Chillers

After setting up a 90 gallon long reef tank with a sump that holds about 20
gallons, it is apparent that I will be needing a chiller. The tank is
upstairs in my den, has two 250 watt metal halides plus two 96 watt actinic
power compacts. I have two fans on the hood, one blowing air in at one end,
and one blowing out warm air on the other end. I have a digital thermometer
and it states that the temperature goes from about 80 in the mornings up to
about 84 in the evening. I would really like to keep it about 79 or 80 all
the time.

I was looking into chillers but didn't like the prices I was seeing. Then I
ran across a Pacific Coast 1/10 hp model. The specs say it can bring down a
110 gallon tank 10 degrees. I also ran across a JBJ Artica 1/10 hp chiller.
This one has 275 more btu's than the Pacific Coast model and comes with a
two year warranty. I don't know the warranty on the other. The price
difference is about $50.

My question is, has anyone had any experience with either of these chillers?
Good or bad I would like to here it before I lay down my hard earned money
for one. Any help is greatly appreciated.

your best bet is to put a vent in your canopy and have both fans blowing in.

you get twice the volume of air flow this way and twice the heat removal.

with one in and one out, you are just pushing the same amount of air with
both fans and its wastful IMO.

i have 2x400w and 2x250w over my 180g w/ 100g sump and it keeps a constant
80-82 with four 3" fans blowing in and four 4" holes for vents (one above
each reflector)


kc

"IceManDug" wrote in message
...
After setting up a 90 gallon long reef tank with a sump that holds about
20
gallons, it is apparent that I will be needing a chiller. The tank is
upstairs in my den, has two 250 watt metal halides plus two 96 watt
actinic
power compacts. I have two fans on the hood, one blowing air in at one
end,
and one blowing out warm air on the other end. I have a digital
thermometer
and it states that the temperature goes from about 80 in the mornings up
to
about 84 in the evening. I would really like to keep it about 79 or 80
all
the time.

I was looking into chillers but didn't like the prices I was seeing. Then
I
ran across a Pacific Coast 1/10 hp model. The specs say it can bring down
a
110 gallon tank 10 degrees. I also ran across a JBJ Artica 1/10 hp
chiller.
This one has 275 more btu's than the Pacific Coast model and comes with a
two year warranty. I don't know the warranty on the other. The price
difference is about $50.

My question is, has anyone had any experience with either of these
chillers?
Good or bad I would like to here it before I lay down my hard earned money
for one. Any help is greatly appreciated.

You can also try putting a clip-on fan on the tank and directing the air
flow so that it blows across the surface of the water. The downside to this
is a likely increase in evaporation, but it will make the difference of a
few degrees.

Regards,

Dave.

"Dragon Slayer" wrote in message
...
your best bet is to put a vent in your canopy and have both fans blowing
in.

you get twice the volume of air flow this way and twice the heat removal.

with one in and one out, you are just pushing the same amount of air with
both fans and its wastful IMO.

i have 2x400w and 2x250w over my 180g w/ 100g sump and it keeps a constant
80-82 with four 3" fans blowing in and four 4" holes for vents (one above
each reflector)


kc

"IceManDug" wrote in message
...
After setting up a 90 gallon long reef tank with a sump that holds about
20
gallons, it is apparent that I will be needing a chiller. The tank is
upstairs in my den, has two 250 watt metal halides plus two 96 watt
actinic
power compacts. I have two fans on the hood, one blowing air in at one
end,
and one blowing out warm air on the other end. I have a digital
thermometer
and it states that the temperature goes from about 80 in the mornings up
to
about 84 in the evening. I would really like to keep it about 79 or 80
all
the time.

I was looking into chillers but didn't like the prices I was seeing.
Then
I
ran across a Pacific Coast 1/10 hp model. The specs say it can bring
down
a
110 gallon tank 10 degrees. I also ran across a JBJ Artica 1/10 hp
chiller.
This one has 275 more btu's than the Pacific Coast model and comes with
a
two year warranty. I don't know the warranty on the other. The price
difference is about $50.

My question is, has anyone had any experience with either of these
chillers?
Good or bad I would like to here it before I lay down my hard earned
money
for one. Any help is greatly appreciated.

the evaporation is the cause of the cooling not the blowing of air around
the tank. its the same principal as your home A/C it works via evaporative
cooling.

kc

"David McKay" wrote in message
news
You can also try putting a clip-on fan on the tank and directing the air
flow so that it blows across the surface of the water. The downside to
this
is a likely increase in evaporation, but it will make the difference of a
few degrees.

Regards,

Dave.

"Dragon Slayer" wrote in message
...
your best bet is to put a vent in your canopy and have both fans blowing
in.

you get twice the volume of air flow this way and twice the heat
removal.

with one in and one out, you are just pushing the same amount of air
with
both fans and its wastful IMO.

i have 2x400w and 2x250w over my 180g w/ 100g sump and it keeps a
constant
80-82 with four 3" fans blowing in and four 4" holes for vents (one
above
each reflector)


kc

"IceManDug" wrote in message
...
After setting up a 90 gallon long reef tank with a sump that holds
about
20
gallons, it is apparent that I will be needing a chiller. The tank is
upstairs in my den, has two 250 watt metal halides plus two 96 watt
actinic
power compacts. I have two fans on the hood, one blowing air in at
one
end,
and one blowing out warm air on the other end. I have a digital
thermometer
and it states that the temperature goes from about 80 in the mornings
up
to
about 84 in the evening. I would really like to keep it about 79 or
80
all
the time.

I was looking into chillers but didn't like the prices I was seeing.
Then
I
ran across a Pacific Coast 1/10 hp model. The specs say it can bring
down
a
110 gallon tank 10 degrees. I also ran across a JBJ Artica 1/10 hp
chiller.
This one has 275 more btu's than the Pacific Coast model and comes
with
a
two year warranty. I don't know the warranty on the other. The price
difference is about $50.

My question is, has anyone had any experience with either of these
chillers?
Good or bad I would like to here it before I lay down my hard earned
money
for one. Any help is greatly appreciated.