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02-11-2008, 05:26 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio
Posts: 31
Karma: 2
 |  Aquarium Chiller ?
I am in the process of seting up a 55 gallon reef and was wondering if a chiller was a must ? I'm from Ohio so the summer temps arent to bad . Figured the lighting would be the biggest heat source . I am using 4 48" VHO's I'm not looking to blow more money if I dont have to . Drop in's on ebay running around 450 bucks . Thanks for any help . | 
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02-11-2008, 05:31 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elizabethtown, IN Age: 40
Posts: 3,833
  
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Well even though the summers are not bad you have to worry about your central air quitting on you one day. It really comes down to how much you have invested in your livestock. I run a chiller that I only need in the summer time but it is sure nice knowing I have that insurance.
You could probably get by with putting fans across the top of the tank or in the sump but if the house ever gets real hot the water will pick up the temp. _________ Scott 265g (Peninsula)
3x400w MH's, 4x95w Actinics, AAT Lunar Lights, OM 4-way CL, PM Bullet 3 Skimmer, DelZone Eclipse 1 O3 Generator, WavySea Plus for return, AAT Kalk Reactor, KNOP Ca Reactor w/PM Second Chamber, TradeWinds Chiller, ACIII Controller, Oceanus ATO, PM PO4 Reactor, 75g Sump, 30g Fuge Born March 5, 2007 Parameters My 265 Gal. Tank Thread   | |
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02-11-2008, 07:02 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Scooter Blennie
Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Florida Age: 43
Posts: 1,248
 
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As a point of comparison, I have a 55 gal here in Florida. I keep my AC on 70 year-round. My tank temp doesn't rise above 80. This is probably the absolute max temp for a reef tank. I don't own a chiller; but I don't run Metal Halides either. I have a 5 bulb T5 fixture. However, I'm just getting started. I only own 2 corals so far; some mushrooms and a rock covered with zoanthus. So far so good.
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90G display tank. Kent Phos Reactor running carbon and ROWAPhos, Coralife 225 Skimmer, Typhoon 5 Stage RO/DI, 20 Gal Sump/Refugium with Chaeto/Caulerpa lit opposite daylight cycle. Coralife 2x150MH, 14K + 2x96W PC Actinics, Ecotech Vortech propeller pump, Hydor Koralia #2. | |
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02-11-2008, 08:36 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Scooter Blennie
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: valencia,pa. Age: 35
Posts: 1,245
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i'm in pittsburgh area and never use a chiller.i have 4 54watt t5's and the canopy their in has lots of open space for heat to drift out.only during our hottest days will i put a fan neer it.it would't hurt to put in some fans to keep it down on those very hot summer days.
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55 gallon reef with 4x54 watt t5,29 gallon sump,red monti cap,1blue echinophyllia,trumpet,red lobo,2 toadstools 1purple and 1neon,gsp,xenia and yellow xenia,red ,many mushrooms,2 giant frilly shrooms,cabbage coral,yellow polyps,many zoos,1 orange and one neon green nepthia,duncans,cladiella | |
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02-11-2008, 08:39 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Louisville, GA Age: 45
Posts: 3,460
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ziggy222  i'm in pittsburgh area and never use a chiller.i have 4 54watt t5's and the canopy their in has lots of open space for heat to drift out.only during our hottest days will i put a fan neer it.it would't hurt to put in some fans to keep it down on those very hot summer days. | Ditto on what Ziggy said! A small table or clip on fan works great, blowing across the underneath of your lights works just fine. I use one in the summer too. | |
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02-11-2008, 08:43 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator |
I would do everything you can to avoid a Chiller. They are very expensive to run and very noisy.
I had a 75G with 2x250W MH + 2 110W VHO and never needed a chiller. Just fans in the summer
J | |
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02-11-2008, 09:27 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 59
Posts: 4,778
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Just use a room AC when needed. That way you can enjoy benefit also.  _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott") | |
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02-11-2008, 05:55 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio
Posts: 31
Karma: 2
| Thanks guys
I guess I will wait on buying the chiller for now . How hot is to hot for the water to get ? | |
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02-11-2008, 05:57 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Panda Puffer
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tatamy, PA Age: 15
Posts: 2,113
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over 80 degrees. _________  | |
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02-11-2008, 06:38 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 4,932
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I also dont think a chiller is VERY necessary unless you dont use/have an a/c. Using fans over the top of the tank and sump will do wonders, not to mention, cheaper!! My a/c recently took a crap for 2-3 days straight and the temp. never went higher than 82. I had a two fan unit on the top and one over the sump. Look into one of these;  or  or _________ 9YR OLD 90G/55g custom sump/refug Mag18 Aquac 180skimmer 692w MH AC jr,yel&kole tang,midas&convict blenny,B&G chromies,Blk/yel fin chromie blackcap,nemo,neon goby,6line; Blastomussa Merleti,Acan ,BUBBLE,Torch,LTA, Acropora(2) Moon, assort zoas, yel& G star polyps, P&B ricordia, montiporas, cup&candy corals, xenias,B/G mush,flower ane(2), cherry red mussa, dusters,cleaning crew..  | 
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