Chiller of Heater Controller for setting a tank to 72°?

Northwest_Scapes_

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 20, 2020
Messages
729
Reaction score
1,287
Location
Seattle
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
So im building a tank soon for fish that perfer cooler water, specifically around 72°-74°F, and was going to run a standard heater set to that temp range but someone brought up the idea of a chiller instead.
Would a chiller set at that temp or a heater with an Inkbird Controller set at that temp be better in the long run?
 

Natural_Reefer

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 8, 2022
Messages
314
Reaction score
244
Location
SF Bay Area, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It is all depending on your ambient temperatures!
Obviously, the heater will heat the tank if temperature goes below 72-74 and the Chiller will cool the tank if the temperature goes above 72-74.
 
OP
OP
Northwest_Scapes_

Northwest_Scapes_

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 20, 2020
Messages
729
Reaction score
1,287
Location
Seattle
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It is all depending on your ambient temperatures!
Obviously, the heater will heat the tank if temperature goes below 72-74 and the Chiller will cool the tank if the temperature goes above 72-74.
Oh thank you! I had no idea about that. My ambient temp stays around 69°F, so im guessing a heater would be better?
 

mdb_talon

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 6, 2010
Messages
4,938
Reaction score
7,753
Location
Illinois
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Oh thank you! I had no idea about that. My ambient temp stays around 69°F, so im guessing a heater would be better?


Generally the tank water stays a couple degrees colder than air temp(though not always the case). If air temp stays at 69 then I would be fairly confident that you would not need a chiller but there are other factors so only way to really know is try it out.
 
OP
OP
Northwest_Scapes_

Northwest_Scapes_

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 20, 2020
Messages
729
Reaction score
1,287
Location
Seattle
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Generally the tank water stays a couple degrees colder than air temp(though not always the case). If air temp stays at 69 then I would be fairly confident that you would not need a chiller but there are other factors so only way to really know is try it out.
Gotcha, I'll experiment a bit and see what works best
 

Natural_Reefer

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 8, 2022
Messages
314
Reaction score
244
Location
SF Bay Area, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Generally the tank water stays a couple degrees colder than air temp(though not always the case). If air temp stays at 69 then I would be fairly confident that you would not need a chiller but there are other factors so only way to really know is try it out.
In my experiences, tank water is always higher temperature than ambient due to heat generated by Pump, wavemaker/gyre and lot of heat from light (when it is ON).
I am am in Norcal and only run heaters during the late fall, winter and early spring. However I am running both Heaters and Chiller during the summer because it gets a bit chilly at night but much warmer (than 76F-78F) during the day.
 
Back
Top