Lets talk CHILLERS

**hedge_fund** · 03-03-2012, 11:21 PM

For the last two months my CRS tank has been steady at 72 degrees. I took a look today and it's at 75 which is not good since it's only early March. What are my options in the upcoming few weeks? It's a 20 gallon high with two hang on filters (Aquaclear 50 and Aquaclear 20). The only cool thing is that I can take out my gignatic 200 watt heater which is an eyesore across my entire back wall.

I have never had a chiller or anything of that nature. What can I buy or make to drop my temp to 72 degrees? I'm not really looking to drop bags of ice or any bandaid solution.

Thanks in advance.

**mordalphus** · 03-03-2012, 11:27 PM

fan blowing across the surface can lower water temp by 10 degrees. Causes evaporation though.

Definitely take the heater out, no reason to have one in a shrimp tank

Redneck Badger · 03-03-2012, 11:30 PM

from what Ive seen, chillers are pretty expensive. £250-400! but there are wee clip on fans, they clip onto the side of the tank an blow onto the surface of the tank.
Heres another type for small nursery an fry tanks.

http://www.novatecproducts.com/icepr...um_chiller.htm

somewhatshocked · 03-03-2012, 11:31 PM

+1 on the fan! Get a $5 one at your local big box store that clips on.

Or spend $25 for a fancy 2-PC fan rig that's speed controllable and silent.

azjenny · 03-04-2012, 12:11 AM

I like the aquatec fans. I know it's unnecessary to actually get one that is for aquarium use, but I like the way these are set to blow across the surface of the water and they don't look terrible.
I've seen from some of your posts that you're not necessarily anti spending some cash as long as its worth it

. I feel the same way, but as skeptical as I was, and as interested in a chiller, a fan really does work. The only thing is the evap. It's pretty brutal on a hot day. So before I go on vacation this summer I'm going to have to set up an auto top off system of some sort. I think it'll work out fine. And I'm in Phx, so things get really hot!

GeToChKn · 03-04-2012, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azjenny

I like the aquatec fans. I know it's unnecessary to actually get one that is for aquarium use, but I like the way these are set to blow across the surface of the water and they don't look terrible.
I've seen from some of your posts that you're not necessarily anti spending some cash as long as its worth it

. I feel the same way, but as skeptical as I was, and as interested in a chiller, a fan really does work. The only thing is the evap. It's pretty brutal on a hot day. So before I go on vacation this summer I'm going to have to set up an auto top off system of some sort. I think it'll work out fine. And I'm in Phx, so things get really hot!

Depends. If I have to spend $100+ on aquarium fans for 6 tanks or take an old pc power supply, some phone cords from the dollar store and a bunch of fans I pull out of dead xboxes and pc's, then it's make fans myself and have a $100 for shrimp, or $100 in fans. lol.

**hedge_fund** · 03-04-2012, 12:51 AM

Nice, thanks all. It looks like a fan is definitely the way to go instead of an actual chiller.

I don't really want a loud fan or some bulky thing that they sell at Target. Any suggestions or links to some nice sleek sexy aquarium fans?

Also, I'm open to the idea of making my own but would need some type of instructions....I enjoy DIY projects once in a while.

**FreedPenguin** · 03-04-2012, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mordalphus

fan blowing across the surface can lower water temp by 10 degrees. Causes evaporation though.

Definitely take the heater out, no reason to have one in a shrimp tank

Hey Liam, I was wondering, whats the lowest temperature your tanks go to without heaters? I live in San Diego in a house with pretty much no heating or AC, and it is a bit hot during summer (but bearable) and a little cold in the winter (but bearable).

The thing is my tank I've noticed go as high as 80* in the summer and down the mid 60s in the cold. So I use a heater and plan on using PC fan setups across all my tanks in the summer.

I was wondering this same thing and thanks OP, gleaned some useful information!

Redneck Badger · 03-04-2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hedge_fund

Nice, thanks all. It looks like a fan is definitely the way to go instead of an actual chiller.

I don't really want a loud fan or some bulky thing that they sell at Target. Any suggestions or links to some nice sleek sexy aquarium fans?

Also, I'm open to the idea of making my own but would need some type of instructions....I enjoy DIY projects once in a while.

ebay has them, nice wee dual mini fans made for aquariums and silent too but it wont allow me to put a link up, it keeps removin it. you can look for them there.

**mordalphus** · 03-04-2012, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreedPenguin

Hey Liam, I was wondering, whats the lowest temperature your tanks go to without heaters? I live in San Diego in a house with pretty much no heating or AC, and it is a bit hot during summer (but bearable) and a little cold in the winter (but bearable).

The thing is my tank I've noticed go as high as 80* in the summer and down the mid 60s in the cold. So I use a heater and plan on using PC fan setups across all my tanks in the summer.

I was wondering this same thing and thanks OP, gleaned some useful information!

My tanks don't drop down so far, I have my shrimp room climate controlled. But the lower end for shrimp is mid 50's, lower than that and they kinda freeze up and don't do anything. Most peoples homes don't get into the mid 50's, so that's why I never recommend using a heater in a shrimp tank. It's just another accessory in your tank that could fail.

metallicanick78 · 03-04-2012, 11:23 PM

Before I sold my 220 I was contemplating a trout tank. I was going to use a mini fridge and like 100' of tubing. Hook the tubing up to a power head or something small, run the tubing into the mini-fridge, stuff most of the tubing inside it and run it back to the tank.

With a good volume of water I think it could keep up with the summer heat in CT even with the windows open. Plus Id have a fridge for anything perishable for my tank. Also a fraction of the cost of an actual aquarium water chiller.

For your situation a fan is deffinetly where its at... just talkin' chillers

**hedge_fund** · 03-04-2012, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redneck Badger

ebay has them, nice wee dual mini fans made for aquariums and silent too but it wont allow me to put a link up, it keeps removin it. you can look for them there.

Thanks.

What is the exact title that you searched? I did "aquarium fan" and there were hundreds of items.

**mordalphus** · 03-04-2012, 11:27 PM

Mini fridge doesn't work, you end up killing the fridge very quickly, and it doesn't drop your temp. Fridges are meant to work for a few minutes, then turn off and rely on the insulation to keep the temperature from going up. When you run warm water into the fridge it will never get to temperature, so will be constantly running, which they're not made to do, and it will burn out the fridge very quickly (especially on a warm day).

**mordalphus** · 03-04-2012, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hedge_fund

Thanks.

What is the exact title that you searched? I did "aquarium fan" and there were hundreds of items.

ChillMaster Saltwater Aquarium Cooling Fan (2 fan)

metallicanick78 · 03-04-2012, 11:29 PM

Good to know mordalphus! Never actually did it, it was just my mental plan, then the tank sold and I started my rack...

03-03-2012, 11:21 PM	#1
hedge_fund Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (57/100%) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greenwich, CT Posts: 2,579	Lets talk CHILLERS For the last two months my CRS tank has been steady at 72 degrees. I took a look today and it's at 75 which is not good since it's only early March. What are my options in the upcoming few weeks? It's a 20 gallon high with two hang on filters (Aquaclear 50 and Aquaclear 20). The only cool thing is that I can take out my gignatic 200 watt heater which is an eyesore across my entire back wall. I have never had a chiller or anything of that nature. What can I buy or make to drop my temp to 72 degrees? I'm not really looking to drop bags of ice or any bandaid solution. Thanks in advance.

03-03-2012, 11:30 PM	#3
Redneck Badger Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: between Scotland, NY & MA. Posts: 66	from what Ive seen, chillers are pretty expensive. £250-400! but there are wee clip on fans, they clip onto the side of the tank an blow onto the surface of the tank. Heres another type for small nursery an fry tanks. http://www.novatecproducts.com/icepr...um_chiller.htm __________________ Mutineers Motorcycle Club. Never above ye. Never Below ye. Always beside ye. FT10. MFFM

03-03-2012, 11:31 PM	#4
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (262/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,572	+1 on the fan! Get a $5 one at your local big box store that clips on. Or spend $25 for a fancy 2-PC fan rig that's speed controllable and silent. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

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03-03-2012, 11:27 PM	#2
mordalphus These pants? are fancy. (View User Tanks) PTrader: (261/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 7,565	fan blowing across the surface can lower water temp by 10 degrees. Causes evaporation though. Definitely take the heater out, no reason to have one in a shrimp tank

03-04-2012, 12:11 AM	#5
azjenny Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Paradise Valley, AZ Posts: 647	I like the aquatec fans. I know it's unnecessary to actually get one that is for aquarium use, but I like the way these are set to blow across the surface of the water and they don't look terrible. I've seen from some of your posts that you're not necessarily anti spending some cash as long as its worth it . I feel the same way, but as skeptical as I was, and as interested in a chiller, a fan really does work. The only thing is the evap. It's pretty brutal on a hot day. So before I go on vacation this summer I'm going to have to set up an auto top off system of some sort. I think it'll work out fine. And I'm in Phx, so things get really hot!

03-04-2012, 12:51 AM	#7
hedge_fund Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (57/100%) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greenwich, CT Posts: 2,579	Nice, thanks all. It looks like a fan is definitely the way to go instead of an actual chiller. I don't really want a loud fan or some bulky thing that they sell at Target. Any suggestions or links to some nice sleek sexy aquarium fans? Also, I'm open to the idea of making my own but would need some type of instructions....I enjoy DIY projects once in a while.

03-04-2012, 11:23 PM	#11
metallicanick78 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Amston, CT Posts: 424	Before I sold my 220 I was contemplating a trout tank. I was going to use a mini fridge and like 100' of tubing. Hook the tubing up to a power head or something small, run the tubing into the mini-fridge, stuff most of the tubing inside it and run it back to the tank. With a good volume of water I think it could keep up with the summer heat in CT even with the windows open. Plus Id have a fridge for anything perishable for my tank. Also a fraction of the cost of an actual aquarium water chiller. For your situation a fan is deffinetly where its at... just talkin' chillers

03-04-2012, 11:27 PM	#13
mordalphus These pants? are fancy. (View User Tanks) PTrader: (261/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 7,565	Mini fridge doesn't work, you end up killing the fridge very quickly, and it doesn't drop your temp. Fridges are meant to work for a few minutes, then turn off and rely on the insulation to keep the temperature from going up. When you run warm water into the fridge it will never get to temperature, so will be constantly running, which they're not made to do, and it will burn out the fridge very quickly (especially on a warm day).

03-04-2012, 11:29 PM	#15
metallicanick78 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Amston, CT Posts: 424	Good to know mordalphus! Never actually did it, it was just my mental plan, then the tank sold and I started my rack...