Chiller Advice

[knicklebutter]

I'm having a problem getting the right chiller. I am currently running a 20g tank and a 1/13hp chiller. But it's only getting the tank to about 68F. I really need it to at least get 64F but I'm worried about buying a 1/10hp or 1/3hp because they are recommended for 40 and 70 gallons. Will I be able to run those on a 20g?? Will I have enough water to pump through them? Or does that not matter? And what sort of water pressure would be going back into the tank?? I read some of threads on here but they're mostly for big tanks. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[subodhs]

64°F? That’s definitely an eyebrow-raiser! Are you keeping cold-water species or something super unique? Most reef setups don’t dip below 75°F unless you’re running a temperate tank with species like Catalina gobies or Arctic invertebrates—so I’m dying to know what’s in this chilly 20g.

Also, heads up: most chillers have electronic cutoffs that won’t even let them go that low. So, unless you’ve got some NASA-grade setup, you might be wrestling with limits there. Either way, this sounds super interesting (or slightly suspicious ;). Spill the details!

 

[knicklebutter]

64°F? That’s definitely an eyebrow-raiser! Are you keeping cold-water species or something super unique? Most reef setups don’t dip below 75°F unless you’re running a temperate tank with species like Catalina gobies or Arctic invertebrates—so I’m dying to know what’s in this chilly 20g.

Also, heads up: most chillers have electronic cutoffs that won’t even let them go that low. So, unless you’ve got some NASA-grade setup, you might be wrestling with limits there. Either way, this sounds super interesting (or slightly suspicious ;). Spill the detail

64°F? That’s definitely an eyebrow-raiser! Are you keeping cold-water species or something super unique? Most reef setups don’t dip below 75°F unless you’re running a temperate tank with species like Catalina gobies or Arctic invertebrates—so I’m dying to know what’s in this chilly 20g.

Also, heads up: most chillers have electronic cutoffs that won’t even let them go that low. So, unless you’ve got some NASA-grade setup, you might be wrestling with limits there. Either way, this sounds super interesting (or slightly suspicious ;). Spill the details!

haha nothing suspicious I have an axolotl. It's never been an issue before, I just kept a cooling fan on the rim. I've recently moved though and the apartment's a/c is tragic so it's been difficult to keep the water cool. But do you think a higher horsepower would get anywhere near that temp? I've been able to keep it 68 but I'd really like to get it cooler if it's possible. Which it sounds like it may not be, but how do so many people keep axolotls at the recommended temp? I just want him to be cozy

 

[CHSUB]

Will not be a problem, get a 1/4 hp. I ran large aquarium chillers on small tanks for lobster in grocery stores that I managed.

 

[knicklebutter]

haha nothing suspicious I have an axolotl. It's never been an issue before, I just kept a cooling fan on the rim. I've recently moved though and the apartment's a/c is tragic so it's been difficult to keep the water cool. But do you think a higher horsepower would get anywhere near that temp? I've been able to keep it 68 but I'd really like to get it cooler if it's possible. Which it sounds like it may not be, but how do so many people keep axolotls at the recommended temp? I just want him to be cozy

Will not be a problem, get a 1/4 hp. I ran large aquarium chillers on small tanks for lobster in grocery stores that I managed.

Thank you!!

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Stick around a while, many of us have or have kept herps, and you might just like the tanks we keep ;-)

I have never kept an Axolotl, and I've never owned or ran a chiller, so please double check all my advice here. But my thought would be to get the larger chiller. It seems obvious that you need a larger chiller if your current unit can't keep up. Remember, those tank size guidlines are just suggestions. Your environment (such as your poor AC situation) might require a larger or smaller chiller than typically suggested for your tank size.

And it's wise to be concerned with over cooling your guy (though from fish to reptiles to humans, overheating is a WAY larger problem than underheating, hands down). You may be wise to try a controller for your chiller. Inkbird makes an aquarium controller that *I believe* would work for you, and prevent your chiller from over chilling your tank.

InkBird Heater/Chiller Controller from Amazon

And in the short term, consider floating some frozen bottles of water in the tank, just to keep him cool during the hottest part of the day.

I hope that helps, good luck!

 

[subodhs]

haha nothing suspicious I have an axolotl. It's never been an issue before, I just kept a cooling fan on the rim. I've recently moved though and the apartment's a/c is tragic so it's been difficult to keep the water cool. But do you think a higher horsepower would get anywhere near that temp? I've been able to keep it 68 but I'd really like to get it cooler if it's possible. Which it sounds like it may not be, but how do so many people keep axolotls at the recommended temp? I just want him to be cozy

Ah, that makes way more sense—an axolotl! I'd have to watch your thread now. I'd want to know what others use to chill their tanks. Higher HP would help, but I'm curious about the lower cut-off temp settings that chillers allow.

 

[knicklebutter]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Stick around a while, many of us have or have kept herps, and you might just like the tanks we keep ;-)

I have never kept an Axolotl, and I've never owned or ran a chiller, so please double check all my advice here. But my thought would be to get the larger chiller. It seems obvious that you need a larger chiller if your current unit can't keep up. Remember, those tank size guidlines are just suggestions. Your environment (such as your poor AC situation) might require a larger or smaller chiller than typically suggested for your tank size.

And it's wise to be concerned with over cooling your guy (though from fish to reptiles to humans, overheating is a WAY larger problem than underheating, hands down). You may be wise to try a controller for your chiller. Inkbird makes an aquarium controller that *I believe* would work for you, and prevent your chiller from over chilling your tank.

InkBird Heater/Chiller Controller from Amazon

And in the short term, consider floating some frozen bottles of water in the tank, just to keep him cool during the hottest part of the day.

I hope that helps, good luck!

Oh that's a good point. I haven't had that issue before but with a bigger chiller I'd rather be safe. Thank you!

 

[knicklebutter]

Ah, that makes way more sense—an axolotl! I'd have to watch your thread now. I'd want to know what others use to chill their tanks. Higher HP would help, but I'm curious about the lower cut-off temp settings that chillers allow.

I'll definitely post an update when the new one comes in I'm hoping it won't be a problem