole room, and thus would also be more much efficient.

If I couldn't afford AC, I certainly couldn't afford corals

You haven’t seen the rates and cost of living here lol but it really isn’t about wether you can or can’t afford it - if you could save, potentially big bucks and also have the AC as a backup - why wouldn’t you?

This thread got detailed

lol

 

[Solo McReefer]

but it really isn’t about wether you can or can’t afford it

Everything I do is based on that

Additionally,
More than likely you're a day walker

I'm a prole and
I have to sleep during the day

I can't do that in the heat. I can’t come home from work, turn on the AC and wait hours for the temp to get to 72. Just so I can get sleep

Which is what I should be doing now

"AC as backup"? A chiller isn't chilling me, at best it warms up the room. It's not backing anything up

I have heard of the Teco brand. I thought it was only in Australia. It's not, took a quick look at Teco US. Australian reef YouTubers rave about it, are they paid shills? Dunno

Needs more research

 

[DanyL]

Everything I do is based on that

You missed my point - for anyone who isn’t staying at home during the day and runs the AC 24/7 just to cool the their tank during the hot hours would save a ton by using a chiller instead.

have to sleep during the day

I can't do that in the heat. I can’t come home from work, turn on the AC and wait hours for the temp to get to 72. Just so I can get sleep

I think that’s an important piece of information you should’ve said early on - because it makes much more sense now.
Like I said above - most people aren’t at home during the day, so the equation is vastly different than yours.

"AC as backup"? A chiller isn't chilling me, at best it warms up the room. It's not backing anything up

The chiller isn’t meant to chill you down - it’s only responsibility is too cool down your tank, and as such - the AC becomes your backup.

I have heard of the Teco brand. I thought it was only in Australia. It's not, took a quick look at Teco US. Australian reef YouTubers rave about it, are they paid shills? Dunno

It’s an Italian brand, and I’m pretty sure the rage we’ve seen online came after a well known influencer made a video about it.
That being said, Teco has been known as the highest quality brand for years before that video came out, and having both of the most popular and wide spread brand running on my tanks - I can say that it really is better. Both will do what they’re advertised to do, longevity wise - the Haliea simply has more mileage for proof, but in terms of build quality, noise and power consumption - the Teco is objectively better.


Anyway. Given your particular situation - maybe having a small portable room AC as a backup would be the better solution for you, as it’ll answer both of your usages - cooling you, as well as the tank.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Which video do you write of?

 

[DanyL]

I think it was Parker’s reef(?)

 

[Solo McReefer]

That's the guy

He is borderline annoying

But I think they all are, pretty much

Than and Vic are exceptions

I miss Jake Adams, and watching the videos by him that I missed on my hiatus makes me angry

I am definitely looking at one of the Tecos for the big system.

When you have a 120 tank, and the promo says "good for tanks up to 120"

That adds indecisiveness in the mix for me

Additionally, they had heaters to their chillers as an option. More indecision I didn't want

Are there any other reputable chiller companies, (not JBJ)

 

[DanyL]

That's the guy

He is borderline annoying

But I think they all are, pretty much

lol they all get annoying at the very first moment they are being sponsored..

I miss Jake Adams, and watching the videos by him that I missed on my hiatus makes me angry

We all do, he was far more knowledgeable than pretty much any other influencer, and he did so in a humble, non intrusive way too. And was never afraid to try unusual, less common things to experience then first hand. I miss that guy.

When you have a 120 tank, and the promo says "good for tanks up to 120"

Start by looking at the general manufacturer recommendations by volume and than look at the performance charts for that model - you’ll see how it performs in certain situations.
For example here, due to the very high temps - we usually get a bit more beefier chillers just in case, so that the chiller won’t run for too long each cycle.

Additionally, they had heaters to their chillers as an option. More indecision I didn't want

Let me make it easier for you - the heaters struggle with larger systems, and do not worth your penny.

Are there any other reputable chiller companies, (not JBJ)

You got plenty of mostly (if not only) US chiller brands which I’m not familiar with - so hopefully someone else can chime in to comment on them.

Like I mentioned earlier - the only other reputable company I know of is Hailea, and I’m pretty sure I saw a US rebrand of their chillers once - no idea what was the US branding though.

 

[Solo McReefer]

the heaters struggle with larger systems, and do not worth your penny

Plan was for 3 redundant heaters anyway. It's a 100 buck upgrade on the Teco


The tank is an Elos 120XL, about 120 gallons

Why would I want a WiFi chiller? Or not want Wifi on a chiller? Is it just another doodad to break down in the future?

 

[Solo McReefer]

Hailey looks like their primary business is catering to Marijuana growers

I suppose a lot of reef companies are like that(Kessil)

 

[DanyL]

Plan was for 3 redundant heaters anyway. It's a 100 buck upgrade on the Teco

I still wouldn’t spend on it, especially if you already plan on proper, redundant heaters anyway.

The tank is an Elos 120XL, about 120 gallons

I think the Teco TK500 would be perfect for you, it’s also by far the quietest model in this volume range.

Why would I want a WiFi chiller? Or not want Wifi on a chiller? Is it just another doodad to break down in the future?

Honestly? You don’t.
The chiller is a set and forget kind of thing, you don’t fiddle with it outside of once every 1-2 years to calibrate it, so you don’t really need remote controlling, and for a remote temp sensor - that’s pretty expensive, and you probably have other equipment that would provide that info anyways.

Hailey looks like their primary business is catering to Marijuana growers

I suppose a lot of reef companies are like that(Kessil)

Pretty much all chiller brands produce both for reef Tanks and for hydroponics.
However, the models are different and not all hydroponics models come with a titanium heat exchanger.

Interestingly enough, AFAIK both Hailea and Teco got into the hydroponics market far after entering the reefing market.
But I guess the hydroponic market has grown so fast in the few years that it might as well be their main income now days.

 

[ca1ore]

I have used a bunch of chillers over the years and the best one was a TradeWinds. I also put mine outside which reduces the lifetime a bit. Tradewinds uses a Ranco controller which, frankly, is more reliable than most of the heater controllers used in this hobby. Otherwise, a water chilller in no more or no less reliable than your AC. I fail to see the source of any angst.

On my current system (110 display) I now use a titanium heat exchanger with well water instead of a chiller. Uses a whole lot less electricity, but of course you have to have access to a well.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I use a JBJ 1/15 chiller for my temperate tank and it runs at 63 degrees, it has been running for a few years now no issues. Yes you would need a bigger one, but with you can find one used for cheap. Remember on a warmer reef tank, that chiller in your area maybe will run a couple weeks a year.

 

[Solo McReefer]

angst

A major source of that for me is no meaningful ability or standard to know performance or compare performance

Say, how long does it take to decrease the temperature of 10 liters of saltwater 10 degrees

Like I wrote, the horsepower rating is complete horse****. And that's what they all use as the point of performance

There are a thousand Chinese chillers on Amazon, probably 10 thousand on Ali Baba, is there say, a Jebao or Reefbreeders amount any of them

A cheap Chinese chiller that's not complete crap

Only by specifically looking for Teco on Amazon does it come up in search

Wouldn't you feel angst if you knew you needed a thing, but there were no way to learn which thing to get on your own. You can't get the information from the makers or vendors, because they are selling snake oil

Its like an itch you can't scratch, and have to beg others to do it for you

That's literally the definition of angst, is it not

 

[ca1ore]

Wouldn't you feel angst if you knew you needed a thing, but there were no way to learn which thing to get on your own. You can't get the information from the makers or vendors, because they are selling snake oil

Probably not. Plenty of folks on this forum who use a chiller, you just have to ask the right questions.

My guess is that Chinese chillers will all be crap ... or the vast majority of them. While chillers may present themselves in the form of HP, in many cases you can get more insight by looking at the BTU rating. The problem with your asking 'how long does it take to decrease the temperature of 10 liters of saltwater 10 degrees' is that there are too many variables: ambient temperature, BTU rating, heat generated from equipment, and so on. I always found this useful (from the Tradewinds website):

Unit #​	Horse Power​	Tank Size (gallons)​	Flow Rate Min-Max​	Weight (lbs)​	Dimensions (LXWXH)​	Amps​	Volts​	BTU Rating​
IL-15-S​	1/5 HP​	UP TO 120​	5-14 GPM​	40​	14.5X15.5X11.5​	3.75​	115V​	1500​
IL-25-S​	1/4 HP​	UP TO 175​	7-20 GPM​	45​	14.5X15.5X11.5​	4.9​	115V​	2500​
IL-35-S​	1/3 HP​	UP TO 300​	8-25 GPM​	49​	14.5X15.5X11.5​	7.2​	115V​	3500​
IL-42-S​	SUPER 1/3 HP​	UP TO 400​	10-30 GPM​	55​	16.5X17.5X13.5​	7.5​	115V​	4200​
IL-49-S​	Compact 1/2 Inline​	UP TO 450​	10-30 GPM​	70​	16.5X17.5X13.5​	7.5​	115V​	4900​
DI-15​	1/5 HP​	UP TO 120​	5-14 GPM​	40​	14.5X11.5X10.5​	3.75​	115V​	1500​
DI-25​	1/4 HP​	UP TO 165​	7-20 GPM​	45​	14.5X11.5X10.5​	4.9​	115V​	2500​
DI-35​	1/3 HP​	UP TO 275​	8-25 GPM​	49​	14.5X11.5X10.5​	7.2​	115V​	3500​
DI-42​	SUPER 1/3 HP​	UP TO 375​	10-30 GPM​	55​	16.5X16.5X12​	7.5​	115V​	4200​
DI-49​	Compact 1/2 Drop-In 1/3 HP​	Up to 425​	10-30 GPM​	65​	16.5X16.5X12​	7.5​	115V​	4900​

IL-55-S​	1/2 HP​	UP TO 500​	12-35 GPM​	90​	23X21X15​	11​	115V​	5500​
IL-75-S​	3/4 HP​	UP TO 750​	18-45 GPM​	90​	23X21X15​	13.3​	115V​	7500​
IL-120-S​	1 HP​	UP TO 1000​	25-50 GPM​	110​	24X22X20​	7.9​	208/230V​	12000​

I used the IL-75-S when I had 600 gallons under management, and it handled an average 5 degrees F of pulldown just fine, so i learned to trust their measures.

 

[GlassMunky]

Are there any other reputable chiller companies, (not JBJ)

Ive had decent luck with Arctica Chillers over the years. they wont break the bank either

 

[FUNGI]

Has anyone here made a DIY chiller

Say 40 feet of grade 2 titanium tubing

In a coil

Inside of a cylindrical refrigerator, Rockstar

My AC went out July 3rd, I do not want to go through that again

Fool errand? Or pure hillbilly genius?

When I first started looking at a chiller I wanted to do DIY also....but factoring in everything, it was cheaper to buy a proper chiller....just my two cents.....

 

[FUNGI]

Probably not. Plenty of folks on this forum who use a chiller, you just have to ask the right questions.

My guess is that Chinese chillers will all be crap ... or the vast majority of them. While chillers may present themselves in the form of HP, in many cases you can get more insight by looking at the BTU rating. The problem with your asking 'how long does it take to decrease the temperature of 10 liters of saltwater 10 degrees' is that there are too many variables: ambient temperature, BTU rating, heat generated from equipment, and so on. I always found this useful (from the Tradewinds website):

Unit #​	Horse Power​	Tank Size (gallons)​	Flow Rate Min-Max​	Weight (lbs)​	Dimensions (LXWXH)​	Amps​	Volts​	BTU Rating​
IL-15-S​	1/5 HP​	UP TO 120​	5-14 GPM​	40​	14.5X15.5X11.5​	3.75​	115V​	1500​
IL-25-S​	1/4 HP​	UP TO 175​	7-20 GPM​	45​	14.5X15.5X11.5​	4.9​	115V​	2500​
IL-35-S​	1/3 HP​	UP TO 300​	8-25 GPM​	49​	14.5X15.5X11.5​	7.2​	115V​	3500​
IL-42-S​	SUPER 1/3 HP​	UP TO 400​	10-30 GPM​	55​	16.5X17.5X13.5​	7.5​	115V​	4200​
IL-49-S​	Compact 1/2 Inline​	UP TO 450​	10-30 GPM​	70​	16.5X17.5X13.5​	7.5​	115V​	4900​
DI-15​	1/5 HP​	UP TO 120​	5-14 GPM​	40​	14.5X11.5X10.5​	3.75​	115V​	1500​
DI-25​	1/4 HP​	UP TO 165​	7-20 GPM​	45​	14.5X11.5X10.5​	4.9​	115V​	2500​
DI-35​	1/3 HP​	UP TO 275​	8-25 GPM​	49​	14.5X11.5X10.5​	7.2​	115V​	3500​
DI-42​	SUPER 1/3 HP​	UP TO 375​	10-30 GPM​	55​	16.5X16.5X12​	7.5​	115V​	4200​
DI-49​	Compact 1/2 Drop-In 1/3 HP​	Up to 425​	10-30 GPM​	65​	16.5X16.5X12​	7.5​	115V​	4900​

IL-55-S​	1/2 HP​	UP TO 500​	12-35 GPM​	90​	23X21X15​	11​	115V​	5500​
IL-75-S​	3/4 HP​	UP TO 750​	18-45 GPM​	90​	23X21X15​	13.3​	115V​	7500​
IL-120-S​	1 HP​	UP TO 1000​	25-50 GPM​	110​	24X22X20​	7.9​	208/230V​	12000​

I used the IL-75-S when I had 600 gallons under management, and it handled an average 5 degrees F of pulldown just fine, so i learned to trust their measures.

"My guess is that Chinese chillers will all be crap ... or the vast majority of them. "...
versus ????

 

[leepink23]

Love my jbj aquatica, 1/5 hp keeps my 180 at any temp I want, I run it 77.8. That includes me leaving house at 77 while I work. I also keep backup portable ac for power outages and spare capacitors. They are cheap when it’s not the 4th of July.

 

[Solo McReefer]

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[Solo McReefer]

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