One chiller to chill two tanks

[Jaffar]

Is there anyway to chill two planted tanks with one chiller? Do not want to fork out more money for a second chiller. Please advice. Thanks

[discusAmatuer]

You will overwork the chiller which will result in high maintenance of your chiller and high electricity bill as your chiller will need to kick in very often if its not powerful enough.

Caulculate the litres of water in both tanks and if you really intend to use only one chiller, get a powerful one that can chill the total litres of water in both tanks required. But you will still have problem with the hosing connections as chiller goes into a canister unless your canister supports both tanks as well.

[Jaffar]

Tks for the advice. I have a Resun CL450 for my 3 feet tank. I think the CL450 can support up to 4 ft tank. Since there is sufficient cooling capacity, I would also like it to use it to cool my 2 feet tank for CRS. Not sure if it is possible?

[discusAmatuer]

Can be done, but not advisable as water parameters for your 4ft tank will not be the same as crs tank, so using the same chiller means water of both tanks pass through same pipes, etc. Doesn't make sense. Invest in another smaller chiller will be a better alternative.

[moss_guy]

Can be done. But will be very troublesome. It is advisable to buy another chiller for the stand alone tank of crs.

[stephen chung]

we have discuss this before. look for it in the forum..

[joeyttk]

It will work if u have 2 canister filter. But there is a cavaet, which may result in flooding if one of your canister breakdown.

a. Tank A goes into Canister_1, whose output goes to chiller.
b. Chiller output goes into Tank B
c. Tank B output goes into Canister_2
d. Canister_2 output goes into Tank A

U should put both canister power on the same plug with "circuit breaker" mode. This is a small protection, which hopefully will break both canister should one of the breakdown or short circuit.

Of course, if one of the canister break down without a short, then u will have a flood on your hand

[|squee|]

I'm moving this to the Equipment forum since chillers have more exposure over there.

[BFG]

Why not placing the tank next to each other? The smaller tank might benefit from the bigger cooled tank as the larger surface area of the 3ft tank touching the smaller 2ft tank side glass.

Another way is to have a container of water and place both the tank canister filter inside it with the chiller chilling that container only. Might work but I've never tried this before.

[Jaffar]

As bro stephen chung mentioned, I tried to read up on the previous discussion in the forum. Pls advise whether this could be done. I would make use of the actual equipment I have for illustration.

4ft tank>2028>y bracket>CL450>Ext CO2reactor>Ybracket>Outlet 4ft tank
2ft tank>2224>>connect to y bracket.....>out2fttank
Chiller and Co2 reactor is shared

Specs
Eheim 2028 = 1050 l/h
Eheim 2224 = 700 l/h ,
Resun C450 chiller (pump outflow)>1200L/H
external CO2 reactor (water flow) = 1000 - 2000 l/h
4ft Tank will be above 2 ft tank.

A lot of presssure will be created at the Y-bracket. Will it cause a leak in the Y brackets? How about the difference in the tank size. Will it affect the chiller temperature/CO2 rate diffusion in the different tanks? If not workable, I will follow the advise given by other bros to purchase a separate chiller.

[Jaffar]

Just some correction.
It is a 3 ft tank, not 4 feet tank. I could also place the 3ft tank and 2 ft tank beside but not touching each other.

[stephen chung]

Unless you are not interested in controlling the temperature. Is you want to control temperature, you will need 2 extra pumps and temperature controller. ans solenoids control valve.

[BFG]

The cheapest solution I can think of is that you need to use a large styrofoam box. Place both canister filter ( if you are using canister filter ) into this styrofoam box and fill it with water to the 3/4 height of the smallest canister filter. Chill the water in the styrofoam box. There must be adequate space for the chilled water in the styrofoam box to move around and cool both canister filter and the tank water in the filter. You'll need a pump to move the water in the styrofoam to the chiller. Ideally, the pump may be placed outside the styrofoam box to minimise the introduction of heat in the styrofoam box.

[peter2883]

Tks for the advice. I have a Resun CL450 for my 3 feet tank. I think the CL450 can support up to 4 ft tank. Since there is sufficient cooling capacity, I would also like it to use it to cool my 2 feet tank for CRS. Not sure if it is possible?

I did not research this just wanted to ask you how many litres can the CL450 can this chiller support up to? If the combined water in both the 03 foot & 02 foot is within the spces of the chiller technically this can be done...

My theory is that you can use a DIY overflow from your 03 foot to your 02 foot (But this will not work if the tanks are side by side it will only work if one tank is higher than the other) or you could get a tank maker to make a overflow into your 02 foot... Then this is possible...

I've seen LFS in Hong Kong using the overflow method for several of their display planted tank using 01 chiller but the volume of the water is much lesser than what you have but at the end of the day this depends on your chiller...

Like what the others posted if you overwork your chiller it will result in higher electric bills & the earlier retirement of your chiller...

[shrimp999]

I think if your 3ft got a overflow system, you can try this.

[Jaffar]

Thanks for all the advice. Although it is easier to buy a separate chiller, still would like to explore other options available.

Looked at various proposals given :

(a) Proposal by Joeytkk
- could try proposal (2 cannister, 1 chiller). Can also include 1 CO2 system.
- However, taken note of flooding in case of failure.

(b) styrofoam box - although it is the cheapest, I will have problems containing the chill within the styrofoam boxes, unless it is adequately enclosed/sealed. Cooling the cannister to chill the water may also consume more energy.

(c) Overflow system (1 cannister, 1 chiller). Could include 1 CO2 system. Thanks alot for taking time to draw layout
- May need to buy a new tank (Marine tank come with this features) since I do not have an existing overflow tank
- Another option : I~Box (http://www.iaquatic.com). No need to drill hole in existing tank. Claim also do not flood second tank (sump tank) during power failure. Not sure how it really works(need to read more). Understand that it is expensive. Some reefers try DIY system.
- However, have problem of CO2 loss.

(d) Buy separate chiller.

Still contemplating but will make a decision soon.

[stephen chung]

LIke I say...do you need to control the temperature in the 2 tanks? If you do, non of the above methods works..

[shadowfax23]

Assuming your chiller can support the capacity of both tanks combined.
How about using an efficient heat conductor (that doesn't contaminate or affect water conditions) to connect water from both tanks, e.g. stainless steel? Insulate the part of the conductor not touching water to minimize heat gain / loss of coldness (from / to air).

By doing this, the heat from the unchilled tank can be transferred to the chilled one via the conductor. If the water in one tank is contaminated, it will not spread to the other as there's no physical exchange of water. Don't have to worry about flooding occurring too. Just have to make sure that the insulator used doesn't touch water, if it's in contact with water, make sure its material is safe for your aquarium. If not your CRS go Shrimp Heaven to report strength early.

What do you guys think of this idea?

[haywas_35]

The overflow with the DIY system is the best proposal.