Best 1.5hp Chiller

TheRealDmorty217 · Nov 26, 2021

I’m looking for recommendations and experiences with chillers large enough for a 450-500g tank. I live in SW FL and plan on putting the 450g that’s currently being built on my covered lanai and well it gets seriously hot during the summer. My wife thinks the tanks should be on the lanai which I agree would be nice next to the TV and grill and what not, but again it gets hot in the summer and if the chiller isn’t reliable and fails that will spell a tank wipe out. Not dead set on it being outside especially since I can save myself $1600+ not buying a chiller. Thank you in advance

Montiman · Nov 26, 2021

The only chiller I have used in this size is the JBJ Commercial Chillers. They are made to work out side which may be a selling point in your case. The biggest downside to these and any 1.5 HP chillers I know of is that they need a 230V plug so you may need to install one to run the chiller.

TaylorPilot · Nov 26, 2021

Tradewind. They have been top of the line for over 20 years. Back when everyone ran MH bulbs, there were the Cadillac of chillers. The cool part is you can buy the same model with different warranties. I think they even offer a lifetime warranty option. It breaks, you call them, they ship a new one and you return your old one...

On their smaller ones, they use Copeland compressors (same brand used on the higher end commercial restaurant walk in coolers and freezers). I have a 1/2 ton I use to cool my CO2 laser and water cooled router spindle. It runs like a top. He uses off the shelf Ranco temp controllers. I literally have one of those controllers I bought16 years ago 2nd hand (used), and it still works great. They are usually used outdoors for hot tubs and swimming pools.

You would need to talk to them though. 1.5HP seems a little big for a tank that size. They make them up to 5 HP...the look like they could cool a 5,000 sqft house. They are huge...I have a feeling these guys are kind of like spectrapure. They do commercial installations and have created a smaller company to service the reef industry.

TheRealDmorty217 · Nov 26, 2021

TaylorPilot said:
Tradewind. They have been top of the line for over 20 years. Back when everyone ran MH bulbs, there were the Cadillac of chillers. The cool part is you can buy the same model with different warranties. I think they even offer a lifetime warranty option. It breaks, you call them, they ship a new one and you return your old one...

On their smaller ones, they use Copeland compressors (same brand used on the higher end commercial restaurant walk in coolers and freezers). I have a 1/2 ton I use to cool my CO2 laser and water cooled router spindle. It runs like a top. He uses off the shelf Ranco temp controllers. I literally have one of those controllers I bought16 years ago 2nd hand (used), and it still works great. They are usually used outdoors for hot tubs and swimming pools.

You would need to talk to them though. 1.5HP seems a little big for a tank that size. They make them up to 5 HP...the look like they could cool a 5,000 sqft house. They are huge...I have a feeling these guys are kind of like spectrapure. They do commercial installations and have created a smaller company to service the reef industry.

Tradewind is having trouble getting compressors right now (go figure) otherwise I would of already purchased one