Posts tagged Chiller

Aquarium Chiller: An Introduction to Keeping Your Fish Cool!

Aquarium Chiller: An Introduction to Keeping Your Fish Cool!

What is the single most significant ancillary item in household aquariums? You guessed it right – it is a water chiller! The natural environment for fish is water and just like any living being, fish is susceptible to changes in this environment. A constant temperature bath where the temperature depends on the variety of the fish is a must in any aquarium, lest the fish may not survive too long. A water chiller is therefore imperative for “climatic control” most suitable to the species of fish. This may vary for different kinds of marine life but we shall only discuss the most common techniques of temperature control.


Type of water chiller available in the market


There are three prime kinds of water chiller available for fish aquariums. They are based on the thermoelectric, or inline chillers, or drop-in chiller systems. When finalizing on this system one must take into account the space available and the plumbing requirements, without which the temperature control will not be effective. The aquarium parts like stirrer, lighting, pumps give out a lot of heat that can easily raise the temperature of the water to unbearable levels for the delicate fish. An aquarium owner is always aware of the drastic effect of changing temperatures on the health of his pets and therefore great care must be taken to choose the best system available at the pet stores. Do not ever compromise on water chiller quality and wide duty rating since extreme climates such as in the US can cause a lot of distress to the pet owners.


Let us now see what the salient features of the water chiller and where a specific type should be used.


- Thermoelectric Chillers – If you have a small freshwater or salt water fish tank then thermoelectric type of water chiller is best and a fine example is the IceProbe chiller. These types of chillers are only suitable for tanks with a capacity lower than 55 gallons. For larger aquariums one needs to use the in-line type of chillers.

- Drop-in water chiller – This type of chiller is most suitable for fast water flow requirements and large tanks. Reef aquariums are particularly using drop-in chillers. Constrained space warrants a compact system and this type of chillers perfectly fit into the requirements of the aquarium and its inmates.

- In-line water chiller – This water chiller may not be totally suitable for home aquariums unless it is for a mansion or a large villa or a ranch in Texas! It requires in-line filtered water and intensive plumbing etc. Therefore it may be more suitable for larger commercial spaces.


How should one choose a water chiller?


As mentioned earlier, a water chiller is very important for the health of your fish and it should be chosen with care and by considering the size of the aquarium, what kind of fish is being kept inside the tank, temperature generation level tolerated by the fish, and overall setup of the aquarium assembly. The main purpose of cooling and maintaining the temperature of the water must always be kept in mind and the setup so chosen that the circulating water, aeration to provide oxygen to the fish and other relevant factors are satisfied. A water chiller is an integral part of the aquarium assembly that must be planned earlier to the purchase or breeding of your fish.

Thomas Bladecki is the author and can provide additional information, I personally recommend Desert Coral Aquatics, check out the Aquarium Chillers.


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Maintain Tank Temperature With A Fish Tank Chiller

Maintain Tank Temperature With A Fish Tank Chiller

As the name suggests, fish tank chillers are designed to keep the water in your fish tank cool in warmer climates. They are mainly used in marine aquariums where fish tend to be highly sensitive to temperature although fancy goldfish in tropical climes also benefit from the use of a fish tank chiller. An additional benefit is that cooler water has a greater capacity to hold dissolved oxygen thus avoiding issues with low levels of oxygen in your aquarium.

When do you need the fish tank chiller?

A fish tank chiller will be required when you run an aquarium with fish that prefer to live in cold water only. Aquarium chillers will maintain the water temperature you desire. Changing the temperature is something you need to do yourself, manually.

An alternative to a chiller is to run an air conditioning unit in the room that contains the aquarium, however running the air conditioner just to keep the fish tank water at the desired temperature can be a very expensive option. And even though a fish tank chiller may seem like an expensive item it will soon pay for itself if you are not running the air conditioner day – especially if you are not home during the day or you are on vacation.

Another chiller alternative is to add ice to the tank but this is highly impractical unless it is a very short term method to deal with heat wave conditions. If you do need to add ice to your tank it can be added by freezing water in a bottle. The frozen water bottle can be lowered into the tank or hung on the side of the tank.

For very warm climates and for fish that naturally require cold water there is no real alternative other than a chiller unit. It is also possible to purchase an aquarium heater and chiller in one unit which can be used year round to maintain the water temperature in both summer and winter.

When choosing your chiller you will have a choice of thermoelectric, in-line or drop-in fish tank chiller.

Thermoelectric chillers are commonly used in small tanks of less than 60 gallon capacity. They are energy efficient and silent running and can be used in both salt and freshwater aquariums.

Drop-in chillers are commonly used in saltwater aquariums or reef set ups. They require no additional plumbing and are fitted in line with the tank filter. They are simple to install and have low maintenance requirements.

In-line aquarium chillers are manufactured for tanks with a capacity of 60 gallons or more. They have a motor, a compressor and cooling fans and will require a well-ventilated area for installation. They may require professional installation and they are quite large.

An aquarium thermometer is an inexpensive necessity to use in conjunction with your tank chiller. If your chiller fails or mismanages the temperature of your aquarium you need to know immediately. A thermometer is a reliable way of monitory the temperature.

The main disadvantages of fish tank chillers are the cost of the units themselves – which can vary from a few hundred up to several thousand dollars – and the energy that they consume, which can be 80-100 watts per hour.

Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains The Goldfish Site and The Goldfish Blog to assist anyone who wants to get started with setting up an aquarium fish tank and keeping freshwater fish.


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Best Type of Chiller for a Freshwater Aquarium

Best Type of Chiller for a Freshwater Aquarium

There is no doubt that chillers can help your aquarium function properly during the hot months by cooling the water and avoiding the loss of dissolved oxygen. If you have a freshwater aquarium and you are looking for information on aquarium chillers then you have come to the right place. The remainder of this article will elaborate on the best type of chillers for a freshwater aquarium.

The most popular chillers available on the market are; drop in chillers, in line chillers and thermoelectric chillers. All of these chillers come with pros and cons and the key to selecting the best type of chiller for a freshwater aquarium is to follow these simple tips.

The first tip for finding the best type of chiller for a freshwater aquarium is to take a close look at the type of convenience each chiller has to offer. If you feel that plumbing is not ideal for you then drop in chillers will be your best option. Since drop in chillers are basically cooling coils that have to be dropped into the wet dry filter or sump. They are extremely low maintenance and cost effective.

The second tip to follow to find the best type of chiller for a freshwater aquarium is to use your aquarium capacity as a guideline. If your aquarium contains less than 50 gallons water and has less water flow, then opting for a thermoelectric chillers would be a good option for you. If your aquarium is larger than 50 gallons or has increased water flow then opting for a powerful in line filter would be the best choice.

The third tip to help you decide the best type of chiller for a freshwater aquarium is to decide if you want a chiller temporarily (during the warmer months) or if you want a chiller left in your aquarium year round. If cost is a concern and you will only need the chiller a few months out of the year then buying a inexpensive temporary one is a good solution. If you want to keep your chiller available year round then a more expensive one is the way to go. A good quality chiller can be used for many years and does not require constant maintenance. In the long run you save money by purchasing a more expensive chiller for your aquarium right from the start.

By following these three tips you can definitely find the best type of chiller for a freshwater aquarium that will suit both your budget and your fishes needs.

When it comes to aquarium supplies, the aquarium chillers are indispensable. The aquarium chiller helps in maintaining the perfect temperature of your aquarium during the extremely hot days. The author with his vast experience with the aquarium supplies recommends buying jbj chiller which is the best in the market.


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