Im going to buy a chiller for my 300. Before I do I'd like figure out if a inline or a drop in chiller is better.

I'm looking at the Current USA Prime Modular In-line Chiller Dual Stage 1/3 HP (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13127&N=2004+113843+113768) and the same drop-in chiller (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13130&N=2004+113843+113768).

i wish i had more advice, but my experience with chillers is limited.
i have one that i acquired through a sale, but have never needed one, so i have never used it.

i know there are a few here that do, and i know amphibious is quite familiar with them, hopefully they jump in soon...

I figured I would hear from the 3 Musketeers Fat Walrus, Amphibious, and veriann.

All Praise the 3 Musketeers...... :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I figured I would hear from the 3 Musketeers Fat Walrus, Amphibious, and veriann.

All Praise the 3 Musketeers...... :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Portos is here! :)

with chiller ratings, they are usually calculated for how many degrees below ambient temperature they can pull the the water down without additional influences like lights and other equipment. they are also tested outside any enclosures like a cabinet stand or a closet. a chiller needs to breath to work. a simple rule that i have always used is to AT LEAST DOUBLE the power that is recommended.

i do not have any personal experience with CURRENT chillers, but they seem to have a bad reputation in my area. i do have experience with CORALIFE, TRADEWINDS, and AQUALOGIC. the most quiet is coralife, the strongest is aqualogic. the tradewinds with the drop-in cooling element rusted away.

if you choose an aqualogic, go with the at least the 1/2 horse. if you choose coralife, go with the 1 horse.

I figured I would hear from the 3 Musketeers Fat Walrus, Amphibious, and veriann.

All Praise the 3 Musketeers...... :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Hey Amp, Musketeer #3 checking in as ordered. Now that's a hoot!

This is a good subject to explore before you buy! Here's a link - http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1442 - to an explanation of my experience with the latest chiller purchase. Review that thread and I'll be back in a bit to make an other response. Busy right now. :D

i use a 1-5hp arctica chiller. working great for 2 yrz now. easy to intall and maintain. plus free shipping.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=JBJ-DBE-200&Category_Code=JBJ

My only experience is a second hand Aquanetics 1/6 HP drop in chiller. It works fine on my tank/sump of about 65 gallons.

i use a 1-5hp arctica chiller. working great for 2 yrz now. easy to intall and maintain. plus free shipping.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=JBJ-DBE-200&Category_Code=JBJ
i've never used JBJ's, but a lot of stores in my area won't sell them.........been told their was a high rate of failures. that is just what i've heard. i have seen a few in the return piles at my lfs. i'm glad to hear your's is working fine.

yupz. it did give out once. but all i needed to do was replace a fuse. other than that, its bee smooth.

yupz. it did give out once. but all i needed to do was replace a fuse. other than that, its bee smooth.
was the fuse hard to get to?

was the fuse hard to get to?

Don't you hate it when they are? We had a microwave that quit working a couple of months out of warranty. Even though it said "no user servicable parts" on the back panel I took it apart. I was really miffed to find that a cheap glass tube type fuse had blown. Since when is the average consumer incapable of replacing a fuse?

Don't you hate it when they are? We had a microwave that quit working a couple of months out of warranty. Even though it said "no user servicable parts" on the back panel I took it apart. I was really miffed to find that a cheap glass tube type fuse had blown. Since when is the average consumer incapable of replacing a fuse?
haha. i agree. but maybe it is a stupid government regulation. do you still have that DO NOT REMOVE tag on your mattress?

was the fuse hard to get to?

nope, it actually came with a spare fuse.

Portos is here! :)

with chiller ratings, they are usually calculated for how many degrees below ambient temperature they can pull the the water down without additional influences like lights and other equipment. they are also tested outside any enclosures like a cabinet stand or a closet. a chiller needs to breath to work. a simple rule that i have always used is to AT LEAST DOUBLE the power that is recommended.

i do not have any personal experience with CURRENT chillers, but they seem to have a bad reputation in my area. i do have experience with CORALIFE, TRADEWINDS, and AQUALOGIC. the most quiet is coralife, the strongest is aqualogic. the tradewinds with the drop-in cooling element rusted away.

if you choose an aqualogic, go with the at least the 1/2 horse. if you choose coralife, go with the 1 horse.My experience has been similar. Chiller manufacturer's ratings are given for the most ideal conditions and they are very generous with their stated temperature drop. They do not take into account added heat sources such as lights, pumps, UV Sterilizer, heater, power heads, etc.

Considering the two choices you linked to, first the drop in chiller model. You should not even be considering this model because the 1/3 hp model is rated at max 225 gal so that alone eliminates this one. Your second choice, the 1/3 hp is rated for 300 gals but, given our experience with chillers, would not be capable of keeping your temp in line. If I were considering this purchase, knowing what I know now, I'd have to go with the 1/2 hp minimum and hope it handles the job.

I hope you read my experience with the chiller I bought in the link provided above. The salesman didn't know enough to inform me of the true cooling capacity. For $40 more I could have had the 1/3 hp model.

When you decide which make and model you want, consider the price shipped to your door. Shop around.

:heart:*stumbles in still pulling up his duds* sorry, i um........the arrr, chamber maids needed me to fix , um, the curtain rail, yeah.....the curtain rail fell down and um, they couldn't reach it! soooooo, what do we have here!!
ok fellow musketeers, i agree with your wisdom on this subject, but um,cant knock back a few with u guys tonight! :roll: ive got a few more pages to read in my book, so i arr better head off then!:cool:

Read yer book in a pigs eye!!! :cool: Sounds to me V, you need a little help with the chamber maids.:D

Remember the motto of the Musketeers, "ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE". I think that motto is old fashioned I propose a change to, "FUN FOR ALL AND ALL FOR FUN" Whada ya say men? :rotfl:

lol, your wicked Amp
"FUN FOR ALL AND ALL FOR FUN" i like that, just as long as im not stuck with sloppy 2nds. helping them fix the water pipes in this old house can be dangerous, right kids...lol

haha. i agree. but maybe it is a stupid government regulation. do you still have that DO NOT REMOVE tag on your mattress?

No I took it off. PLEASE don't tell the tag police.

Remember the motto of the Musketeers, "ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE". I think that motto is old fashioned I propose a change to, "FUN FOR ALL AND ALL FOR FUN" Whada ya say men? :rotfl:
good idea Amp. can you also update our uniforms just a bit? the puffy shirts, pantaloons and stockings just ain't gonna scare the bad guys anymore! :rotfl:

good idea Amp. can you also update our uniforms just a bit? the puffy shirts, pantaloons and stockings just ain't gonna scare the bad guys anymore! :rotfl:

Maybe you can get Duane's Incredibles suit! I don't think he is using it any more. :)

Maybe you can get Duane's Incredibles suit! I don't think he is using it any more. :)
i hope Duane's suit is REALLY stretchable! :|

Did you see the movie? I loved the beginning where they were trying to fit back into their suits. Kind of reminded me of my husband and me trying to fit back into our college clothes! You might be able to get in them but you sure don't look like you did.

Did you see the movie? I loved the beginning where they were trying to fit back into their suits. Kind of reminded me of my husband and me trying to fit back into our college clothes! You might be able to get in them but you sure don't look like you did.
haha, lol. i've got some old clothes i'm saving in case it comes back into fashion again. what are the chances i can get into them? haha. :rotfl:

i did not see the movie. is sailfin's avatar from the same movie?

It was funny, here is this 40 something ex-superhero trying to fit back into his outfit. And the top and pants won't meet so his tummy is pooched out.

I don't know where sailfin's avatar is from but I don't think it is this movie.

i hope bob 21115 doesnt mind but i have a chiller related question. i bought a 1/4 hp pacific coast imports chiller. the same one my lfs uses on their systems in a room that gets 95 degrees in the summer. i wanted to know is this a chiller that anyone has used? it recommends a 4 degree difference but the temp keeps fluctuating between 77 where i set it and 81 when it comes back on. this seems like too much change. thoughts recommendations.

I wouldn't allow a 4 degree differential. I have mine at 1 degree and that is probably the other end of the spectrum. One of these days I'm going to change it to 2 degrees, just haven't done it yet even though it's so easy to do. I would rather maintain a more even temp than 4 degrees high to low.

i hope bob 21115 doesnt mind but i have a chiller related question. i bought a 1/4 hp pacific coast imports chiller. the same one my lfs uses on their systems in a room that gets 95 degrees in the summer. i wanted to know is this a chiller that anyone has used? it recommends a 4 degree difference but the temp keeps fluctuating between 77 where i set it and 81 when it comes back on. this seems like too much change. thoughts recommendations.
I used them a long time ago, but those are different models then.

Four degrees is a lot of difference in my opinion. I have my chillers hooked up to Medusa dual phase controllers that operates both chiller and heater, so I actually have no differential.

I would go with Amp's suggestion of 2 degrees difference.

DadonoFlaw, I haven't personally used that chiller. I'm actually usinga JBJ 1/15 hp chiller on my 47 gallon cube and the thing is working wonderfully. I only have a variance of about .5 degrees from the time is turns off to the time it turns back on. What di you have your heater set to as well? This could also be a cause of the large fluctuation.

i dont have a heater in the tank it runs so hot it stays above the need for a heater. i have a heater but even at night without the chiller it was about 86 degrees and with it it comes on every 3 or 4 mins so its pretty hot in there

i wish i have a chiller too

:huh: I have a 29Gal + 5G fuge and want to put a chiller in, is this size to big.


I just thought it would not have to work as hard.

My room pushes low 90's in the summer


Thanks for the info
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You would be fine with a 1/10 HP, or the Mini Arctica is a 1/15 HP and rated for aquariums up to 40 gallons. Mini-Arctica Chiller (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15129&N=2004+113768)

Well now you that you got me looking around I found a Current 1/15 HP chiller. Current Nano Chiller (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13113&N=2004+113768)
They claim that chiller will cool a 50 gallon aquarium. Oh this statement got me laughing, "Mini In-line Chillers are ideal for smaller aquariums with high cooling demand such as nano reef aquariums up to 70 gallons." 70 gallons is nano? Wow now I have a better excuse to use on my wife of why I need a bigger tank. "Honey both my tanks are nanos. I really need a full sized reef tank." :eek:

The Current chillers are a bit more money, but you can plug a heater in and have the heater controled by the chiller. I like that option.

Wow. This was a good thread a long time ago!

Where are my fellow musketeers? Lets ride again.................................

actually i was curious about why it took his chiller so long to drop the temp or maybe mine is off. it takes my chiller two or three mins to bring my temp from 80 to 78 and since its winter it usually stays off at night. i have a mag 7 on it as per there instructions for recommended flow per hour and with head its prolly more like 450-500 per hour.