Chiller placement inside/outside cabinet

[Ralph]

I am planning a 3ft tank with sump in cabinet and intending to have a chiller down the road.

I am wondering if any bros here have their chiller inside their cabinet and whether there is any problem in doing so? Wondering if the heat that is produced will be a problem.

Preferably it I can keep chiller in the cabinet but it doesn't look so good. But if I keep it inside the cabinet, which is only for 3ft tank, I am taking away valuable space from the sump.

Also, anyone can recommend me the smallest chiller unit in the market? I been to a few LFS and see that Hailea is a very popular brand, no doubt it is cheap then, but wondering if any more options out there.

[Urban Aquaria]

If you can get sufficient ventilation slots cut into the cabinet at where the chiller's heat output is, that will help alot in preventing heat buildup within the cabinet.

Installing fans inside the cabinet to pull in cooler air from the outside and pushing out hot air from inside also helps alot, most people just rig up those 12V PC fans for this purpose. Essentially the ventilation system works on the same basis as in a PC CPU casing.

The best will be using ducting pipe (like those for aircon or clothes dryer) and connect the heat output to a window to vent the hot air outside... but that requites some placement considerations and can make the setup look abit industrial.

[BFG]

A chiller should be placed outside the cabinet as this placement will ensure the heated air coming out of the chiller is dissipated out into the open area. In an enclosed area, like the tank cabinet for example, the heated air coming out from the chiller is recycled back into operation by the chiller itself. This will lower the chiller efficiency and add more operation time to the process which uses more power which translate to higher utility bill.

[Ralph]

Thanks for your advice. For practicality, it does seem that an unenclosed cabinet is best for the chiller.

I probably wouldn't want the heat from the chiller to affect the sump, especially if I use one of the chamber as a refugium.

I might just have an separate open cabinet (back and front open) at one side of the cabinet so that the chiller will still be under the tank. That should be a neat trick.

[Shadow]

or you can add ventilation with fan but then higher electric bill to run the fan

[Dscheng]

Chiller very hot le. Even i put outside my tank. It really make my living room warmer le. Especially when i am not around, i close all my window. The whole living room super warm !

[Urban Aquaria]

Chiller very hot le. Even i put outside my tank. It really make my living room warmer le. Especially when i am not around, i close all my window. The whole living room super warm !

Yeah, no kidding... there was a period i kept tanks with chillers in a room, whenever i go into that room i would be sweating like crazy, it was like a sauna inside.

End up i had to always switch on air-con to keep myself cool, so i use chiller to cool the tanks and then use air-con to cool the room, was basically just transferring heat from one place to another. As expected, my electricity bill got bumped up a few notches.

[BFG]

Yeah, no kidding... there was a period i kept tanks with chillers in a room, whenever i go into that room i would be sweating like crazy, it was like a sauna inside.

End up i had to always switch on air-con to keep myself cool, so i use chiller to cool the tanks and then use air-con to cool the room, was basically just transferring heat from one place to another. As expected, my electricity bill got bumped up a few notches.

That is what some air conditioned lfs do too! For some reason or another, using an air conditioner compressor as a chiller, the heat given off by the air conditioner compressor is lower than a chiller. I have used both aquarium chiller as well as an air conditioner compressor chiller. Both of them are placed in my house, in the hall.

[AQMS]

Chiller is best to put it outside the cabinet.
I once collected a co2 tank from a member here staying at Tampines.
He have 4x4x2 salt water tank smack right at the corner of the living
with an air conditioner compressor out side his corridor. The contractor
drill holes through his living room from the corridor to connect the compressor.
It is a cool setup.

[Rupert]

I had my chiller, co2, everything inside my cabinet, if you want have a look at my threads. you need good vents and must segregate the intake side from the output side so hot air cannot pass from the back to the front. you will need to choose the appropriate chiller to do this...

[Dscheng]

Chiller is best to put it outside the cabinet.
I once collected a co2 tank from a member here staying at Tampines.
He have 4x4x2 salt water tank smack right at the corner of the living
with an air conditioner compressor out side his corridor. The contractor
drill holes through his living room from the corridor to connect the compressor.
It is a cool setup.

Wow so hardcore? Meaning he use the aircon compressor instead of chiller?

[Urban Aquaria]

The chiller with aircon compressor system setup sounds interesting... how do they work? Are they basically a chiller but the compressor is a separate larger unit that can be placed outside?

[Ralph]

Hardcore... too hardcore. Let's no go into that or we will need to organise a field trip to Sentosa RWS S.E.A Aquarium for case study.. lol

The chiller with aircon compressor system setup sounds interesting... how do they work? Are they basically a chiller but the compressor is a separate larger unit that can be placed outside?

[noidea]

This type of chiller is alway use in koi pond to keep the pond water below 25 C. Monthly cost should be around $500 to $1000 depending on how low the temperature setting of the chillers. Range from 1HP to 3HP. Some people use the normal aircon 3 in 1 system then convert to cool for the koi pond. IMHO.

[Shadow]

It is actually aircon compressor but instead of connected to aircon blower unit, it connect to coil inside your sumptank.

[BFG]

It is actually aircon compressor but instead of connected to aircon blower unit, it connect to coil inside your sumptank.

This is correct. This type of chiller is mainly used for tank that is 4ftx2ftx2ft and larger. Took 22 minute to chill to 26 degree from 28 degree and rest for more than 2 hours.

[Ralph]

How much will the set up cost be? that means you need to specifically get one air con compressor that is dedicated to this chiller right?

This is correct. This type of chiller is mainly used for tank that is 4ftx2ftx2ft and larger. Took 22 minute to chill to 26 degree from 28 degree and rest for more than 2 hours.

[AQMS]

Yes,it is a actual air con compressor. I did ask him about the price but i forgot.

[Suzerolt]

I recall reading somewhere that a Daikin 1HP compressor with drop in coil is in the $1.4k region.


Here is an example/photo of someone in the local forum using a compressor/drop in coil.
http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/topi...l#entry1225335

[AQMS]

I recall reading somewhere that a Daikin 1HP compressor with drop in coil is in the $1.4k region.


Here is an example/photo of someone in the local forum using a compressor/drop in coil.
http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/topi...l#entry1225335

Power!!!!!!