Aquatic Chillers

[paul_r_miller]

I am looking at buying one of the Ocean Geotronic chillers. Has anyone got any experience of their use? any tips? They seem to be modular, does this mean that one can buy the 150L solution and then add another 150L to 'create' a 300L chiller? (hardly an inexpensive way to buy a 300L chiller, but would encourage a larger tank in the future without having to start again)? Is the specified maximum capacity a function of the throughput of tank water?
You can see I am not sure how this all works ... and they are expensive ... so any help would really be appreciated.
Paul

 

[SkiFletch]

I am looking at buying one of the Ocean Geotronic chillers. Has anyone got any experience of their use? any tips? They seem to be modular, does this mean that one can buy the 150L solution and then add another 150L to 'create' a 300L chiller? (hardly an inexpensive way to buy a 300L chiller, but would encourage a larger tank in the future without having to start again)? Is the specified maximum capacity a function of the throughput of tank water?
You can see I am not sure how this all works ... and they are expensive ... so any help would really be appreciated.
Paul

Well Paul, before you go considering a chiller, consider trying fans for evaporation first. I'm not sure what fish your keeping and at what temperature you're keeping them at, but in many many cases, fans (especially if pointed at the surfaec) will keep temperatures cool enough. Your rate of evaporation will go up, but water is way easier and cheaper to replace than buying/running a chiller. Also, if you're using a glass lid, ditch it. Glass lids inhibit evaporation and keep a LOT of heat energy in the tank. And if fans alone doesn't help, consider putting a window-mount air conditioner in the room with the tank. A/C units are cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, and will keep both you and your fish comfortable.

If you're dead-set on a chiller, some care needs to be taken in ordering one. You don't want to order one that's too small and doesnt do the job, but at the same time you dont want to waste lots of money on one that's way too big. How big is your tank? How hot does it get? What temperature would you like it to be? And what is the ambient (room) temperature when it gets too hot?

 

[raptorrex]

or you could just freeze 2L soda bottles 3/4 full of water, and pop it in, changing it when it is melted. and get a car, 12V, fan, to cool the water surface. leaving you a pocket full of unspent cash!