Need help with chiller setup.

[Cooper32803]

So I have a chiller I bought through craigslist. The output and input valves are about 2.5 inches in diameter. I need to know what kind of hose to run and what kind of pump I should get for inside the tank to get water to the chiller. I have tried to research it and havent had much luck so any help would be appreciated. Also how would I get the return hose to stay inside of the tank? Is there a special piece I put on the end of the hose that makes it stay in the tank? Thanks for all the help in advance!

 

[Pappy]

Pics and what chiller would help...the flow rates change depending on chiller


Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cooper32803]

It's an embarrassing chiller lol they beat the outside of it up hence why I got it so cheap... But the guy said it was a current 1/6 hp chiller and was working a month ago on a 90 gallon tank and kept it at the right temp so I bought it..

 

[Pappy]

I googled 1/6 hp chiller and just looked at coralife...it says 325-550 gph pump and 5/8 hose barb connection which is pretty standard. Hope this helps


Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cooper32803]

Here is a pic of it i just took... dont laugh too much haha

 

[Pappy]

It looks like those fittings are PVC? Are the fittings threaded? If so look for hose barb fittings that will fit (bulk reef supply) and the hose you can get by the foot at home depot. As far as gph, make sure it is whatever hp and google and it will tell you. My 1/3 is 700gph I believe.


Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cooper32803]

No the fittings aren't threaded... They do seem big though since they are 2.5 inches in circumference.. and alot of the pumps are smaller right? Or is that diameter when they give you the size of the output?

 

[Pappy]

What is the diameter? Should be 1" or 5/8"...you could always hard plumb it but make sure you put a couple quick connects in key spots 1 where chiller is and one maybe before it goes into cabinet.


Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cooper32803]

The diameter is about 3/4 an inch... I am not using a cabinet just a metal tank stand as this tank is in my garage and it doesnt need to look pretty... It's just a frag/grow out tank... And flexible tubing seems like it would be the simplest thing to use rather than PVC... So I'd like to keep it simple seeing as I am not very handy with connections and what not...

 

[Cooper32803]

Bump :)

 

[Cooper32803]

Ok so I bit the bullet and tried doing this myself with the help of one of my lfs... I bought a maxi-jet 1200 from marineland that had a rate of about 300 gph... Sound right? I have a cycle of a vinegar solution going through it now and making sure that it cools the water temp (since it is used and apparently current USA doesn't make chillers anymore I used the specs of a comparable coralife chiller for flow rate. There doesn't seem to be any air bubbles in the tubing so that's good right?

 

[Pappy]

Should be ok just make sure that hose is as short as possible because those pumps are not powerful at all.


Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cooper32803]

It's working and all hooked up with tubing from the water pump to the chiller being as short as it can be... Is there a better name brand I should be using?

 

[Scott S]

I have one similar to yours thats over 12 yrs old if I recall.. I have had it for I know 6 yrs and as I recall the person that had it before me also had it for over 6yrs... Never had a service on it.. alittle rusty on the case and its eaither 3/4 or 1/2hp (I know its a big one)... A better name brand? HAHAHAHA expect to have it for a LONG time.. mines not showing any signs of slowing down.. You do want to use a controller for i though.. as far as flow.. a maxijet wont pump enough water through it long term or short term to get your moneys worth.. I use a mag9 on mine IMO a maxi jet is going to let the water sit in there to long before moving it out to the tank.. Cools the tank too fast and causes temp swings.. A larger pump moving water alittle faster will cool the tank down slower.. (better for the inhabitants) and maintain that temp at a steadier pace throughout the day.. JMO..

 

[Pappy]

Definitely a danner mag drive or rio brands are the best bang for your buck IMO:)


Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cooper32803]

Ok I will look into rio and mag drives. Thanks for all the info!! The chiller does seem to chill the tank quickly so I thought that was a good thing! And it came with a temp control that is hooked into the chiller... I have it set to 78 and it has been keeping the tank between 78-79 for the past 5 or so hours... Big test is tomorrow when I get home after work and the heat of the day...

 

[Scott S]

Also not sure how you have yours plumbed but I run my return from the sump through mine then back into the tank..

 

[Cooper32803]

Well I don't have a sump on this tank yet.. Just the tank so I have a pump that sends water from the tank to the chiller and then a line from the chiller to the tank again... I am planning on doing a sump later when I get another tank and run the chiller and skimmer off the sump for both tanks