Cooling options for 200+ gallon reef tank

[blackstallion]

Currently, I have to keep the central AC turned down lower than I have typically without the tank in the house. Short of an expensive chiller, would fans in the canopy or under the tank with the sump help? What type of fans are most reliable for this type of environment and use? And how affective are fans in cooling the tank?

 

[SPR1968]

On my S650 which is around 140 g I have a 16 inch pedestal fan which points directly down/across the water surface at the top of the tank, and will cool the tank by 3-4 degrees easily. I control it manually but you could automate it.

I get it out in summer and away from autumn

In my 530g system I have a Teco 2000e chiller

The chiller is set and forget but of course expensive but you could control a fan with a controller as well.

 

[blackstallion]

On my S650 which is around 140 g I have a 16 inch pedestal fan which points directly down/across the water surface at the top of the tank, and will cool the tank by 3-4 degrees easily. I control it manually but you could automate it.

I get it out in summer and away from autumn

In my 530g system I have a Teco 2000e chiller

The chiller is set and forget but of course expensive but you could control a fan with a controller as well.

I have glass covers and a full canopy (only back is open), so a large pedestal fan is not feasible.

 

[ca1ore]

Evaporative cooling can be very effective as long as you are able to keep the RH down in the room. Once RH gets above about 50%, swamp cooling doesn't work nearly as well.

 

[joseserrano]

I have glass covers and a full canopy (only back is open), so a large pedestal fan is not feasible.

with you set up sounds like chiller is the way for you to go.