Chiller?!?! 200 display + 30 sump

austx · Apr 14, 2015

So looking to get my first chiller to add to my recent upgrade to a 200g. The temps are ranging from 77-81, the max being yesterdays high. I'm looking to buy within the next week to prevent any avoidable temp swings outside 81 degrees before summer hits in Texas.

I would ideally like to keep a constant temp of about 78 and have a couple brands in mind and was interested in some feeback from current or previous owners both good and bad please. The chillers I've read some reviews on and asked local reefers about are the Corallife 1/2hp and JBJ Arctica 1/3hp. If you had any other recommendations I am open to ideas as well, thank you for the help!

Acrononomus · Apr 15, 2015

i went with the jbj 1/3 from bulk reef supply, i have a 245 show with a 90 gallon sump, and run 3 400 watt halides and a barracuda gold return, this chiller meets my needs extremely well!

Reefing Madness · Apr 15, 2015

Buy the next size up from your tank size rating. You don't want the thing running 24/7, nor trying hard to get the temp down, thats counter productive.

thejuggernaut · Apr 15, 2015

Call Tradewinds chillers. They can help you size the unit and they use commercial compressors. They even offer them with different length warranties.

austx · Apr 15, 2015

Acrononomus said:
i went with the jbj 1/3 from bulk reef supply, i have a 245 show with a 90 gallon sump, and run 3 400 watt halides and a barracuda gold return, this chiller meets my needs extremely well!

Thanks that helps me out alot given the size of your tank and knowing the 1/3hp can handle that equipment load.

austx · Apr 15, 2015

Reefing Madness said:
Buy the next size up from your tank size rating. You don't want the thing running 24/7, nor trying hard to get the temp down, thats counter productive.

Thanks, I agree the 1hp would be ideal and I will look into those as well.

austx · Apr 15, 2015

thejuggernaut said:
Call Tradewinds chillers. They can help you size the unit and they use commercial compressors. They even offer them with different length warranties.

I checked out the site and would be interested to hear about your experience with the product and customer service if you have one of their chillers.

Thanks for all the feedback and help so far, please keep it coming.

thejuggernaut · Apr 15, 2015

I have never owned one myself, I've never had heat issues. The main reason I recommended them was from research I was doing to cool a laser cutter. He was very helpful and my research showed that he uses more industrial grade equipment. Copeland compressors are top of the line and are used in most commercial restaurant refrigerators and freezers (look up Traulsen freezers, they use Copeland compressors, and can cost more than a new car). The compressor is the most expensive part of any chiller system. Also he uses off the shelf Ranco temp controllers with his systems. Those are long proven in both commercial and the aquarium industry. I remember back in the day, before controllers became popular, everyone used dual stage Ranco controllers to run their heaters and chiller. I've had one for 10 years and is running right now on my QT tank. I have it kick on the heaters when it drops to 77, and some air fans when it gets to 80. My temps stay at 78-79 all the time.

Also, his warranty was such that if it breaks, you call him and he mails you a new one that day, and you return your broke one once you get the new one in. Cutting down time to usually less than 3 days. Doesn't get any better than that.

But back in the day when everyone ran chillers because of their MH bulbs, there was Tradewinds, and there was all the rest....

Acrononomus · Apr 16, 2015

I would also take into consideration I live in the north where it's only hot 3-4 months out of the year, I have my chiller running in the basement next to my sump, it heats the room up a bit when it runs, so take that into account on how u plan to set it up, on my new setup, my chiller will be in the attic above the tank.... I'm sure in tx yours would be in the attic as well or in the garage? Just consider it.... But like I said the 1/3 worked well for me with around 300 gallons water volume and all the equipment I mentioned....

thejuggernaut · Apr 16, 2015

Acrononomus said:
I would also take into consideration I live in the north where it's only hot 3-4 months out of the year, I have my chiller running in the basement next to my sump, it heats the room up a bit when it runs, so take that into account on how u plan to set it up, on my new setup, my chiller will be in the attic above the tank.... I'm sure in tx yours would be in the attic as well or in the garage? Just consider it.... But like I said the 1/3 worked well for me with around 300 gallons water volume and all the equipment I mentioned....

I think the recommendation in Texas is to actually put them outside like a air conditioner. Our attics probably get into the 150s during the summer. And garages aren't too much better. LOL Outside in the shade is probably your best bet. That is another thing I hadn't thought of. I would imagine some of the smaller ones designed for the hobby aren't designed to get rained on.