Pacific Coast Chiller
 

So I finally fired up the new chiller tonight. Very easy to hook up, easier to configure and the temp probe is built into the unit so I can put the chiller remote from the tank.
Several people warned about the noise from these things, but I can hardly hear it. It isn't silent, but certainly isn't going to disturb me even with it being in the livingroom.
I'll update this in a few days, once it's had a chance to chill and stuff.

Chillers are expensive i hpe this works out for you. But i guess they are cheaper than replacing your fish inverts and corals when they all die because your tank it too hot. Good luck with it and lets hope i dont have to buy one it might break my wallet :sad: good luck

You'll like it Brad. Good chiller. I run mine indoors in the winter to heat my place. Outside in the summer.

And it is quiet enough to have indoors. Quietest I have heard.

Darren, I'm not sure that I'll get full appreciation for the heating the room feature, but so far it's dropping the temp quite well for the fishies. :razz:

I am not talking heating the room.. I am talking apartment.. :razz:

and your fishies will love ya for it. :) So will BC Hydro...

So far the heat isn't bad at all. I find though that the temp on the unit says 79, but the actual water temp is 80.5 (w/lab grade thermometer). How accurate is yours? Do you know if it's adjustable too?

mine goes the otehr way. Tank temp is 78.9. controller says 80. ;) Tho I am not using a lab grade thermometer..

and I thought it was adjustable. somehow. darned if I can't find the manual now.. or where I had read it..

Update
 

OK, so here is the results. To qualify these, here are some details. Before the chiller, my tank would hit 89 F at the end of the day running 2 x 400w MH, 10 inches off the water. This was using a high output fan across the top of the tank. Canopy open 24/7. Total water volume, ~150g.

I added the chiller on Sunday. I lowered the MH lamps to 5 inches from the water, added a third 400w lamp (same height), removed the fan and closed up the canopy. My tank starts the day at 79.8F. So far, the water temp has not gone over 81.7 at the end of the day. This makes me happy.

The chiller does add heat to the room, but I've located it under a large open window. The noise is about the same as the fan I removed, so a net change of 0 for noise.
Overall, I am happy with this product and would recommend it for tanks up to 180g as suggested by the manufacturer.

Re: Update
 

What size or model number do you have ?

Just to add to Brad's observations, mine is doing fine on a 195gal ( no canopy, 2- 250watt halides, 2-110 vho, 2-40 no, swack of pumps, no open window and located in the basement. The unit only kicks in when outdoor temp gets to 27c . Whole basement get hot when it kicks in. I need to make myself install an exhaust fan. The chiller has been in use over one year with zero problems.

Brad

Is it running pretty much most of the afternoon ??


Wendell

Bryan, it's the 1/4hp CL650.

Wendell, I'm not home all afternoon, but it comes on probably half of every hour after dinner until about 9 or 10. I suspect it will run a lot during the next 2 months, but that will balnace out over the year (I hope).

Darn, I was hoping you were going to say it was the 1/10hp model.

I know what you mean, but really, it's still a good deal for the price. Not sure what size tank you're running, but Jayson has the 1/6 hp on sale for Canada day.

OK, I encountered one downfall. I blew the fuse on the chiller sometime yesterday, and so far I have not been able to find a replacement. It's a 10A mini fuse, which is just not too popular around these parts!! :rolleyes:

pacific coast chiller
 

Brad, did you try Quaile Electronics ?


Gary

Re: pacific coast chiller
 

No, they were too far from the office for me to go at lunch.. I think they'll have them, I just need to get by there sometime.

pacific coast chiller
 

Brad, I can stop by Q.E. and pick some up , I seem to drive near Burnside on a daily basis doing service calls around town.
I use the companies gas so no problem. :lol:

Gary

Gary, that would be great, but I'll let you know for sure tomorrow. I might be able to swing by there on my way to work in the morning.

Brad, I got a spare fuse in my instruction booklet. Did you not get a spare fuse?

I thought I did, but hell if I can find it. :rolleyes:

Hello,

Awesome. I ordered 3 CL-280 sitting at the port still waiting to be picked up. I can't wait to get my hands on them.

Titus

Don't you want to find out why it blew before replacing it?

Walter

Kinda need to get it running to determine that. But pretty sure it was the same reason the next 4 blew :razz:
Too much heat. I had tried to place it under a table, but the ambient temp got too hot and caused it to blow. I moved the table, and all is well.

Hmmm, sounds like you need to get a air conditioner to cool your chiller to cool you tank :lol: On a serious note, do you have central A/C? Would they help keep the tank at a normal temp? I've been quoted $1400 for central air, seems like a better way to go for the money...

Walter

I don't have central air, and I don't think I'd want it. I have windows and the ocean isn't that far away. Almost always a cool breeze going by. The cost of running CA would also be a lot more than a 5amp chiller. And we only have about 10 days total that I would actually want to air condition my house. I don't even use the AC in my van.

You sure know how to make me jelous! :lol: Hmmm, a cool ocean breeze. I've never had the experience yet. :eek: I always have a/c on in the truck, but then again, I'd rather it rain than be hot and sunny...

Walter

:cry:

OK, sorry about that. I't not like I just walk down to the ocean.

I have to actually drive (for about 6 minutes, hehe) :razz:

I can see the burrard inlet from my balconey :)

But even so, I run central air. It helps a lot, the tank stays about 10degrees above ambient in my place. Since I like the house at 74 though, the tank was running at 84... a bit too hot for me. Which is why I bought the chiller.

Personally, I think the central air rocks. Nothing like coming home to a cool house when outside is boiling hot - like today. And my hydro bill isnt so bad. If I recall correctly, I think it was $350 for 62 days this last bill.

AC running every day.
4 x 400wMH running everyday
3 tanks full of equipment running
1 chiller
6 pc's (and one laptop)
big ass TV/entertainment system running every evening for 4-6 hours (my fiancee is hooked on TV)
etc...

:shocked!:

Hello,

LMAO Doug that was funny, first thing you see after clicking on page 3 having read all the jelousy comments on Brad.

Anyway, central AC would not keep the tank temperature low for some applications. The excess heat generated by the system (ie lights, pumps, etc) will raise the tank above the ambient temperature.

Titus

Would you then run the chiller year round?

Walter

Ditto.

...

Brad, I take it you found a source for the fuses?

Where did you pick up the chiller? I remember you said it at some point, but heck if I can remember WHAT you said.

Tony, I found the fuses at a local electronics specialty shop. Went thru 5 of them before I figured out the problem.
I got the chiller from J&L. So far, the tank sits between 80.5 and 81.5 all day every day. My evaporation is cut from 5g/day to about 5g per 4 days.

Hello Walter,

Well you will be feeding the chiller probably with a pressure rated pump as a return path to the display tank. In the winter the chiller shouldn't be working at all unless the thermostat is not functioning.

Titus

That's kind of what I was getting at with A/C. If you have your house at a constant temp all year (ie 72 degrees), you really should not need a chiller. But, some don't like a/c, I love it and always use it :biggrin:

Walter

Hello,

No because you can have a good ambient temperature but your lights and system is heating the water up too much. Mind you, during winter time I sometimes leave the house running at like 10 - 15 degrees inside so that's why I said no need for chiller then. And for most people the hotter summer days are indeed hotter than the winter days. Like in LA it'd be hot during the summer.

Titus

nevermind thought you ment mini stab fuses

ok now you got my interest. couple questions, what is the max flow you can put through it, does J&L charge a crating cost to ship it? and what is the max ambient temp it is suposed to be in.. I am thinking of locating it in my crawl space.

Steve

Max flow is 600gph. I picked it up at J&L, but it's small and already in a box. I can't imagine there being a crating charge. Ambient temp can't go over 95F, but the problem seemed to be too small of confined area, not so much ambient temp. Almost like the discharge was too restricted.