Cooling water temp without a chiller?

Cooper32803 · Jun 26, 2012

So I posted this in another thread but figuring I might get more ideas in this thread. I am looking at possibly starting a frag tank in the garage. I live in FL and there is no AC in the garage. Is there a way I can have said frag tank in the garage minus spending hundreds of dollars on a chiller? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

MyReefToYours · Jun 26, 2012

Fans work great. Just put a couple of the 6" fans blowing across the top of the tank and you'll be surprised how well it does.

Cooper32803 · Jun 26, 2012

6" fans like clip on fans you can buy at walmart? Will this cause alot of water evaporation?

Rockadile · Jun 26, 2012

Cooper32803 said:
6" fans like clip on fans you can buy at walmart? Will this cause alot of water evaporation?

thats exactly right, evaporation is one of the best ways to cool your tank.

Cooper32803 · Jun 26, 2012

I guess I just thought of evaporation meaning the temp was too high... kinda like steam... never thought of it as a cooling function...

Pappy · Jun 26, 2012

My garage is typically 85-90 in summer. Don't mean to be a downer but can't see you keeping tank at 79-80 without one

Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cooper32803 · Jun 26, 2012

Shucks

pickupman66 · Jun 27, 2012

my sump is in my garage and the 180 is in the house. even with LED's, external pumps and the house at 74, my chiller runs 5 or 6 times a day (24 hours) for about 2 hours.

wysiwyg · Jun 27, 2012

yeah i dont see you running a tank in your garage without either a chiller or ac of some sorts

FateX8 · Jun 27, 2012

im in fl too and there just is no way around it
i dont think an ac unit would even work unless you insulate the garage door and in the end a chiller would just be more efficient

Cooper32803 · Jun 27, 2012

Looks like I will have to keep an eye out on a chiller on CL. I just wouldnt want to spend so much money when I dont even have my display tank yet... LOL Even though the frag tank can wait since the corals I have in my Biocube havent really grown yet either haha :bounce:I guess I just dont like having a dry tank laying around waiting...