Suggestion on a 1/2 HP chiller for a 240 gal tank

[OldManOfTheSea]

I believe that I said that everything on the tanks of the 180 or 240 are not the equipment that I most wanted. The PUTZ who I had and trusted to do these tanks, has even put in a 1/4 HP chiller on the 240, I need a 1/2 HP chiller. I can say that being that I need to replace the chiller and sump with the lighting as well, and also rebuild the plumbing as well, the cost im afraid will exceed more then what available funds I have at this time. So there is to be a further delay on when this might be started up.

So now, the question on the chiller is what 1/2 HP chiller would you suggest here for my 240 gal tank?

What do you think of the Drop-In Chillers?

Im also hoping that I could get a good one for $1,100+, Any Suggestions?
So when I decided on dropping the 180 reef tank from my project, it wasn't at first then thought that the cost to rebuild the 240 would be so much greater in cost to rebuild.

And if one other thing happens for my son-in-law on his tax returns, if he gets a good large amount in returns, he will make plans to take the kids to Disneyland in Fla.. I too would be going and would be needing I think $1,000 for my cost.

I would be mostly going to take a crap load of pictures, I don't think that at my young age that they would allow me to go on every single ride down there, LOL

OK, so please lets have some good suggestions on which chiller I might look to have here.

James still not gotten what total credit I will have from those ballasts that where for the 175 watt MH, but he is coming by tomorrow around 11 am or so to get some idea of most of the cost. I do expect it however to exceed $5,000 in total cost to rebuild the 240. I have in cash at this time for the rebuilding, $2,400 and plus what cash the ballasts and the selling of the 150 gets me. All I know for sure is if I not do this, I can never have myself my very own SPS system.

And being that the stand it self has only 24" under the tank, where thinking of going with the bubble master 250. I would love to change as well the stand, but then the cost will exceed far greater then expected, that only the tank it self, is the only object on this system that is worth keeping.

Buddy

[Amphiprion]

Just a question, but what temperature is your tank currently running? You may not even need a chiller to begin with. Also, if it turns out that the extra lighting and equipment does heat your tank enough, purchasing more energy efficient pumps will cost substantially less than a chiller and will lower your tank temperature by at least several degrees. It is certainly worth looking into versus purchasing a chiller that may not even be necessary. Fans are also an option that works very well. That would leave you plenty of money for a good skimmer, like the ATI Bubble Master you mentioned and it would be much better spent.

[OldManOfTheSea]

Amphiprion, The summers are quite hot here in NC, that I would have to then as well with the cooling fans idea, lower my AC to a cooler setting. No, I not have anything running in this tank, I had it for now like five years, but Jeff never completed the tanks, lease of all, his only giving me equipment that I not approved of. He not even put on the canopies any cooling fans, nothing.

What I can do is this, to your opinion. I will have as many cooling fans I can in place, and set the AC at 65 F, I normally set it at 70 F. Also, the house is completely surrounded with tall trees, but still it gets hot. I will look to have as many of those fans that I can attach to the tank sump, with fans at the back and over the top of the tank, blowing over the surface of the water. I most likely will have to open the stand doors during that time to allow circulation. The chiller that I would really need to get, will be around $1,500. It bothers me in getting one less in cost, and then it not performs as well.

As is, the chiller as you say, can and could be added on later, for it will be on its own filtration system due to the stronger water turnover for SPS corals. The power bill will be higher with the lighting and AC for the tank.

So sense I moved into my new home, I had these two tanks for SPS systems and never felt good about starting them for I told Jeff that the tanks were not finish yet. Also, I will see about taking a pic of the calcium reactor he got me to see what I might get different from it. As well as the calcium reactor, im also to have a phosphate reactor as well, its the compound that is expensive. I will tell James to leave a opening spot for the chiller in later months or years, that if I see that I can manage all together without one on this tank, I would then most likely prefer to have a much larger sump then, for im in plan to run me three types of algaeies for combating higher nutrients.

Buddy

[Amphiprion]

I know how hot things get. I'm from Alabama and Mobile is one of the top most humid/rainiest cities in the US (it is usually between us, Seattle, and a couple of other cities), so evap is low compared to elsewhere and we get to 100 degrees or so outside at times. I found that with standard equipment, my tank ran ~82-83 degrees without any added heating. After replacing much of those pumps with Tunze equipment, the temp dropped below 75, requiring me to buy a heater. It can make a huge difference, even with high powered lighting and such. I still need the heater during our summer months. I just don't think you'll need a chiller if you play your cards right.

[OldManOfTheSea]

I will speak to James on this thought for it would help things move forward sooner then later. Also, im an idea to have a bit more open space at the back of the tank for at this moment there is a space of about 7", im thinking to add to it another 2" to be sure of a fan to be in place in the back of the tank. Also, im not sure that person J has giving me all the floor supports I requested, James will go under the crawl space to see what he did, and if he didn't do what I paid him to do, I will also have to add to the cost with additional supports.

Yes, I know what it is I need to do to play my cards right, for I the two tank system that is in my computer room, when I ran a chiller on this system, the room gotten so hot and the chiller over worked it self in order to help only by a few degrees. Later, the chiller burned it self out, and J**f for the last two years I was still trying to do business with him, he was supposed to change out the chiller, and never did, I cooled these tanks with fans and open its doors for circulation.

In doing this, it allows me a larger sump, 100 gals, plus. And if it be that I would need to add the chiller, I will go within my first idea to where I was to have a larger sump, and have the chiller outside of the stand, with a covering for it build from the same wood as the stand it self. Yes, the larger sump will cost more, but it will be no were near the cost of a chiller, in extra bucks.

The chillers I have now, will do me no good, I even have a 1/4 HP chiller still in its un-open box. In any event, chillers in a room where heat will settle in, cause higher temperature problems in trying to keep cool ones tank. Also, I made an error on available cash to begin this rebuilding, I have $2,600 and plus money from the selling of the 150 and ballasts.

Thanks :thm:
Buddy

[OldManOfTheSea]

James came and left a short while ago, and he needs to run through what we will need to make this tank happen. He cannot take out the 60 gal tank sump that was put in, and in order to get in any larger sump, the back would need to be taking out, one of the back supports, that was how we see that the 60 gal tank was put in, and then the support for the back was put in and screwed in, but not neatly like. Also, his to put on glass cover plash guards and this leaves me with no means of running cooling fans over the back of the tank. But he did thought about placing exhaust fans to blow out the heat on the ceiling of the canopy.

So the bad news be, I can not get the sump tank out so that I would have me a all custom build glass sump. So now James will see what he can do for this tank to look like what I paid for it, but where we both agree is that it will never look like as what it was supposed to look like. I told James that still it will look better then it do now. He took some photos and I ask him to send me a set, and after the completion of the job, you will see what the after look be, "before and after". He wants as well to leave space for a possible chiller for he agrees however that the chiller if need be, would be running on its own pump. And I had a better look at the Rio return pump that the other guy put in, it pumps about 900 GPH. James as well agreed with me on a due return pump system, rather then just one.

Buddy

[reefplayground]

Aqua Euro USA makes a great 1/2 HP model