Chiller size- 60g cube with limited electricity.

[WitsNWrasse]

Background:
I’ve got two 60g cubes; one a reef I want to stay at 78°, and one a SH tank that I want to stay no warmer than 72°.
Both have the same crystal cube sump.
My condo only gets 30 amps. That is TOTAL, not just for the living room. Yeah I know. Wish I knew that before I bought the place. [emoji36]

I’d like to get a chiller for each, as I’m pretty sure they don’t make a chiller that can work for two tanks with two different temps that are not connected. But, I’m worried that this is a lot of power being drawn, and id like to not add “fire” to my list of disasters.

I can’t imagine the reef one would kick on too much, as this summer so far my highest temp on record is 82.

I actually have two ice probes on the seahorse one (it is empty rn don’t worry) and that tank hasn’t gotten above 76.2°... anyway now I’m rambling.

Any suggestions on sizes, brands ? Insight on power draw ? I’ve gotten very conflicting numbers in my 3 hour google search.

 

[Diesel]

Chillers will be something from the past, not a whole lot of threads are posted about chillers.
IMO your 82* can be brought down with as simple as a fan.
My next question is how come your temps are that high?

 

[KJAG]

It’s hard to even give advice without knowing what is drawing power in your situation. But I previously ran a JBJ chiller and it worked okay. Currently have a Teco. I upgraded my panel in my house. Not sure if that’s an option or even needed.

 

[WitsNWrasse]

Oh, I guess I forgot to mention- I don’t have AC ! So, that’s why my temps are high. Lol
I’ve got two box fans for room circulation, and computer fans on top and bottom of the tank (one for sump and one for rim) I have hit the limit with what fans can do

 

[WitsNWrasse]

It’s hard to even give advice without knowing what is drawing power in your situation. But I previously ran a JBJ chiller and it worked okay. Currently have a Teco. I upgraded my panel in my house. Not sure if that’s an option or even needed.

The living room is on a 15amp breaker- only items are my three aquariums (LEDs, 3 pumps, 1 skimmer between all three), ceiling lights (LED), tv, and bedroom lights (LEDs), probably a phone charger, router.

Rest of my house on a different circuit has a fridge (obvi), gas stove and gas dryer, microwave (don’t use it often), and dishwasher. So not much else


I wish I could upgrade, but I was told running a new line from the SDGE power lines would cost more than I paid for the condo [emoji23]

 

[Diesel]

No AC .
Girl you need to move

Maybe a portable AC unit is a better idea, it will cool your tanks but what’s even better it will cool your condo to comfortable temps for you.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honeywe...ontrol-in-Black-and-Silver-MM14CHCS/204170267

I have two of these in the garage, bought them as backup.
Now I got a whole house generator for the last two years I don’t have to worry about a power outage and being comfortable

 

[Diesel]

On a side note look who’s stalking

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Most 1/4hp chiller will draw about 3amp. So 2 at running position will draw 6A if they're running simultaneously.
Is your AC and heating also on that 30 amp breaker or is that separate? If it's separate then you should not have any other problem except for a vacuum or microwave or electric iron use at the same time.

 

[andrewkw]

No AC .
Girl you need to move

Maybe a portable AC unit is a better idea, it will cool your tanks but what’s even better it will cool your condo to comfortable temps for you.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honeywe...ontrol-in-Black-and-Silver-MM14CHCS/204170267

I have two of these in the garage, bought them as backup.
Now I got a whole house generator for the last two years I don’t have to worry about a power outage.

Going to have to keep the place pretty cold if you expect to maintain 72 degrees in the tank.

 

[Diesel]

Going to have to keep the place pretty cold if you expect to maintain 72 degrees in the tank.

Seen plenty of SH setups operating around 78* successfully.

 

[WitsNWrasse]

I have never used my heat in the 8 years I’ve lived here- and my tank is actually right in front of he vent so even if I wanted to I couldn’t use it [emoji23] it is also apparently gas powered ? It’s a dinosaur- the place was built in the early 60s, and the heating unit is original.

No AC, I actually do have a portable one but I don’t use it because the only window I can hook it up to is my bedroom and that doesn’t help anything.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What size is the seahorse tank?
The mixed reef as well.

I do agree with diesel , a good window ac can work.

There is no profanity allowed on Reef2Reef so let’s not talk about SDG&E.

I’m down here as well. I keep the ambient room temp at 80 when it’s like today with the window ac. The tank with fans stay at 80 (55g and 81.5 30g). The 30 always runs 2 degrees over ambient. Dunno why.

The volume of water and ambient room temp are what your are going to need to know to figure out the size of the chiller.
Hotter room larger tank lager chiller. Basically.

The chiller will add a bit to room temp though. If you have a basement or sub floor or garage wall you can put it there

If the ambient is 78 79 say , you could run a smaller chiller for the ponies.

On a side note look who’s stalking

Mmmm who’s that buddy?
Gotta take care of the homies.

 

[WitsNWrasse]

Ac route I am assuming I would spend more money in electricity because my living room/kitchen is so open- would have to be constantly running to keep it at a temp that would keep the tanks cool enough not to worry. Especially with all these reduce you use days- they hike up the cost so much !!!!

I was looking at a 1/10 horsepower chiller- “Capable of chilling approximately 40 by 15 degrees F, and 13 gal by 30 degrees F (in 20 hrs)”
Since I really only need at most a 6 degree difference for the reef tank, would something like this work?

 

[Diesel]

That’s it....... taking care of the homies now!!

 

[WitsNWrasse]

That’s it....... taking care of the homies now!!

What is this a joke I don’t get ??? [emoji23]

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ac route I am assuming I would spend more money in electricity because my living room/kitchen is so open- would have to be constantly running to keep it at a temp that would keep the tanks cool enough not to worry. Especially with all these reduce you use days- they hike up the cost so much !!!!

I was looking at a 1/10 horsepower chiller- “Capable of chilling approximately 40 by 15 degrees F, and 13 gal by 30 degrees F (in 20 hrs)”
Since I really only need at most a 6 degree difference for the reef tank, would something like this work?

Yes. Should work fine. But keep in mind , like the portable it does exhaust heat.

Do you know the wattage of that chiller ?

I’m only cooling about 900 sq feet. So the the 12000 btu window ac works for me.
I can’t quire see how many wats it is. Watts is what SDGE loves.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What is this a joke I don’t get ??? [emoji23]

Diesl was pokin me. Lol.

I’m in San Diego. Talmage and Rolando area by Sdsu.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

How do you know you've only got 30A service?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

That’s it....... taking care of the homies now!!

Hahaha.
Where you at now bro? Dallas or park city? Is your chiller running?

 

[Diesel]

Ac route I am assuming I would spend more money in electricity because my living room/kitchen is so open- would have to be constantly running to keep it at a temp that would keep the tanks cool enough not to worry. Especially with all these reduce you use days- they hike up the cost so much !!!!

I was looking at a 1/10 horsepower chiller- “Capable of chilling approximately 40 by 15 degrees F, and 13 gal by 30 degrees F (in 20 hrs)”
Since I really only need at most a 6 degree difference for the reef tank, would something like this work?

It would some what work.
When I was running MH I used a 1/2hp chiller on a 120 to cool it to 78.
It added so much heat to the room the tank was in that my AC popped on at least 3 time more in the hour.