chiller needed?

[fishforlife]

I plan on having a 120+ gallon tank with my SUMP and Refugium in my garage. I plan on housing tropical fish species like clowns, angles, tangs, ect....and some (eventually) corals and aneomies (sp) . Do i need a chiller or would a fan bosing over my SUMP in hot months suffice? A heater I know I need, but a chiller????

[LoneStar]

Is the tank going to be kept fully inside the house with the sump and refugium in the garage?

I think either way, I would look into a chiller....in the long run. Sounds like you are going to walk vs run into the hobby, which is good. If you just start off with fish, you can see what your temp will be at, if you get your tank installed before summers end. You can afford a bit more temp swings with just the fish in the tank. Corals on the other hand do not like big temp swings. I would plan one into your system if you decide to add one in the future. Leave room for one or setup the plumbing so one could be added later.

[DrMark]

I would say yes. Some people get by (barely) without a chiller by using non metal Halide lighting and/or a bunch of fans. With a significant volume of water flowing through a hot garage in summer, I think the chiller will be mandatory. 1/4 to 1/3 HP should be adequate.
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[CoryDude]

Like posted earlier, since you're going fish only (for a while!) you can see what your temp is at and see if you can manage it for a while w/o a chiller. But, you'll eventually need a chiller or at least a window unit for the garage to manage things. Especially on these 100 degree days!

[fishforlife]

I assume that teh chiller will cycle off and on as needed much like a heater would. Correct?

[LoneStar]

I assume that teh chiller will cycle off and on as needed much like a heater would. Correct?

Yes but you have to be carefull for the fact you do not want to short cycle to chiller too much. Depending on what type of lighting you will use for the main display, along with what type and how many pumps you will use, will factors on what size chiller you will need. Also, your overall water volume will as well. One thing I would do is frame in the section of your garage that will house your sump and fuge with insulation and dry wall. From there, you can make a nice 'man cave' aka fish room :) But you could also install a ac window unit....which will help a lot. Garages are poorly insulated....and with being in South Texas it can be a killer on systems......


....just look up Texreefer's tank thread.

http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=40266

[CoryDude]

LoneStar hit it perfectly on the head. My main tank was in the living room and the sump was in the garage. I had my chiller located in the garage and it would short cycle (turn on/off constantly) due to the poor ventilation and heat buildup. Eventually caused the chiller to crash after a few months. I wish I would have tried his idea and framed in the sump to insulate it from the heat. Good info LoneStar!

[fishforlife]

I read in another forum that a lady in Flordia or some southern state (could I be more ambiguous?) was having problems with her chiller cycling off an on...Her solution was to get rid of the chiller and freeze several 3 liter bottles of water. When she would notice the temp rizing she would place one or two bottles in to reduce the temp. That and a small fan blowing on her sump, she said, did the trick.

Thoughts?

[Kristy]

Heard of that before. Might work, BUT...you going to sit next to your tank thermometer 24/7 to regulate the temp?

[DrMark]

I read in another forum that a lady in Flordia or some southern state (could I be more ambiguous?) was having problems with her chiller cycling off an on...Her solution was to get rid of the chiller and freeze several 3 liter bottles of water. When she would notice the temp rizing she would place one or two bottles in to reduce the temp. That and a small fan blowing on her sump, she said, did the trick.

Thoughts?

In an emergency, temporizing situation on a smaller tank is a good idea. Not a long term solution.
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