Chiller Questions

ca2or · Jan 4, 2010

I know these are probably retarded questions but before my recent tank I have never had the need for a chiller. So here are my questions...

What is the point of a chiller? How does it work? Do you set the temp at the lowest acceptable and have a heater in sump at the lowest also? I don't understand.

thomasdo87 · Jan 4, 2010

the two chiller i have JBJ and CurrentUSA, you set a temp for example 79 and then its +/- 2 degrees. so when it hits 81 it turns on, cooling the water to 77 and then shut off.

ca2or · Jan 4, 2010

do you have a heater to counter act? So it just cools the water that passes through it right?

thomasdo87 · Jan 4, 2010

up, my JBJ doesnt have it but my currentusa has a heater port that acts with the chiller. You have to buy a pump for the chiller, since mine is the small one I use a maxijet 1200. the water goes through the intake via pump and come out the other end chilled, like a reactor. probably one of the best investments in keeping temps stable

ca2or · Jan 4, 2010

What I am trying to figure out is basically how to control the water temp from the chiller. I can't afford to buy a chiller but I can afford to make one. It doesn't seem hard, but I don't want to be pushing out no 50 degree water into my sump.

Paul_N · Jan 4, 2010

ca2or said:
What I am trying to figure out is basically how to control the water temp from the chiller. I can't afford to buy a chiller but I can afford to make one. It doesn't seem hard, but I don't want to be pushing out no 50 degree water into my sump.

This has been attempted over and over again. Unless you are an HVAC guy with spare parts lying around you would be better off buying a new or even used unit with the money you will put into a DIY one. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I have not seen one on any of the forums yet.

ca2or · Jan 4, 2010

I found one that cost $175

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/diychillerplans/ss/sbsdiychiller.htm

It makes sense to me....no?

Paul_N · Jan 4, 2010

ca2or said:
I found one that cost $175

DIY Do It Yourself Aquarium Chiller - DIY Do It Yourself Aquarium Chiller

It makes sense to me....no?

I have never tried it, but the Dorm fridge has been tried and from everything I have read, it is not enough unless you run a very small system. I don't see anywhere in the article where the author mentions the size of his system or what it can handle.

ca2or · Jan 4, 2010

yeah I noticed that too. I am only running a 60g display. Do think this wouldn't work?

Paul_N · Jan 4, 2010

Not sure. I remember the one guy had a 75 gallon and said it was not even close to pulling the temp down enough. Do you have a sump?

stunreefer · Jan 4, 2010

I found a brand new chiller that retails at $849 for $320 shipped over on RC. IMHO that's the way to buy a chiller.

The chiller is controlled either by an internal or external thermostat. It simply turns on or off for X amount of time until the water entering the chiller is within the range set (as mentioned above).

FWIW, I've never had to run a chiller until I needed to bring temps down considerably (I run my tank 68-70 F). Fans go a long, long way along with low heat emmiting lighting.

stunreefer · Jan 4, 2010

Check this out: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/f60/modular-chiller-sale-34089.html

Ike · Jan 4, 2010

There's absolutely no need for a chiller until your tank is regularly getting above mid 80's. Temperature stability bis really not very important as long as you're within the natural range of the inhabitants you're keeping. So, if money is tight a chiller is probably the last thing you should worry about.