Chiller reccomendations?

I've not found 8 degree temp swings in a day to be
stressful, but that's pretty bad for a heater to swing
that much.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



kim gross wrote on 5/9/2006 11:53 PM:
Thomas Bartkus wrote:
"Pszemol" wrote in message
...

wrote in message

news
I'm starting to look into buying one. Have a 210 reef tank.
Also has anyone tried using them with an aquacontroller
instead of the built in thermostat? I'd like to really notch
in a stable temperature.

Why are you so concerned with "stable temperatures", Bob?

It is well known the water temperatures on the reef
varies A LOT during the year... Your animals are well
adapted to varying salinity and temperatures common on
all reefs they come from.

If you peak over the average couple of days during
the course of year nothing bad will happen...


I'm not speaking for Bob. I'm an intruder here.

My concern would be the temperature swings over the course of an hour
rather
than the course of a year! The term is hysteresis and typical cheap
thermostat mechanisms cause a lot of it. The heater doesn't come on
until
the temperature is 4 degrees too low and then it doesn't quit until the
temperature is 4 degrees above the setpoint. All in all in an acceptable
range, perhaps, but how fast do temperatures swing on a tropical
reef? How
fast in a 6 gal. nanoreef?

I don't know the answer to that question but I would like to!
I *suspect* that temperature swing (hysteresis!) in a nanoreef can be
rather
extraodinary and stressful to the inhabitants. A serious thermostat
control
may be of benefit.

But then - I don't know ;-)
Thomas Bartkus


You will find that in a normal aquarium temp control setup you have
much less than a 8 degree swing. Most systems that I have worked with
have less than a 2 degree swing. Yes home thermostates do have a much
wider range, just because it is more economical to change a few degrees
when you turn on your furnance or AC rather than just turn on for few
seconds to change your room temp a 1/2 degree.

Kim

And eventually when digital thermostats with humidity
sensors come down in price, that will be the way to go.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Thomas Bartkus wrote on 5/10/2006 9:36 AM:
"kim gross" wrote in message
...
snip
You will find that in a normal aquarium temp control setup you have
much less than a 8 degree swing. Most systems that I have worked with
have less than a 2 degree swing.

Yes home thermostates do have a much
wider range, just because it is more economical to change a few degrees
when you turn on your furnance or AC rather than just turn on for few
seconds to change your room temp a 1/2 degree.

Not so! They swing +/- a few degrees because they are sloppy, inefficient,
and ancient technology. Ignore lame rationalization coming from home
builders skimming nickels wherever they can.

While it's true that you don't want to have the system toggling frequently
for a few minutes of heat, you *do* want to keep the swing tight to no more
than 1 or 2 degrees. Expecting no more than +/- 1 degree max swing is now
quite reasonable.

Typical mercury switch home thermostats are awful in this regard and waste a
lot of energy as a result. Now that inexpensive electronic controls are
available, one shouldn't waste time replacing them. The programmability may
be a plus BUT they are substantially more energy efficient by the simple
virtue of keeping the temperature swing to a minimum.

And

My better half no longer feels compelled to set the temp to 73 when 70 is
just fine. With a good electronic (non-mechanical) control, 70 means she
doesn't have to suffer 69 and 68 degree chills before the heat kicks in.

70 degrees means 70!
Thomas Bartkus

"William Marsh" wrote:
Hi Bob: I have a Artica 1/5 hp hooked up to my 180, Their
recomendations and seems to be working great. Has a built in Thermostat
that holds it within 2 Deg. Not noisey but I have it plumbed tru the wall
to the Garage. So far I am happy with it and I don't have to run my house
AC so low to keep the temp down.
Bill
wrote in message
news

I'm starting to look into buying one. Have a 210 reef tank. Also has
anyone
tried using them with an aquacontroller instead of the built in
thermostat? I'd
like to really notch in a stable temperature.

Thanks;

Bob


Thanks for the advice...I was thinking of an artica for my 210 and
thought I would need a 1/3 hp. Maybe I can get by with less. Until I have the
money will just have to keep the AC in the apt down. I do use an aquacontroller
jr on my system and wonder if the artica can be run off of that since you can
control it to less then a degree?

Bob

I'm not speaking for Bob. I'm an intruder here.

My concern would be the temperature swings over the course of an hour rather
than the course of a year! The term is hysteresis and typical cheap
thermostat mechanisms cause a lot of it. The heater doesn't come on until
the temperature is 4 degrees too low and then it doesn't quit until the
temperature is 4 degrees above the setpoint. All in all in an acceptable
range, perhaps, but how fast do temperatures swing on a tropical reef? How
fast in a 6 gal. nanoreef?

I don't know the answer to that question but I would like to!
I *suspect* that temperature swing (hysteresis!) in a nanoreef can be rather
extraodinary and stressful to the inhabitants. A serious thermostat control
may be of benefit.

But then - I don't know ;-)
Thomas Bartkus



You are correct. It's the temperature swings in a few hours that bother
me (here in tidewater Va.) I use an aquacontroller jr so the thermostat isn't
much of a problem. The problem is when the apt gets up to 80 degrees and the
tank pushes 85. I have the hood fans and a sump fan tied into the
aquacontroler but they can't deal with that much heat. Guess I'll just have to
keep the AC on in the apt until I can spring for the chiller.

Bob

http://www.aquariumshop.be



schreef in bericht
news

I'm starting to look into buying one. Have a 210 reef tank. Also has
anyone
tried using them with an aquacontroller instead of the built in
thermostat? I'd
like to really notch in a stable temperature.

Thanks;

Bob