Poll: Do you use a chiller?

Yati · May 9, 2018

I'm from NY so it was needed, when we moved to CO I didn't need it but still had it installed just in case and now here in CO I definitely need it!

Mark Gray · May 9, 2018

I need to break down and buy one, my tank got to 87 for about n2 months but everything lived

Yati · May 9, 2018

woowee! good thing everything made it..

Mark Gray said:
I need to break down and buy one, my tank got to 87 for about n2 months but everything lived

cracker · May 9, 2018

I don't use a chiller. Gives my as excuse to run the ac. here in Florida it get's hot pretty early. This week we hit the high8o's to 91. My tanks then get too warm. 78 degrees works well for the tanks & myself. Both comfy.
In the dead of summer when temps are in the high 90's to 100 or so,walking into a 78 degree home is nice.

Tennsquire · May 9, 2018

It doesn't come on much (if at all) during the winter, but my chiller is plumbed and "on" all year.

SashimiTurtle · May 9, 2018

ca1ore said:
I guess you’re serious, but I did find this funny. I try to run my AC as little as possible because I actually prefer fresh air - quaint, I know (plus I’m trying to raise my sons to not be ‘soft’ lol). OK, I live in CT which is s whole lot cooler than the South. When I am forced to run the AC it’s to 77. Means my tank hits 82-83. Not terrible, but I noticed a gradual decline in the corals over the Summer, so now I do use a chiller. It only runs July and August for the most part.

Yea, I'm serious as a tank crash. I've been running my AC for the better part of a month now. Today's high is 91°F and the humidity was 98% this morning. I guess I'm just used to litterally EVERYONE running their AC wide open from April until mid November.

revhtree · May 9, 2018

FWIW I have never used a chiller. A local buddy of mine always used one on his reef but me never.

OnPointCorals · May 9, 2018

I have never run a chiller, but this year I picked one up. My Corals just don’t love the summer months swings of 78-83. I’m excited to see my temps steady on those super hot days.

Kershaw · May 9, 2018

I don’t let my house get over 78-80. So the tank stays where I want it. It gets in the 100s for several weeks in the summer. But I just keep my house at 78 and I have no issue. Coming from a have background. It is cheaper for my to keep my house at 78. If I just turn ac off, it has to work allot harder and longer to pull the heat down. Then I would also have the chiller to suck up electricy anyway plus the heat it puts off if it is inside

OnPointCorals · May 9, 2018

Kershaw said:
I don’t let my house get over 78-80. So the tank stays where I want it. It gets in the 100s for several weeks in the summer. But I just keep my house at 78 and I have no issue. Coming from a have background. It is cheaper for my to keep my house at 78. If I just turn ac off, it has to work allot harder and longer to pull the heat down. Then I would also have the chiller to suck up electricy anyway plus the heat it puts off if it is inside

Yeah but if your ambient temperature is 78-80 that is with no heat from equipment (lights, pumps, UV, etc). Once you add this heat you’re creeping up around 83.

This is what happens in my tank.

Kershaw · May 9, 2018

addictreef said:
Yeah but if your ambient temperature is 78-80 that is with no heat from equipment (lights, pumps, UV, etc). Once you add this heat you’re creeping up around 83.

This is what happens in my tank.

I have not had this happen in my tank.
Keep your house at 76

OnPointCorals · May 9, 2018

Kershaw said:
I have not had this happen in my tank.
Keep your house at 76

For me I do keep my house via central air at 76, But my temp goes up to 82-83. I'm sure its my equipment. I have 12 t5 bulbs total (one 6 bulb fixture per tank) + 4 reefbrite strips, UV sterilizer, 1 large return pump, 1 pump running reactors and UV, about 7 powerheads throughout my system. These things are going to create heat.

I am looking forward to running a chiller this year.

Kershaw · May 9, 2018

addictreef said:
For me I do keep my house via central air at 76, But my temp goes up to 82-83. I'm sure its my equipment. I have 12 t5 bulbs total (one 6 bulb fixture per tank) + 4 reefbrite strips, UV sterilizer, 1 large return pump, 1 pump running reactors and UV, about 7 powerheads throughout my system. These things are going to create heat.

I am looking forward to running a chiller this year.

Oh ok I dont run uv and I have 2 kessil a360w 2 mp40. Skimmer and return pump. I don’t notice heat from equipment

vlangel · May 9, 2018

I have seahorses so a chiller can be necessary. I have been using a fan with a controller but it seems to have died so I may be setting my chiller up for the summer. With my sump in the basement I do not need a chiller in the winter.

alton · May 9, 2018

My house is set to 75 with tank at 77. My return pump is external so no heat added. Skimmer pump is internal but if the temp gets too high it shuts off lighting and skimmer pump to reduce heat which happens when my AC fails. Even when I ran MH I never needed a chiller. Drilling my wall to have a chiller mounted outside is not in the cards.

dbl · May 9, 2018

Admittedly, this poll was a little selfish. I recently went from 100% LED's to a hybrid fixture running 6 T5's and two RB fixtures. I just assumed by temperatures would go up and have to hook the chiller back up. Much to my surprise, the temps haven't gone up even one degree. But it is getting really hot again here so time will tell.

Bmezz · May 9, 2018

im in Southern California and i have a chiller on my 180 mixed reef. i want to maintain a constant temp range to keep that parameter under control..thats now an easy one! The controller does its thing and tells me if theres an issue!

Bubblebass · May 9, 2018

My chiller is on as I type (5:30pm). SoCal in a valley and with the lights/equipment it easily hits 83 most summer days. It's a great back up thermometer with a big readout as well. As soon as I open my sump cabinet, I know if there's an issue with the temp of the tank. I have read many a tank crash story that starts with "my heater broke in the open position...".

Bmezz · May 9, 2018

Bubblebass said:
My chiller is on as I type (5:30pm). SoCal in a valley and with the lights/equipment it easily hits 83 most summer days. It's a great back up thermometer with a big readout as well. As soon as I open my sump cabinet, I know if there's an issue with the temp of the tank. I have read many a tank crash story that starts with "my heater broke in the open position...".

yep i agree. i have it on a controller so the temp is not displayed but i hear you its on when those hot days come. i dont think the heater ever goes on...