How to maintain my chiller?

[Miami Reef]

Hello. I had someone install this chiller about 3 years ago and nobody has touched it ever since (except for me recently).

I noticed that my chiller is working less and less. I don’t know if it has to do with the raising Miami temperature lately. Anyway, it’s set to 76F and my tank is currently 79.6. I’d feel much more comfortable if it was at 78.

Am I supposed to check on the chiller every once in a while? My fear is that the chiller will randomly stop working and my tank will crash because of it. I closed my return pumps for about 45 min today and my tank temp rose to 80F which means that the chiller is very important for my tank’s temperatures.

Especially because I’m adding T5’s to my LED’s. How can I care for this chiller? It’s kept outside.

I lowered the temp to 76 degrees for the chiller.

 

[Miami Reef]

The chiller was 77 and the tank was 79.4

 

[Pistondog]

That's a big chiller, 1hp.
Make sure it's calibrated, see attached

 

[Rjramos]

At 1 HP I am sure it is a big tank! The chiller should be rated to the tank volume which I would think the installer took this into account, hopefully. Miami is very hot this time of year, I am also a Miami residence. Currently running a 1/3hp on a 120 gal system set at 78 with the A/C in the house kept from 74-78. It cycles off a lot which is very important. If the temperature you set is never reached, that’s not good. Unit should not be running full time.

 

[Miami Reef]

I keep the chiller outside…should I bring it in the house?

Tank is 250 gallons.

Before I decided to change anything. I just want to mention that I just calibrated it as @Pistondog was kind enough to search the manual for me.

I see the Chiller just turned on. I’m really hoping it will work. I will update if it’s still not good.

 

[Pistondog]

Leave the chiller outside, as it generates heat, that it's removed from the tank.
I put mine in the basement, always cool.
I just got a new chiller and had to calibrate too.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

blow it out with an air compressor . get all the dirt and dust out.

 

[Miami Reef]

I tried calibrating it multiple times. Used the air compressor. It’s night right now and I’m not having much confidence it will work. Tank is 79.7F.

 

[Miami Reef]

Edit. Now it’s 79.2F…Progress.

 

[sunken3]

maybe it needs new Freon? .. though I would also make sure you have it attached to a second controller (aside from its internal one).. I had a thermostat fail and came home to a 45 degree tank.. (nothing survived). I had another one stop working (getting hot) and it turned out the internal fan had failed...

 

[TheDragonsReef]

I have the same chiller for my 265 gallon. You need to blow out the fins yearly and its a good idea to pop the cover off when you do for a deep clean. And once off you should check for any freon leaks as well