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Anyone run a chiller?

jayteerq

Well-Known Member
BRS Member
Last year was my first year reefing and my tank got up to 86 some days. A little concerned this year so am looking into fans or a chiller. Is it necessary? Is there other ways? Do you guys with big tanks run chillers in your systems?
 
Install a mini split or AC in the window. Also, you can set a cutoff for our lights that add heat when reaching a certain temp.
 
Install a mini split or AC in the window. Also, you can set a cutoff for our lights that add heat when reaching a certain temp.
Yeah, true I have a AC in the room, but I am wondering what would be more efficient to run the AC all day or to have a chiller installed
 
I use a chiller, set to go on when the tank water temp hits 81.5

Just like other water parameters, stable temperature should be a consideration.
Whether it’s necessary is up to how far you’re willing to go to provide stabilty.
A basement sump can help, fans can be used to speed up evaporation, which helps. Room A/C is also effective as Paul mentioned.

My tank lights were off last Wed or Thu when I got home from work. Temp got up to the point where my controller turned them off so they wouldn’t heat the water any further.

Plugged in the chiller, and next time I checked, temp was at 79.
 
What temp does your house run? What do you aim to run your tank at(per recent discussions on the board sounds like a lot of people are running quite high)? Like Paul said ac does wonders, and you get cooled off at the same time that’s a two for one special.
 
Install a mini split or AC in the window. Also, you can set a cutoff for our lights that add heat when reaching a certain temp.
I plan to do this eventually for my basement. Not really needed for summer as it stays under 70 in the summer and would mainly be used for winter for heat as it gets as low as mid 50's in the winter ever since we got the condensing boiler so there's not the extra heat from the old boiler heating the basement lol...
 
What temp does your house run? What do you aim to run your tank at(per recent discussions on the board sounds like a lot of people are running quite high)? Like Paul said ac does wonders, and you get cooled off at the same time that’s a two for one special.
It’s tough. My tank is in a finished basement but the temperature fluctuates. A lot of living things under one roof. The AC we don’t keep consistently on, only when it starts to get hot. I’ve been keeping my tank at 78 now. I used to have it set at 76. But I’ve noticed during the summer, my temp is far from stable. Usually bounces 2-3 degrees throughout the day in the summer.
 
It’s tough. My tank is in a finished basement but the temperature fluctuates. A lot of living things under one roof. The AC we don’t keep consistently on, only when it starts to get hot. I’ve been keeping my tank at 78 now. I used to have it set at 76. But I’ve noticed during the summer, my temp is far from stable. Usually bounces 2-3 degrees throughout the day in the summer.
Ac will also help keep humidity down reducing airborn salt creep which will cover your walls when hitting higher temps. You have gone up quite a bit in water volume. evaporation will be something to deal with in a basement I am sure.
 
If you have a stand with closing doors, try a little clip on fan and leaving the doors open. You'd be surprised how much heat power supplies, motors, etc, generate. If that works, get some vent louvers and fans that mount inside so you can close the doors again.
 
Ac will also help keep humidity down reducing airborn salt creep which will cover your walls when hitting higher temps. You have gone up quite a bit in water volume. evaporation will be something to deal with in a basement I am sure.
This would be more the reason I would want to put a split unit in the basement. It was "cooler" than my main living floor today but awfully humid even with a dehumidifier running.
 
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