Inexpensive chiller?

madtownguy · Aug 3, 2015

I see cheaper chillers online but I'm not sure they work. Anyone have luck with one? I'm only chilling a 29g tank so I can't imagine I need a lot. I turned the AC so it doesn't get above 75 in the house, but then I realized in Florida I could probably pay for a chiller in under 3 months doing that. I really don't want anything else on top of the tank so unless the biocube has a built in fan upgrade I don't want to install a fan on the tank.

143MPCo · Aug 3, 2015

Most of the heat issue are from the OEM lighting system built into an enclosed (assuming this is what you have) biocube as they can produce a considerable amount of heat transference with that type of system. To remediate that issue you can swap out the OEM lighting for LED's as they generate "less" heat and thus transfer less.

Retrofit Kits --> Link

Additionally, some ppl tend to go with an open top by removing the cover all together and suspend the lighting system thus minimizing the heat transference. Most if not all chillers are rubber stamped made outside of the U.S. and work to varying degrees but, the displacement of heat generated in order to cool the tank as opposed to expelled from the unit will warm the surrounding area and thus still require some cooling to keep you living area comfortable. IMHO this has more to do with the unit's efficiency than anything else so in the end it boils down to cost either way you look at it.

madtownguy · Aug 3, 2015

Yeah I really like the contained look to the biocube system. I checked the LED swap out but at $180 I'm only half of a nice chiller. I figured if guys are chilling 150g tanks with $400 chillers there might be a smaller one for about half. I could be wrong though. I really like the lighting system in the biocube, it seems like it will be adequate but I guess only time will tell on that one. In the summer I normally let the house get up to 79 during the day, I have backed that to 75 for now until I figure out what I'm going to do to keep the tank where I want it. Now I will get some help from below because it is on a wine cooler which sits on a cool area and not anything motor related, but that alone isn't going to do the trick in a tank that size.

hipower · Aug 4, 2015

I'm using an AquaEuro 1/13hp on a 20 gallon JBJ Rimmless

redfishbluefish · Aug 4, 2015

When I purchased my JBJ28 with HQI lights, it came with a 1/10 hp chiller....it needed it. I switched to LEDs and stopped using the chiller....and out of curiosity (from this OP) I just looked up this 1/10 HP chiller and found it sells for over $500.....just for the chiller. I'm not sure if this is just a JBJ thing or does horsepower really have a great effect on cost. $500 seemed high to me for a small chiller.

ReefMadScientist · Aug 5, 2015

Hey I live in AZ. Its 115 degrees out. I leave my thermostat at 77 degrees. I do have a ceiling fan above my tank so that cools it enough. I range between 77-78 degrees according to my Apex.

madtownguy · Aug 10, 2015

So I found a new chiller for $90 on ebay, it is a little under powered for my tank but it comes with tube and pump. I'm going to give it a shot and see if it does what I need it to do. I have 30 days before I have to return it so in about 30 days I will let others know. My tank is 29 gallons, I'm sure it wouldn't handle more than that, I need it for about 5 degrees my tank ranges from 75-80.

ca2or · Aug 10, 2015

I don't have time to type all of this up right now but you can build a chiller for well under $100. I know "build" sounds scary but just bare with me. As soon as I get home I will type out my response.

BryanS4 · Aug 10, 2015

ReefMadScientist said:
Hey I live in AZ. Its 115 degrees out. I leave my thermostat at 77 degrees. I do have a ceiling fan above my tank so that cools it enough. I range between 77-78 degrees according to my Apex.

I'm in th same boat in Florida. I leave my air on the same during the day and have zero heat issues. 79 has been the hottest that it's gotten.

hipower · Aug 10, 2015

I live in Tucson, even with the house temp @ 78 temps in my tanks would hit as high as 83 degrees. I had a heater cook on tank where the temps hit 95 degrees.

madtownguy · Aug 11, 2015

I leave my air at 75 right now, I think the tank size has a lot to do with it. That's why I'm hoping an inexpensive chiller will work, after I remove all the live rock and sand I must have under 20 gallons.