Q. What is a Chiller?
A. A chiller is a small refrigeration unit that is designed to cool the water. There are a few different styles of chillers but the two common styles are drop-in or in-line. Drop-in chillers have cooling coils that sit in the sump and cool the water there. The main advantage to this type is that there is no plumbing required. In-line chillers have internal cooling coils, so water is pumped into the chiller, cooled, and then returned back to the tank or sump. The main advantage of an in-line chiller is that it does not have to sit by the tank. It can be placed in a separate room, such as a closet, basement, or garage.

Q. Why would I need a chiller?
A. Water changes temperature rapidly according to the environment. Occasionally the water in big tanks, reef tanks, or even small tanks in warm environments can get too hot. Temperatures exceeding eighty degrees can have adverse affects on the tank. Many fish and invertebrates, including corals, do not like warmer water and can die if the water gets too hot. Temperature fluctuations can also stress fish leading to health problems and eventually death. Many times the only effective way of lowering the temperature of a tank is to install a chiller.

Q. Are there any other ways I can try to lower the temperature before I buy a chiller?
A. The best way to try to lower the temperature is fix what is causing it. The three main causes are; high output lights that produce a lot of heat, ambient air temperatures being to high, a lot of pumps in the tank that need to be water cooled. Installing fans, in-line pumps opposed to internal pumps, running the air conditioning, and making sure the heater is working properly and placed in a high-flow area are a few methods that can help.

Q. What size chiller do I need for my tank?
A. There are a lot of factors that dictate what size chiller should be used. Tank size, decrease in temperature needed, type of tank (glass or acrylic) are a few of the variables that dictate the size needed. The Marine Scene has experience with many different chillers so we can help determine the right type and size chiller needed for your tank.