Via Aqua Chiller 1/4 hp

Edveder9 · 12-20-2003, 11:12 PM

Currently I am setting up a 120 with a 75 gal sump.. It has 2 400 watt MH, 2 175 watt MH and 4 110 watt VHOs.. The current temp stays around 83 I was wanting to put a chiller on it.. But they are so expensive.. But I found a used 1/4 HP Via Aqua chiller.. for about 160 dollars.. Does any one think this will bring the temp down to about 79 degrees... Or should I hold out and get a larger chiller.. like a 1/3 HP one...

Has anyone used the VIA Aqua chillers.. Are they reliable??

Here is the chiller link..

http://www.aquastealth.com/index.as...WPROD&ProdID=93

ruhspolostar · 12-20-2003, 11:23 PM

Even though I am not an administrator I feel compelled to welcome you, if you want a million opinions and to meet other addicited aquarists you have come to the right place, I am not sure about the brand you are using but I deffinitley think that a chiller is the right way to go for your system because 83 degrees sounds a lilltle high, as for the hp 1/4 will do but IMO 1/3 is better, its what I use on my 170, the brand I swear by and am currently using is Artica, I don't think I have helped you very much but as I said just wait you will get more opinions,

again welcome to TRT

-Adam #8

Mrs Smith · 12-21-2003, 09:55 AM

Hi and welcome!

As with all of reefing, there are varied opinions. Personally, I don't think a chiller is worth it. I keep my reef at 80-82ish with 3 250W MH over it. I use 2 4" fans mounted in the canopy, and they do an amazing job of managing the temperature. Granted, you've got a lot of light there (what are you planning to keep?), but you might be able to spare the expense with fans. By this, I mean the energy expense - those chillers are energy burners.

When we first got into the hobby, we thought we'd need one too. Once we learned a little more about where our temps would be, and how we could manage it, we decided to pass on it. Just something to think about...

But then again, you've got a whole lot of MH going on...

Does your electric company send you a Christmas/Thank You card?

I should hope so! (Or maybe you've converted to wind power or solar?

)

Good luck, and sorry to not be much help in the chiller department.

Danielle

Edveder9 · 12-21-2003, 10:07 AM

I'm growing only SPS corals and the 400 watters are 20K's so their par rating is fairly low.. so I figured I would put 2-175 10K Ushios in there since I had them.. The color spectrum looks great... Thanks for your advice I might hold out and get a little bit larger on so it doesn't have to work as hard...

Casey · 12-21-2003, 11:11 AM

A chiller is not needed just keep the temp stable you should be fine and Welcome to TRT

ruhspolostar · 12-21-2003, 01:05 PM

ehh, I wouldn't get rid of mine for anything

Edveder9 · 12-21-2003, 03:47 PM

Sounds good I think i might hold out on this one.. But I'm definately gonna get a chiller.. just so i dou't have to have so many freaking fans running..they can be sort of loud when the are combined... I found a 1/3 HP chiller for 100 dollars.. but is has a small leak.. gonna see how much it's gonna cost to fix the leak..

Rick O · 12-21-2003, 03:51 PM

Hi and welcome to TRT.

I'm surprised that your temp is running that high in the winter time. Do you have glass tops on the tank?

funstarfish · 12-21-2003, 04:06 PM

i actually can give you something real about this, as i have this chiller. its running on a 135 right now. id rate is as ok, and pretty good for the price, but im not completely sold on it. my tank doesn't need chill power very often, but when temps reach over a hundred here in the summer and the air isn't on all day, its nice to be able to have something to cool the tank. the chiller has had a temp probe go bad but it was replaced free of charge. im still not sure of how accurate the temp readout is. sometimes it seems right on and sometime whacky. so basically, it gets the job done for a low budget, but i wouldn't buy one for my next tank.

matt

Geoff · 12-22-2003, 12:50 PM

Welcome to TRT!!!

glass tanks are better at keeping the temps down than acrylic. acrylic is a good insulator.

depending on how high the lights are above the tank you may not need a chiller. ventilation helps a lot.

i needed to put a chiller on my system. it is a 1/5 DIY, but it does a good job.

G~

Harpo · 12-23-2003, 11:08 AM

Is your tank, glass or acrylic? Acrylic holds in alot more heat compared to glass.

Bill

srfmon · 04-23-2005, 03:11 AM

I'm a little late to join this thread but I am looking at getting this same chiller. The price is half of what the other 1/4hp's would cost you. So can I get another review from a few more people?

VWD · 04-23-2005, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edveder9

Currently I am setting up a 120 with a 75 gal sump.. It has 2 400 watt MH, 2 175 watt MH and 4 110 watt VHOs.. The current temp stays around 83 I was wanting to put a chiller on it.. But they are so expensive.. But I found a used 1/4 HP Via Aqua chiller.. for about 160 dollars.. Does any one think this will bring the temp down to about 79 degrees... Or should I hold out and get a larger chiller.. like a 1/3 HP one...

Has anyone used the VIA Aqua chillers.. Are they reliable??

I think That chiller will do the job, The price is right. but like everyone else here I think for just a few degrees You really don't need one. They use alot of energy and put out heat.

srfmon · 04-24-2005, 12:04 PM

I've already got a chiller on my tank right now. But it's pretty old & makes a lot of noise. Right now I'm already using the electricity. I want something quiet & more efficient would be a plus. I'm just little concerned with the huge price difference between the via Aqua & the other similarly sized chillers.

BigDaddy · 04-24-2005, 12:47 PM

Try putting a fan on your sump maybe that will lower the temp a bit. But if you are deadset on a chiller than go for it, a 1/3 will be enough since you only need to pull it down 4 degrees.