Coralife Aqua Chill

[reeferaddict]

Hey folks... here's my 2 bits worth.... (1/2 a cent US..) I bought one of these a month ago... tank temp was fluctuating between 77 and 85 degrees, and summer was ahead yet! I have A/C so don't need a huge temp pulldown, (maybe 5 degrees C on a 90G). I have a 1/2 HP chiller that I need to get a titanium drop in coil for, then a temp controller... then I ran across this little unit. I hemmed and hawed and finally decided for the ease of use to go for it. A month later I could hardly be happier! This small chiller now keeps my tank consistently between 77 and 79 degrees, and has hardly run at all. The onboard temp controller is +- 2 degrees, but my range is as stated. I was worried I may have been underpowering for a chiller, and maybe I would be if I was running 400W lights, but so far this is one of the best investments I have made for my systems. Extremely easy to use and set up, comes with controller built in and an outlet capable of handling up to 600W of heaters. At $799 from Island Pet Zone in Duncan, I probably paid a few hundred more than jury rigging my 1/2 horse, but the ease of mind was well worth it! They also make a 1/4 horse for up to 125G.

[StirCrazy]

I think in the summer you still might find it underpowered. I have a 1/4 HP chiller in my 90, but I still wish I got the 1/2 HP

Steve

[reeferaddict]

It's more or less there just to combat the MH light and pump temp... the A/C will keep the house cool enough... my main concern was the 7+ degree variation... this has stopped.

[reeferaddict]

Oh yeah BTW... any news on that sand?

[titus]

Hello,

Yes chiller can work wonders. Make sure you have good ventilation and clean the filter screen once in a while.

I wonder how hot it is in Canada now.... to have the need for AC. It has been hovering around 30 degree celcius in HK and I have only turned on the AC once. And summer hasn't even arrived.

But man, it was worst in Australia! You can pass out in like 15 minutes if not prepared for where I was. And they are having fall/winter season! Wonder how people there are going to handle a reef tank full of MHs.

Titus

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by reeferaddict

Oh yeah BTW... any news on that sand?

Doh, I will get on that this week, forgot all about it.

Steve

[BCOrchidGuy]

A chiller would have saved my reef a few years ago.

Doug

[Johnny Reefer]

Call me stupid, but...what size did you buy?
How many watts does it consume?
What are you using to push water thru it?
I assume you are filtering the water first?
What are its dimensions? (Please)
Are you still happy with? (Gettin' pretty hot out this week)

My 4 month old 135 set up is not passing the hot weather test.
Was up to 84F at 8:00 AM today, and 86 at noon.
Had to shut the lights off and open the glass top.
Also have a fan blowing down on it from above.
Got it down to 84 again in the afternoon.
Now it's at 83F, but this can't continue and I need to do something.
(I don't run a sump, so that's why I was asking about the filtering.
Manufacturer recommends filtering the water. Damn. There's always something.)

Thanx much.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Johnny Reefer

Now it's at 83F, but this can't continue and I need to do something.
(I don't run a sump, so that's why I was asking about the filtering.
Manufacturer recommends filtering the water. Damn. There's always something.)

Thanx much.

you could run a chiller with out a sump if you have room under your stand for the chiller and a pump. it would be like adding a closed loop to your tank.

Steve

[Aquattro]

Mark, ideally you should throw the glass tops in the trash. They keep heat in and the light out. Also, one of the best cooling options is evaporation, although that gets toughto manage if you're gone for 4 weeks.
You need to get a sump, an overflow, a flaot valve for your new top of system, and you'll be all set!