OP
OP
djbetterly
Well-Known Member
So would everyone agree based on whats on the market for compact units, that JBJ are pretty solid chillers?
Chiller recommendations
- Thread starter djbetterly
- Start date
- Tagged users None
glweek
Active Member
have you tried passive cooling with fans? do you have a reef controller? I had a 40 cube wtih 20 sump that on hot days would want to stay above mid 80's. went to target and got a clip on fan to put on my sump and blow across the water and the evaporation in caused also cooled the tank surprisingly well. The controller can turn the fan on and off at set temperatures. MUCH cheaper to get into and run. for $15 give it a try before investing in a chiller but make sure you also have an ATO.
OP
OP
djbetterly
Well-Known Member
yeah I have tried that. I built an array of four - 140mm computers fans. It does work well provided the apartment temp is less than 75 degrees, but when my apartment temperature is in the high 70's, low 80's, they don't do much.
These are the fans, they are incredible and put out a lot of air.
http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-A14-industrialPPC-3000-140x140x25mm-3000rpm/dp/B00KESS5L4
These are the fans, they are incredible and put out a lot of air.
http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-A14-industrialPPC-3000-140x140x25mm-3000rpm/dp/B00KESS5L4
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
OP
OP
djbetterly
Well-Known Member
Regarding chillers with apex, is it better to let the chillers built in controller turn the chiller on and off, or is it OK to plug the chiller into the apex and let the apex turn it on and off? And lastly, with the pump for the chiller, should that pump constantly push water through the chamber or just turn it on/off as the chillers turns on/off.
abinder
Active Member
It's best just to let the pump constantly push water through the chiller.
I'd let the chiller built in controller turn it on and off.
I'd go with the JBJ Artica line of chillers. They seem to be one of the quietest line of chillers also.
I was using the 1/10 on my 45 gallon all-in-one and it worked great.
I'm now using the 1/4 on my 100 gallon total water volume setup and it works great also.
twilliard
Tank pests..
Hey Dustin leave that pump running!
I learned this the hard way as the water will become anaerobic and you don't want that.
You may have to leave the chiller plugged in as normal cause if ran through an Apex it may reset your conditions.
I learned this the hard way as the water will become anaerobic and you don't want that.
You may have to leave the chiller plugged in as normal cause if ran through an Apex it may reset your conditions.
OP
OP
djbetterly
Well-Known Member
Thanks @abinder, your suggestion is in line with my thinking.
OP
OP
djbetterly
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys!
Any pump suggestions...size/brand?
Any pump suggestions...size/brand?
twilliard
Tank pests..
Will have to use manufacturer recommendations
Too fast and you will never see drop in temp
I use a small mag pump on mine
Sorry for hijacking your thread but I have a similar question:
I have a 25 gallon cube and it has been sitting at 85 all week (no fish yet) and I was hoping to get advice on which chiller to buy. My apartment is either frigid or sahara soooo I will need a chiller to do at least 10 degrees.
Any thoughts?
I have a 25 gallon cube and it has been sitting at 85 all week (no fish yet) and I was hoping to get advice on which chiller to buy. My apartment is either frigid or sahara soooo I will need a chiller to do at least 10 degrees.
Any thoughts?
OP
OP
djbetterly
Well-Known Member
When I had my solana (34g) I was able to cool that significantly with my 140mm computer fan array. If you want photos let me know.
OP
OP
djbetterly
Well-Known Member
Forgive me, as its very dirty, but this thing works like a charm, cost me around $100 to build, but I'm sure you could do it cheaper. The trick is these fans, they put out a ton of air and are incredibly quiet.
http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-A14-industrialPPC-3000-140x140x25mm-3000rpm/dp/B00KESS5L4
I had the plexi laser cut at a local plexi place and wired them all together and plugged them into my apex. Let me know if I can help in any way.
http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-A14-industrialPPC-3000-140x140x25mm-3000rpm/dp/B00KESS5L4
I had the plexi laser cut at a local plexi place and wired them all together and plugged them into my apex. Let me know if I can help in any way.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
OP
OP
djbetterly
Well-Known Member
My buddy that bought my solana has something similar on the tank now and has no problems in the summer. He lives in a NYC apartment and his wife is not a fan of AC and he's had no problems.
The pump needs to feed the water through the chiller constantly. I have the apex control my chiller. Works much better than the chiller running the temp. I have run my chiller this way for almost 6 years and replaced a fuse so far (blown cuz water pump stopped).
abinder
Active Member
Do you also have the chiller's internal controller set to a lower temp than the apex is set to?
If you aren't using the internal temp controller of the chiller to at least back up the apex, then if the pump for the chiller should fail, then your chiller could actually keep running because the apex is demanding cooling.
Allen
Yep, that is what happened. The pump failed and the chiller ran. Mine is set lower than my apex. So, it will turn off eventually if water cools. Same issue if the pump fails and the chiller runs off internal. It cannot tell the pump failed. That is one of the downfalls of a pump separate from the chiller.
Maybe someone has come up with a backup fail safe. I do not know of one. Maybe in newer chillers they have them. Not sure. I run the JBJ arctica (I think 1/10 maybe bigger).
Maybe someone has come up with a backup fail safe. I do not know of one. Maybe in newer chillers they have them. Not sure. I run the JBJ arctica (I think 1/10 maybe bigger).
