Heat/Chiller Hi Guys <<Hi.>> Once again I seek your advice. I have written earlier about the temperature problems in my 110 gallon fish only system. I am running an Iwaki external pump and two power heads in the sump (one for the Euro-reef skimmer and the other for the U.V.) My problem remains in that my water temps are going up to 83* this after following your advice to replace the glass canopy with egg crate, putting an exhaust fan in the hood and running a clip on fan aimed at the sump. I keep the house between 75-79* but cannot keep the water temperature down. I even unplugged the heater "just in case." <<Well, I can relate my own experience... I had a 54g corner tank with a 150w metal halide, in my bedroom on the second floor of my house. I live in a valley and in the Summer, we often get temperature inversions in conjunction with the smog blowing up from New York city and this creates stifling, hot and humid days. That tank could easily get to 88-90 degrees in the dead of summer. I tried fans all over the place but could never get the heat down... the problem, I wasn't actually getting rid of the heat, I was just moving it around as hot air. My solution was to run a window air conditioner.>> I think that the only real solution appears to be a chiller. (please correct me if I'm wrong) I do not have the room inside of the stand so I will have to place the chiller next to the stand. Since this is in the living room I don't think that I want to use the inline models (appearance plus potential of water leaks). What's your feelings on the Aqualogic and or CSL drop in models? If I go this route, is the Medusa controller worth the upcharge over the Aqualogic. <<Well... keep in mind the previous little ditty, if the unit sits in a hot living room, all the while creating heat, you may find it running more than you'd expect. That being said, drop-in units are less efficient that their flow-through cousins... but they do work. If it were my money, I'd forego the 'looks' in the living room - this is only for the summer, yes? - and do a flow through unit with a dedicated pump you can place in the sump. The electronic thermostats are more precise, but obviously adds to the cost. Your call on that.>> I await your counsel as you have been dead on in your suggestions on other products that I have purchased. Thanks once again, Joe <<Cheers, J -- >>

Heat/Chiller Hi Guys <<Hi.>> Once again I seek your advice. I have written earlier about the temperature problems in my 110 gallon fish only system. I am running an Iwaki external pump and two power heads in the sump (one for the Euro-reef skimmer and the other for the U.V.) My problem remains in that my water temps are going up to 83* this after following your advice to replace the glass canopy with egg crate, putting an exhaust fan in the hood and running a clip on fan aimed at the sump. I keep the house between 75-79* but cannot keep the water temperature down. I even unplugged the heater "just in case." <<Well, I can relate my own experience... I had a 54g corner tank with a 150w metal halide, in my bedroom on the second floor of my house. I live in a valley and in the Summer, we often get temperature inversions in conjunction with the smog blowing up from New York city and this creates stifling, hot and humid days. That tank could easily get to 88-90 degrees in the dead of summer. I tried fans all over the place but could never get the heat down... the problem, I wasn't actually getting rid of the heat, I was just moving it around as hot air. My solution was to run a window air conditioner.>> I think that the only real solution appears to be a chiller. (please correct me if I'm wrong) I do not have the room inside of the stand so I will have to place the chiller next to the stand. Since this is in the living room I don't think that I want to use the inline models (appearance plus potential of water leaks). What's your feelings on the Aqualogic and or CSL drop in models? If I go this route, is the Medusa controller worth the upcharge over the Aqualogic. <<Well... keep in mind the previous little ditty, if the unit sits in a hot living room, all the while creating heat, you may find it running more than you'd expect. That being said, drop-in units are less efficient that their flow-through cousins... but they do work. If it were my money, I'd forego the 'looks' in the living room - this is only for the summer, yes? - and do a flow through unit with a dedicated pump you can place in the sump. The electronic thermostats are more precise, but obviously adds to the cost. Your call on that.>> I await your counsel as you have been dead on in your suggestions on other products that I have purchased. Thanks once again, Joe <<Cheers, J -- >>

Chiller for Reef Tank Can you tell me if there is a company that makes a chiller for a reef tank in two parts, condenser on the outside, chill water coil inside. Most house AC are made this way. It would keep the heat out of the room the reef tank is in and cut the cost of running the chiller. RGibson <None that I have seen. Most people I know plumb the chiller into a separate room, many times a garage, to vent the heat away from the tank. -Steven Pro>

Chiller, lighting, and sea urchin question! <<Greetings, Kevin, JasonC here... >> My tank is about 80-82 degrees and I was thinking I need to get a chiller or maybe some cooler lights cooler lighting unit). <<80-82 isn't really out of hand compared to conditions in the wild.>> I have a 150g tank with 2 fluorescent hoods and they don't have any ventilation. Can I get a good light that has ventilation? <<Why not do a retro-fit and add some ventilation, fans, etc?>> I was looking at the power compact lights, any ideas on those kind or any other kinds of lights, I need something soon! <<All lamps produce heat, it cannot be avoided.>> Is a chiller necessary to reduce my tank temperature just a couple degrees, they're very expensive, but in case I do get one, do you recommend one? <<I don't generally recommend chillers unless you live in a desert or are attempting to do a low-temp system; something less than 75F. Usually a one or two degree pull-down can be easily accomplished with one or more fans blowing over the surface of the tank to produce evaporative cooling, or placed in the light hood to evacuate the warm air.>> I liked the idea of the coil that sat in the sump! <<Honestly, those are a very poor design and not worth the money.>> And lastly, I have a sea urchin that I've had for a couple years and he's losing his spines. I've heard that when this happens it means they are going to die and they should be removed from the tank. <<certainly a sign of declining health.>> He only has the bottom half of him that have the spines! What should I do? <<Perhaps crush it and feed it to the fish if you have triggers or wrasses, or just toss it out.>> Thanks for all your helpful advice you always give me, you're the best! -Kevin <<Cheers, J -- >>

Custom Sealife vs. AQUANETICS Chillers Looking for a personal opinion...Custom Sealife vs. AQUANETICS Drop in Chillers which is better for saltwater and why? <drop in chillers are very limited in their scope of ability (pull down from ambient versus flow thru... I personally would avoid all drop in styles for a more efficient flow through style if at all possible! The plumbing for a flow through is ridiculously easy... I see little trouble for most people. Besides... a drop in further requires that the unit be near the tank display that needs cooled down; what an incredible waster of energy for the heat they produce in the same room that requires the tank be cooled down! And all chillers are ideally mounted/plumbed from a remote room where the heat generated by the chiller is moot> Duplex stainless steel vs. Titanium <Titanium will outlast/outlive stainless steel in most every application. Best regards, Anthony>