Chiller Sizing
 

I'm trying to decide if I will need a chiller and what size I should purchase if needed. My tank (265) is in the basement, the basement never climbs over 20C.

I will have a full canopy to the ceiling on my tank with 3x400w bulbs. I have ventilation already in place above the tank in the ceiling to the outdoors. Will I need a chiller or will I be able to get away with fans over the sump?

Thanks

I think you will need a chiller. I have a very similar setup 220 with 3 400 watts.
Four level split with tank in the basement and sump in the first basement. I have a 1/2 horse chiller and when the weather went to 20 this past week it cut in for the first time this year. So i can only imagine when it gets to 30 that thing will be running quite often. Is your canopy vented? I have 2 fans on mine one pulling fresh air in and one pushing hot air out.

Damn, I was afraid of that. The canopy will be vented to the outside but it will only run when the humidity reaches a preset level. Which I imagine would probably end up running most of the time in the summer months. I was planning for circulation fans in the canopy if needed, two in on each side.

I just don't have a remote location to place the chiller, it will have to be inside the stand.

I'll get it figured out.

Thanks

Maybe central A/C for the whole house would be a better option.

I'm not sure Central Air would solve my problem. The ambient air temp in the basement never climbs over 20c. Adding central air would help with any humidity issues I might have but I don't believe it would do much in the way of cooling the tank unless I dropped the temp in the basement a significant level, which would make it uncomfortable for me to be in the basement. Hard to work on the tank in my parka! *laugh*

I think I read somewhere that it takes four times more air to equal the cooling capacity of water. I think I might be stuck with the chiller. I have being eying up the Pacific Coast Imports 1/2HP. People seem to have good things to say about it.

With central air, it not having to run the house as a freezer, just that it has the capacity to remove heat.

I don't have the lights you're planning (just 2x250W plus the T5s) but with central air at 18° in the summer my sump heater comes on.