Will I need a chiller?

[aqua_carmen]

I am about to start running 3 - 15k 175w MH on my 155 gallon reef. Will I need a chiller?

[saltycreefer]

Depends on a lot of things. Heat transfer from pumps,room temp, ventilation in the canopy. You probably wont know until you start running the lights...

[Ti]

Wait till summer hits

[aqua_carmen]

ah ok thanks, death kenedy is a good band by the way:)

[AZDesertRat]

I ran my 100 G the first year without one and temperatures never rose above 82 degrees but.......evaporation was a killer due to all the fans blowing across the water surface both inside the canopy and over the sump. The humidity in my house was horrible, I couldn't sleep at night it was so clammy. I was adding 6 gallons every other day for topoff.
I installed a 1/4HP chiller. I was able to put the fan over the sump on a Ranco controller as a back up only so if something fails and the temperature rises 2 degrees above normal it comes on. The fans in the canopy that were running 24/7 at full speed are now on the same timer as the Actinic VHOs, 10 hrs per day and only run at 3/4 speed. My topoff is now 5 to 6 gallons every 4 days so it cut it to less than 1/2 of waht it was and the humidity is normal.

I guess what I am saying is yes, it can be done but at a cost and it leaves you no safety net in case of failure short of turning all the lights off.

[aqua_carmen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8794450#post8794450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aqua_carmen
ah ok thanks, death kenedy is a good band by the way:)


oops i mean dead kennedy lol

[law086]

I have a 180 gallon reef w/ a basement sump and I do not use a chiller (and use 3 175w MH). I don't blow a fan over my sump either. In the summer, I keep my AC at a reasonable level and I think that helps. My basement also stays fairly cool. I also keep my sump directly on the concrete floor which may help with some heat transfer.

Ron