I need advice on the advice I was given...

Glenn503 · Jun 11, 2015

Hi all,

I'm new at this and need some help. I just bought a reef ready tank and sump, and had an aquarium maintenance guy at my house to maybe help me out. First off, he said I need to buy a chiller. I live in NY and I have central air conditioning, do you think I really need to spend 700.00 for a chiller? He said it is an insurance policy in case my central AC breaks down. Keep in mind, he doesn't sell equipment, so he isn't making anything off of me if I buy a chiller.

Also, I asked about him setting up an Apex Neptune controller for the tank, and he told me that's just a gadget for the tech guys. Everything I have been reading tells me people love controllers and it's one of the best pieces of equipment you can have. I understand it is not a necessity to have one, but I'm thinking it's much more than a gadget. Maybe this guy is not up on the new equipment?

The new tank is 59 x 20 x 22, if that matters at all. Thanks for any help from you all on this, and I'm sorry if this was kind of long. (He didn't charge for the consultation btw)

zwulfke · Jun 11, 2015

First the chiller is up to you I have one and I have central air. Mostly it depends on your lights if you are running MHS you will need it if not your ambient temp should be ok.

As for a box I have an apex and can say I do not use it to its full advantage but, this will change. I like to have something I can have alert me if something is wrong. If you have the $$ to spend then by all menas get a controller but, if you are not that tech inclined you will be wasting money and a reef angle may be a better bet.

chemwiz · Jun 11, 2015

Hey Glenn,

So first off I live in Phoenix and I don't even have a chiller. Keeping my house between 77 to 80 degrees is good enough, with the tank range staying within 77.5 to 80.1 degrees.

But I can't live without my Neptune, wouldn't know that temp range without it. It controls my light, dosers, top off, algae scrubber, wave pumps, etc. Doesn't take the place of doing all the maintenance, but the fact that my tank will email me when/if I lose power is priceless.

Just my thoughts

Mmsetta · Jun 11, 2015

Glenn,

Chiller shmiller- I agree. I've been up in Cleveland Ohio for 2 years without one. I did however just add a Reefkeeper controller and I love it. I'm sure the Neptune is even better. Consider the auto top off functionality alone and then couple with lighting control, ph indicators, heater control and safeguards, etc. controller is the way to go if you have the dough!

d2mini · Jun 11, 2015

I couldn't not have a chiller. Live in houston with central air but I have metal halides, T5's and even an HPS grow light so heat is definitely an issue, even with my house kept at 72.
Plus the tank has a canopy so that hold heat as well.
So it all depends on your setup.
I ran an open top tank with a single mh and 4 t5 and never needed a chiller. Except when the ac went out while on vacation. Wish I had my Profilux controller then!

Glenn503 · Jun 11, 2015

I can't believe all the help I'm getting already! I should have mentioned the tank is rimless, no canopy. I'm also planning on running LED lights which will probably keep the heat down some. Thanks for the input.

zwulfke · Jun 11, 2015

LED will be almost no heat so your room temp should be fine. maybe later down the road you can get a chiller as a option for backup

AZDesertRat · Jun 11, 2015

The switch from MH and VHO to LED's eliminated the chiller for me. I have a Reefkeeper Lite controller and one of the things it can do based on temperature is start and stop fans for supplemental cooling or to shut lights and unnecessary equipment off should it get over temperature. I have not missed the MH, VHO and chiller and their high electrical cumsumption a bit and my home AC runs less too since the house stays cooler without all that running creating heat creating more cooling. I am also in Phoenix and have been reefkeeping for over 30 years with no issues, in fact we never even had central AC until 13 years ago, only evaporative cooling and it was neve ran issue.

d2mini · Jun 11, 2015

Glenn503 said:
I can't believe all the help I'm getting already! I should have mentioned the tank is rimless, no canopy. I'm also planning on running LED lights which will probably keep the heat down some. Thanks for the input.

Skip the chiller then. Can always be added later if you feel you need one.
You will still need heaters.

Glenn503 · Jun 11, 2015

OK, so I'm thinking a chiller really isn't necessary for my setup. I'd much rather spend the chiller money on the controller, which so far looks like it's a good investment. I really appreciate all the help. I'm all ears if anyone else has thoughts.

tigerdragon · Jun 11, 2015

I was running a 90 open top and had pc/mh fixture and all i ran was a fan blowing across top of tank controlled by my apex. My advice skip the chiller put the moola into a controller a much bettet investment

Chris Adams · Jun 11, 2015

Agree all the above skip the chiller, get the controller and you can control fans to cool things down. Apex was one of the best investments I have made.

Glenn503 · Jun 11, 2015

Chris Adams said:
Agree all the above skip the chiller, get the controller and you can control fans to cool things down. Apex was one of the best investments I have made.

Glenn503 · Jun 11, 2015

I'm thinking the same thing. I'm glad I asked this forum, you all have been a great help.

Glenn

AZDesertRat · Jun 12, 2015

They are not pretty over a display but if you have a sump, different brands and variations of this fan can be found for around $9-$10 most anywhere and they work great (almost said fantastic!).
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Holmes-2-Speed-Oscillating-Clip-on-Fan/45232502

I like that particular one as it is double jointed on the clip so has more mounting options versus some others such as this
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Comfort-Zone-CZ6C-Air-Circulator-Personal-Fans-Clip-Fan-White/21903490

I have used these blowing across either the length of my display or the sump for over 15 years with great success and with 2 speeds you can adjust the cooling a little. I started with a simple appliance timer set to come on with my lights and run maybe 30 minutes after the lights went out, then graduated to a Ranco dual stage controller and finally my RKL controller and they are cheap insurance against overheating.

pdiehm · Jun 12, 2015

picked up a used apex. just calibrated the pH probe this morning. Have yet to mount the parts, but my pH is 7.78 (as of this moment), which is low because i'm dosing NO3: PO4-x, and the lights are out. Temperature is at 77 degrees and has been 76.9-77.2 over the last 3 days when I set up.

Glenn503 · Jun 12, 2015

AZDesertRat said:
They are not pretty over a display but if you have a sump, different brands and variations of this fan can be found for around $9-$10 most anywhere and they work great (almost said fantastic!).
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Holmes-2-Speed-Oscillating-Clip-on-Fan/45232502

I like that particular one as it is double jointed on the clip so has more mounting options versus some others such as this
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Comfort-Zone-CZ6C-Air-Circulator-Personal-Fans-Clip-Fan-White/21903490

I have used these blowing across either the length of my display or the sump for over 15 years with great success and with 2 speeds you can adjust the cooling a little. I started with a simple appliance timer set to come on with my lights and run maybe 30 minutes after the lights went out, then graduated to a Ranco dual stage controller and finally my RKL controller and they are cheap insurance against overheating.

Glenn503 · Jun 12, 2015

I do have a sump, that's an option I like. Way cheaper than a chiller.

CastAway · Jun 12, 2015

I remember when Windows first came out, and thinking it would make dummies of us all, thinking that it was good to have the non-Windows experience and understanding. Perhaps, in a similar way, controllers for reef systems are similar. Experience in "manual" control is surely a good thing to have, a great precursor to a fine controller. Maybe not.

AZDesertRat · Jun 12, 2015

I agree. The progression from appliance timers, to the Ranco dual stage to the RKL was interesting. Same with manual control and test kits to the Milwaukee pH controller to the RKL on the calcium reactor or manul light control to timers then the AI Sol controller with ramp up and ramp down settings, big changes but it helped by starting out basic so I understood my needs.

I think dosing is the same, you need to do water changes and dose by hand to understand your tanks requirements before jumping into things like dosers, reactors and controllers or you will have all sorts of problems and not understand what is happening and why.

Good point CastAway!