Chiller Suggestions for JBJ 28 HQI

[boakley]

I am looking to buy a JBJ 28 HQI and have trolled through all the posts here and have seen a big need to run a chiller (I live in Florida and need a chiller for myself, fish should be no different). Does anyone have suggestions on an economical (ie cheaper, but decent quality) chiller that won't look like a huge box sitting next to my tank? Are chillers loud? Always in a LFS and normally fairly loud in the store itself so hard to tell. Any help is appreciated!

[sinful]

I would look into using fans first. There are a couple fan fixtures than range from $25-35 that mount and should do the trick. The Tunze aquawind runs about $75. Depending on what you keep your house temps on, I think fans would be the best bet, considering you dont mind the evaporation.

[boakley]

I guess an ATO would be required then? Where would the extra fans go, just clipped to the back of the tank?

[AJO]

I agree with sinful, try using fans first. I used to run a jbj 1/10 chiller in my 12 nano cabe but it heated up my bedroom to much and would some time wake me up when it turned on. I am now using fans. My tank is topless with a 150 watt k2 vipper.

[sinful]

yea, they just clip on

[PasadenaReefer]

Okay well this was my problem with the 28g jbj. I first had horrible heat conditions since my house wasn't AC'ed, and i live in california. Winter is fine, 80-82 but summer into 90's some days. I used a fan and it dropped it 4 degrees roughly but i dont think the fan is enough. Now i have never been to florida all though i know its very hot there from what i hear so i would SAY yes you need a chiller and its well worth the investment. With fans you will need an ATO( i suggest getting one with or without the fans) and with the chiller you wont need it as much as with fans. If you stay on top you can Top off yourself every day or two and you will be fine. I would also suggest a skimmer upgrade. tunze doc 9002 works well for me, the Tunze osmilator, and a current 1/15th chiller. You might be able to find a good price for the chiller and skimmer used from someone around your area but i suggest buying the ATO new. Hope you luck
-Austin

[Illuminati]

I live up around Chicago which of course has very cooler temps than Florida.

Over this last summer (My first summer with the new tank) I left the windows open a few days and the ambient room temp hit the high 80's.

I have an Azoo 2 fan kit (For sale at Dr. Foster and Smith) on the back chambers blowing down for cooling and a Reefkeeper 2 controls it (Turns on at 81, off at 80). If the temp ever hits 83 it turns the halides off as a last ditch effort to control the temps.

Now the couple days my ambient room temp got in the 80's I came home and found the temp of the tank just over 83, the halides off and the fan blowing at full blast trying to keepup.

With winter almost hear maybe you can get away with a fan but next spring I would suggest getting a chiller.

[sinful]

I guess it all depends on how much you want to spend. A chiller would be 100% on keeping your tank at desired temp, but it also comes with many cons. If you get a 1/15 or 1/20 that thing is going to be running alot most likely and the room it's in will be hotter than heck. Energy costs, a chiller is just like an AC unit, the more it runs the higher your electric bill. Noise, if you cheap out on a chiller it's not going to be quiet. Space, dont think you going to be putting that inside a cabinet or stand...it needs some space to breath and remove all the hot air it's letting out. My Cube is in the dinning room, no possible way to convience the significant other in having a chiller sitting outside next to the tank. The point of these cubes IMO is for it to be nice and tidy and basically contain itself without showing tons of equipment.

Remember, Temp in reefs is about consistancy, if your tank stays at 82 and doesn't change you have no problems, if it changes from 82-78 back to 82 then to 78...etc you need to just maintain it at the higher temp IMO.

I live probably 50 miles from Tampa and I keep my condo no lower than 78*. Fans work fine for me at keeping the tank around 80. If you buy the fans and decide it just doesn't work, you have a fan fixture lying around that cost you 30 bucks. If you buy a chiller and decide you really didn't need it...you have a 300 chiller sitting around your trying to sell.