What kind of chiller are you using?

[Aquaculture]

Thank you for assisting in the poll. It would really help me decide which brand I may be buying.

I am considering on using a chiller to cool my tank. May you please share your experience and help clear some concerns I have;

1) What would the increase in electricity charges be per month?
2) During start up or when the condenser kick in. Is the noise really
noticeable?
3) Would the condenser generate a lot of heat?

[ah fat]

i believe power used by the chiller is usually 100w and above. on it 24/7 and your bill will sky rocket. and its dependent on the horsepower also.

[nexus17]

1) Really depends on your chiller size and tank size you are supporting; and also the temp you want to maintain at. If the temp you want to maintain is low like 24-25 deg, your chiller will be on for long period of time, especially so when the chiller you used is too small for your tank, etc....therefore hard to say. My bills went up by about $10+ when I used a 1/3 HP chiller with 4x2x2 with T5 lights. When I changed to MH, the chiller kicked in more often now and my first month bill when up by abt $40. Now I am still adjusting the temp and my MH height from water to optimize my electrical bills and fish tank needs.
2) Noise when kicked in vary from brand to brand, I am using Artica and it's noticeable. Was told this is very quiet compared to others. I have yet to experience what other brands are like.
3) Yes, the heat is tremendous. Try to get it well ventilated or your chiller may fail earlier.

Hope this helps,

[Aquaculture]

Thanks Nexus.... Yr inputs has been valuable. Hope others would share their experiences too, so the censors would be more accurate.

[lEddyl]

1) What would the increase in electricity charges be per month?

no idea. don't think it's alot. since i didn't notice huge increase.

2) During start up or when the condenser kick in. Is the noise really
noticeable?

my first is resun cl650. fan is much more noisy plus chiller in my room. change to artica now quite ok.

3) Would the condenser generate a lot of heat?

yes. Was told by the service man it better be...the warm the better.
> warm air = < kicks in time

[jowy_ham]

Use Resun CL650 before switching to Arctica 1/10.

1) What would the increase in electricity charges be per month?
Not sure yet, cos still in my 1st month with Arctica but theorically it should consume less power/electricity (1 of the main reason for the switch to Arctica )

2) During start up or when the condenser kick in. Is the noise really noticeable?
Resun CL650 has a problem of going off sometimes with a loud bang
Arctica is bearly noticeable (happy owner )

3) Would the condenser generate a lot of heat?
Resun CL650 = YES
Arctica 1/10 = Felt that it generate less heat than Resun CL650


Specs :
Tank : 3 x 2 x 2
Lights : 6 x T5 HO 39W on for 6 Hrs on weekdays and 9 Hrs on weekends.
Temperature : ~26 degrees (below 26 when lights are off, below 27 when lights are on)
Filter : Rena XP3
3L CO2 cylinder with external CO2 reactor
Plants : Spiky, Taiwan & Flame moss + Fissiden
Fauna : Cherry shrimps, Otos, Yamatos, Cardinal

[Aquaculture]

Thanks for the feedback so far

Seems like Arctica is leading the pack.... will check out the price later at Aquarama

[StanChung]

Hi guys, 1hp=745.70W.

The Resun CL650 also means the rating is 650W if I'm not mistaken.

[jiahe88]

hi i using heilea HC300A 1/4hp, i can say the temp came out that i can feel is actually make no different when i don't own a chiller some more the kick start sound like my friends Arctica chiller so silent. .my tank and chiller is just beside my master bed rooms. who ever been to my house should know the distance right. .cheers

[Xavir]

I am using a local brand " Pacific Cool", 1/2 hp. Is a older model and kind of noisy but does it job well. Also, do not find much increase in my electricity bill.

[samuelgoh]

hi, to bros using artica, did you installed any extra pipings ? heard that installing chiller is like installing aircon like that..
is it ok to just leave the unit next to the tank ? without additional pipings , etc ?

[peter2883]

I will be getting a Hailea one as there are good reviews on this Chiller & the price is not high... Quite quiet as well from what I heard...

[valice]

hi, to bros using artica, did you installed any extra pipings ? heard that installing chiller is like installing aircon like that..
is it ok to just leave the unit next to the tank ? without additional pipings , etc ?

What additional piping are you referring to?
For Artica chiller, it is just an inlet from your filter (or external pump) and outlet to the tank. No additional piping what so ever.

To prevent heat loss (or heat increase to be exact) from the piping, some chiller users add a layer of insulation foam around the pipes.

It is definitely okay to leave it next to the tank, for ventilation purposes.

[Jaffar]

I read a number of messages in the forum about problems with Resun and even Hailea chillers. After a short period of time, an external thermostat have to be installed so that the chillers are able to kick in at the correct temperature.

Is this problem only limited to resun and Hailea chillers? I would like to get a new chiller from one of these 2 brands (because cheaper) but have been turned off by this problem. Can't even go for Artica as it is too expensive.

Still contemplating on whether to go ahead with purchase of chiller.

[stephen chung]

I read a number of messages in the forum about problems with Resun and even Hailea chillers. After a short period of time, an external thermostat have to be installed so that the chillers are able to kick in at the correct temperature.

Is this problem only limited to resun and Hailea chillers? I would like to get a new chiller from one of these 2 brands (because cheaper) but have been turned off by this problem. Can't even go for Artica as it is too expensive.

Still contemplating on whether to go ahead with purchase of chiller.

Actually, this problem is not limited to these 2 chillers. There are a few which have this problem also. Is not the thermostat problem is more of the flow rate problem. I used to use eheim 2215 for my tank and I have to use a external thermostat to control the chiller because the different between the tank temperature and the chiller temperature is too big but when I change to 2028 the difference narrows...

[cairocks]

I am a crazy guy to be using a chiller that is not selling in Singapore. I am using a Mr Aqua 1/10Hp Chiller brought in from Hong Kong. Pretty quiet machine and it does cool my 2ft 20 gallon tank quite well. Only problem is that the thermostat isn't working properly and I had DIY a extermostat to control it's kicking in. Have been using it for almost 1.5 years already and now wondering if there are any chiller technician available to service it though I do clean the filter mesh myself every couple of month.

[valice]

Think you can try bringing to Bioplast and see if they are able to service.

[samuelgoh]

hw much does it cost to install an external thermostat? anyone ?

[cairocks]

hw much does it cost to install an external thermostat? anyone ?

As I DIYed one myself, the cost of buying the spare parts alone cost me over a hundred dollars. But its been sometime already and I don't really remember the exact cost. There is no modification to the chiller itself, just a thermostat controlled socket that will turn on and off the power supply to whatever that is plug into it at preset temperatures.

[doubleace]

Would like to hear from some bros that are using chiller for planted tank.

Brand:
Lifespan (how many years):
Maintenance (noproblem/headache):
Tank size:
Model:

Thanks