Chiller run times

**bmwaaron** · 07-09-2006, 10:56 PM

I was wondering with a 1/4 HP chiller on about a 140 gallon tank, what is the aprox or average runtime? My chiller seems to run allot but doesnt seem to be cooling. I just wanted to know if it just takes a long time
I am trying to pull the tank temp down to 76 from 80 with no lights on and a 1/4 HP chiller.

**CarmieJo** · 07-09-2006, 11:29 PM

My temp controller went out and until I decide what to replace it with I am running my chiller on a timer. I have about 65 gallons and a 1/6 hp chiller. I am keeping my temp at 78-79 running the chiller 8 half hour intervals a day. With the lights out the temp holds here throughout the night.

**bmwaaron** · 07-09-2006, 11:36 PM

Yea its strange, Im not sure if its working or not, It seems to be cooling a little but its definatly not as fast as I thought it would be. Its been running about an hour now and maybe pulled the temp down from 78 to 77 with no lights on.

**CarmieJo** · 07-09-2006, 11:44 PM

I think that is probably about the same. You have a 67% bigger chiller but >100% more volume. I don't think you want to drop more than a degree an hour. Mine is a drop in and I can feel it gets cold.

**bmwaaron** · 07-09-2006, 11:49 PM

yea this is where a drop in would help diagnosis it.
I would have to think that water moving through it at about 800 GPH I wont be able to feel it. But I think it is working just defiantly not as fast as I thought.

**CarmieJo** · 07-09-2006, 11:54 PM

Maybe one of the guys with more experience with chillers will chime in, because I don't know if my correlation will hold between types. But I was definitely surprised at how long it ran when I started using my chiller.

**Amphibious** · 07-11-2006, 12:33 PM

Chiller manufacturers give probable temperature drops for each size chiller and several size aquariums for that size chiller. There explanation falls short however. They assume we, the consumer, understand the charts and explanation with the details of chilling water in an aquarium.

I bought one 4 months because my newly set up 135 reached 88F and the hot FL summer was still 4 months away. So, I looked on line, found a 1/4 hp Current chiller that the specs said would take a 135 down 20 degrees. Perfect! I only needed 10 degrees giving me a 10 degree safety margin. I bought it, $559 shipped. Set it up and was immediately suspicious of it not being capable of lowering the water even 10 degrees. My suspicions were correct. The next day the temp in the tank was 82F. I talked to the supplier. I e-mailed Current. Both told me the unit was big enough and if it was defective they would take it back and ship another. Then Current asked the decisive question, What lights are you burning? MH, I wrote back. Ah ha, our calculations for sizing chillers is based on ambient room temperature. Well, why the H@*# don't you point that out in your literature??? I had to buy a window AC unit to bring down the room temperature because I didn't want to run the whole house AC, cost $200.

Both the window AC and the chiller run continuously but me tank temp is 78F 24/7.

I am going to go with the new Solaris LED light fixture at the end of July. They were introduced at the IMAC Chicago show in April. The heat from them is negligible and they burn 40% less energy. They are expensive but will save money in several ways. Bulb replacement is every ten years or more. The energy savings and I probably won't be running the chiller except after a hurricane and I can sell the window AC and quit burning that energy. If you are not familiar with them, here's a link to my web site that gives the information - http://www.theculturedreef.com/pfo.htm

There's several pages of information on the new LED lights. Pretty exciting.

Hope this helped with your chiller questions

Dick

**bmwaaron** · 07-11-2006, 07:51 PM

WOW those lights are very cool... Any idea what the cost is going to be? Even if they are cheaper to produce then MH lights I bet they will be more expensive.

**Amphibious** · 07-12-2006, 12:23 AM

bmwaaron,

The cost is pretty expensive initially. You save money in the long run with 40% energy reduction and ten year bulb life. You have the capibility of tuning your color temp from 6.5K to 20K.

Here's a link to the price page - http://www.theculturedreef.com/price.htm

I have taken some orders for 48" and 72". I'm including shipping from the factory direct to you.

Dick

**pham411** · 07-12-2006, 12:35 AM

i have my 1/5 hp chiller on 24/7 with the lights on during the day its 81-82. at nite its 79/80

**Amphibious** · 07-12-2006, 07:22 AM

Yeah, my 1/4 hp actually is running 24/7, it never shuts off. The window AC runs 24/7, the compressor cycles on and off every few minutes but the circulation fan never shuts off.

It will be very interesting to see what happens when my new Solaris LED light fixture gets here at the end of the month. They generate no heat into the tank and run on 40% less energy. My energy bill for the whole house has been running $290 per month. It would be nice to see that drop.

V · 07-12-2006, 07:28 AM

thats an Amped up bill!
do u claim that by having an office at home...lol at least in the IRS eyes at least!

we do that, i even claim depeciation on the carpets...

who made this tax law i ask u, but i owe them my thanks...