Chiller

[LostMind]

I have the newer model, its two degrees tolerance it says, but that is two degrees up or down, meaning 4 degree variance I spose.

ie: I set it to 77 and it actually keeps the tank at 79-80 (it sits at 79, slowly rises to 80, chiller kicks in, knocks the temp down to 79 and shuts down. Temp slowly rises back to 80. Pretty silly, as I *thought* the chiller would try to keep the tank at 77.... but whatever!)

[Aquattro]

hmm, I thought the setpoint was 2 degrees total. That means you set it for 80, it comes on at 79 and shuts off at 81. As long as it keeps the tank below 81, I'm ok.

[LostMind]

Hmmm, well, its a dual stage controller. So I have the heater plugged into the chiller.

If the tank gets to 75, it'll kick the heater on, to keep the tank at 77. but overnight the tank stays around 78, so I dont think the heater ever comes on.

But, from sitting in front of the tank, with the chiller set to hold the tank at 77, it kicks on when the tank gets warmer then 79... but doesnt cool the tank all the way down to 77. Which is what I thought it would do. I originally set it to 79, hoping to keep the tank stable at 79 (it would get to 82ish during the day with MH's on), but the chiller wouldnt kick on till the tank was reaching 81... and so I wasnt really getting any temp reduction with it at 79. At 77, I keep it pretty stable at 79-80, like I wanted originally... so I am really not dissatisfied with the unit.

I just recently purchased and setup the unit (2 weeks?), and I have never had a chiller before. So I am not sure if this is how it is supposed to work or not, but this is how mine does.

Now I am gonna go read the instructions again... just in case I have done something wrong

[roverT]

Hey Brad when you get that thing going would it be ok if I came over to see/hear it, I have been looking at that same model for a little while now?
Thanx
Trevor

[Aquattro]

Trevor, not a problem.

[Andy]

Hi Brad

I have the newer 2 degree setpoint. My chiller runs for about 5 minutes every 20 minutes during the metal halide lighting period. It kicks out a ton of heat. I have fans blowing the heat out from the crawl space where the chiller is situated. I find the chiller to be about as loud as a dehumidifier. I wouldn't want it in my rec room. Just too loud.

[Aquattro]

Well, mine is going in the living room with the tank, so hopefully I stay married for a while longer

[kari]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

Well, mine is going in the living room with the tank, so hopefully I stay married for a while longer

Brad, you might have to sell the chiller to pay the lawyer. As Andy noted they are similar to the noise of a de-humidifier and throw out a lot of heat. Running it in living space won't be fun.

Maybe you could plumb it to a more remote location. Currently I have been planning to add an exhaust fan in my fishroom where the 1/4hp PC chiller runs in the hot summer months. Its been handling my 195gal tank just fine but the ambient temp climbs quickly when it kicks in. The fan, in theory, should reduce my power bill, keep me cooler and my wife calmer.. I meant cooler.

[robert]

Andy/Kari/Brad - is the chiller constantly noise or only when it kicks in? I am thinking about getting 1/4hp one for my 90gal setup. At this size it would be a bit of overkill for my size of the tank so it shouldn’t kick in that often and not for too long I guess? Or am I all wrong? Yes mine would need to be in living area as well since I live in condo.

[zulu_principle]

I planned on plumbing mine in my home into the crawl space, didnt work as I found a used one that was a drop in.

Its on and off even on the hottest days, its one of the best "investments" you can make for your reef.

JMHO


Wendell