Chiller advice?

[Steve G]

I'm not new to the hobby but I am new to chillers. Does anybody have a link to a good article or just advice on the following topics:

 

- how do you know you need one? (I think I do, but will know for sure after I drill my sump and run the pump(s) externally -- my fans are not doing the trick)

 

- how large/powerful?

- what features to look for?

- brand?

- what about controllers?

 

My specs are below. I have two fans blowing on the water (75g). My canopy has 2-175watt MH but uses a very open design. I have two pumps in the sump (return + skimmer) which are heating things up.

[Gatortailale]

see this thread: http://www.wamas.org/forums/index.php?show...66&hl=tradewind

 

1st step - get a 7 inch clip on fan and see if that helps.

2nd, if you have central air, turn up or down, what ever the proper term, the ac to make house cooler.

 

What brand, I went with TradeWind after searching this forum, cmas & RC. Geofloors also got a tradewind. http://tradewindchillers.com/specsheet.html

 

- controller - I went with single stage - how often have you had a problem with your heater not turning on or off? I've never had a problem with heater so single sufficient.

 

 

- search wamas forums for word chiller and there are other hits

 

cmas thread: http://www.cmas-md.org/forums/showthread.p...light=tradewind

[johnnybv]

I'm not new to the hobby but I am new to chillers. Does anybody have a link to a good article or just advice on the following topics:

 

- how do you know you need one? (I think I do, but will know for sure after I drill my sump and run the pump(s) externally -- my fans are not doing the trick)

 

- how large/powerful?

- what features to look for?

- brand?

- what about controllers?

 

My specs are below. I have two fans blowing on the water (75g). My canopy has 2-175watt MH but uses a very open design. I have two pumps in the sump (return + skimmer) which are heating things up.

I can tell you a long story about Trade wind chillers if you would like. I am now using and selling the JBJ line, if you go to their website they have a chiller sizing program that will identify which chiller you would need. http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod_chiller.html

John

[Jon Lazar]

How hot does your tank get? If it's peaking at 80-81, I wouldn't worry unless the swing is more than a few degrees.

 

If you do end up deciding to get a chiller, it has to be located somewhere so that the heat it pulls out of the water can dissipate. If you put the chiler underneath the tank in an enclosed stand, it won't have much effect. Think of your chiller like central air for your house. It doesn't do much good if you put the unit inside your basement. Plus the chiller fan can be loud if it's in a living space.

 

Jon

 

 

I'm not new to the hobby but I am new to chillers. Does anybody have a link to a good article or just advice on the following topics:

 

- how do you know you need one? (I think I do, but will know for sure after I drill my sump and run the pump(s) externally -- my fans are not doing the trick)

 

- how large/powerful?

- what features to look for?

- brand?

- what about controllers?

 

My specs are below. I have two fans blowing on the water (75g). My canopy has 2-175watt MH but uses a very open design. I have two pumps in the sump (return + skimmer) which are heating things up.

[DEEPBLUE]

The best chillers on the market are Pacific Coast Imports, I've read several articles that state the same, I've had mine for 2 years now with no problems, I just set the biult in controller, more other brand you have to have a seperate control, so I just set the temperature and leave it, I flush it every 6 to 9 months, and it keeps my tank with in 1 degree of the set temperature 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also, very important, I run 3-400w MH and when I added the chiller I only noticed a $3.72 a month increase in my electric bill. You can goto www.pacificcoastimports.com for complete information.

 

Eric