Chiller Quetion

[Mark Gray]

Hi everyone, I may have screwed up a little. I am about to set up shortly a 90 rimless tank. I will need a chiller I am not here sometimes and I don't run the AC in the house when no one is home. Here is my problem I decided to go with 2 return pums I can add another pump no problem but where would be the best place to take the water out og my sump. my plan was to have both return pumps external, I will have a fuge and a skimmer section, The chiller will have to be plumbed in the garage so it will need another pump. Thanks for the Help

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm not sure I'm totally understanding the issue. It really doesn't matter were the water comes from. What's critical is the flow rate through the chiller is within the specs of that particular chiller. If running off a return pump, I'm assuming you'd run the chiller off a manifold.....maybe with a flow meter in-line.

 

[Mark Gray]

I'm not sure I'm totally understanding the issue. It really doesn't matter were the water comes from. What's critical is the flow rate through the chiller is within the specs of that particular chiller. If running off a return pump, I'm assuming you'd run the chiller off a manifold.....maybe with a flow meter in-line.

Well I really had not planed a manifold in the system but that's a thought. I might install another bulkhead maybe in my skimmer section and then dump my chiller water strait back into the return section. I will mostlikly have to over size everything due to the fack when n o one is here it gets over 100 in the summer.

 

[redfishbluefish]

If your return pump GPH falls within the specs of the chiller, a manifold won't be needed. However, flow rates on chillers are fairly low, but maybe with two return pumps, it might work. Again, look at the spec on the chiller you have, as far as flow rate.

 

[Mark Gray]

If your return pump GPH falls within the specs of the chiller, a manifold won't be needed. However, flow rates on chillers are fairly low, but maybe with two return pumps, it might work. Again, look at the spec on the chiller you have, as far as flow rate.

I can add anther flow meter to they system I was going to put one on each return pump I think I will put a 1/3 HP chiller in wish someone mad a 220v chiller under 1000 USD

 

[mtraylor]

Instead of running 2 external pumps, I would run one nice big reliable external pump with a manifold and run all equipment needed, with a few future ports ready to turn on should you decided to add anything later. This will cut down on heat exchange to the aquarium as well, and be more energy efficient. Also if you can, its better to run the chillers exhaust out of the house as its just going to make the house hotter and make the chiller work harder if its in the same room. If you have say equipment in the basement and aquarium up stairs, then I don't think that would be an issue.

Also, I recommend some type of monitoring system if you away allot such as a controller or something.

 

[Mark Gray]

Instead of running 2 external pumps, I would run one nice big reliable external pump with a manifold and run all equipment needed, with a few future ports ready to turn on should you decided to add anything later. This will cut down on heat exchange to the aquarium as well, and be more energy efficient. Also if you can, its better to run the chillers exhaust out of the house as its just going to make the house hotter and make the chiller work harder if its in the same room. If you have say equipment in the basement and aquarium up stairs, then I don't think that would be an issue.

Also, I recommend some type of monitoring system if you away allot such as a controller or something.

Thanks for the reply I have already bought 2 Cor 15 pumps I have a full Apex in the box waiting on the setup so I will have a return on each side of the tank I was going to plumb it 1 pump to each side

 

[mtraylor]

Well you got 2 nice pumps. Is the plumbing directly underneath the aquarium? If so, then 3000gph will be way over kill for just return for the overflows. Keep in mind that the sump is used to filter the water. You want the water to be in there long enough to get filtered. Slower is the goal. You will be scaling them back big time. That's a good thing, because you can work a manifold in there to run everything without issues. The head pressure on the pump is good, so you may want to think about designing the pumps to work in tandem and as w/p if needed with valves. I think that would be a good design. You could run them with manafolds, and if anyone ever failed, you could turn that one down and the one would run both returns until you get the other serviced/replaced.

 

[Mark Gray]

Well you got 2 nice pumps. Is the plumbing directly underneath the aquarium? If so, then 3000gph will be way over kill for just return for the overflows. Keep in mind that the sump is used to filter the water. You want the water to be in there long enough to get filtered. Slower is the goal. You will be scaling them back big time. That's a good thing, because you can work a manifold in there to run everything without issues. The head pressure on the pump is good, so you may want to think about designing the pumps to work in tandem and as w/p if needed with valves. I think that would be a good design. You could run them with manafolds, and if anyone ever failed, you could turn that one down and the one would run both returns until you get the other serviced/replaced.

Well Yes maybe I have never really thought about a manifold before, I got 2 pumps because for 1 they are new no record on them, yet and yes I thought if on failed it would run no problem with one pump until I could do something about the failed one. I will be shooting for at least 10 times turn over I am planning full Triton with this one. I have not evan looked at chillers yet but I know I will need a good size one cause when I am not here the AC is off. You have me thinking now, I wonder if I just came up and T'ed off each pump with a valve to the chiller but not sure where to put the return from the chiller

 

[mtraylor]

Well it sounds like you already had redundancy in mind and a good design. The manifold is the way to go. As far as the design, I'm pretty visual on that front....so I would have to see. For the return of your chiller back into the sump, anywhere is fine that is convenient. Since the return section of most sumps is post filtration, you can put the return anywhere up stream or into the return section of the sump. Since pump is exeternal, don't put your return line directly above that and you should be good. In my sump designs, all return water from mechanical, refuge, etc, go to the return section and my heaters are there as well.

 

[Mark Gray]

Well it sounds like you already had redundancy in mind and a good design. The manifold is the way to go. As far as the design, I'm pretty visual on that front....so I would have to see. For the return of your chiller back into the sump, anywhere is fine that is convenient. Since the return section of most sumps is post filtration, you can put the return anywhere up stream or into the return section of the sump. Since pump is exeternal, don't put your return line directly above that and you should be good. In my sump designs, all return water from mechanical, refuge, etc, go to the return section and my heaters are there as well.

Yeah my small 55 had the return lock up when I was out of town working, but I made it home and didn't loose much I will probably convert my 55 to a frag tank after my new one is set up and running well

 

[jda]

Chiller should be return'd into the tank, not the sump. It will cycle too much, or not enough, if you put it into the sump. Temp probe should be in the tank, if not built into the chiller already.

 

[Mark Gray]

Chiller should be return'd into the tank, not the sump. It will cycle too much, or not enough, if you put it into the sump. Temp probe should be in the tank, if not built into the chiller already.

OK that makes sence to me here's my problem hiding the return line from the chiller it's a rimless tank, I guess I could get it drilled