Aquarium Chillers

As the name suggests aquarium water chillers are devices that keep your fish tank water cool in warmer climates. They are mainly used in marine aquariums where sensitivity to temperature is a characteristic of the fish kept. Fancy gold fish in tropical zones also benefit from the use of a fish tank chiller. Aquarium chillers also help you avoid having low levels of dissolved oxygen. This is due to cold water having a greater capacity to hold dissolved oxygen.

Types and selection of Aquarium Chillers

There are three basic types of chillers for aquariums. All of these chillers will keep the water in the aquarium below a chosen temperature. Using one of these aquarium chilling devices will keep the water below a chosen temperature irrespective of the weather.

Drop-In Chiller

These units are most common for aquariums having saltwater fish or reef set-ups. There is no plumbing necessary as they are fitted in line with filter assemblies. They are renowned for their simple installation and low maintenance.

Thermoelectric Chiller

This type of chiller is generally used to cool small aquariums. They are suitable for a smaller water flow and a fish tank that has a capacity of less than 50-60 gallons of water. Larger tanks can not be serviced by these chillers as they require a higher rate of water flow. None the less, thermoelectric chillers are fairly energy efficient and silent units that can be fitted with both; fresh water and saltwater fish aquariums.

In-Line Chiller

These aquarium chillers are manufactured with powerful motor of around ½ to 1 HP. This makes them an ideal choice for the aquariums having more than 55-60 gallons capacity of storing water. When used with salt water aquariums these chillers are often fixed in series with In line filtration systems.

This type of aquarium chiller is best installed in a spacious area where there is good ventilation. This is because it has a compressor and cooling fans that are connected to your aquarium with pipelines. They are quite large and require correct installation. The pipelines may require some modification to suit your situation. The design must be planned before installing such aquarium chillers.

DIY Aquarium Chiller

Because of the expertise involved in creating your own aquarium chiller, it is a task best not attempted by the average fishkeeper. There is no practical DIY alternative to buying the aquarium water chiller. Do not even bother attempting to route your water through an old freezer or point an air conditioner at the water.

Marine Aquarium Chillers

Most aquarium water chillers will be suitable for the harsh environment of a marine aquarium.Since these devices are mainly used in marine aquariums it is not surprising. None the less, you should make sure the model you choose is in fact a marine aquarium chiller.

Buying The Chiller

When it comes time to part with your hard earned money expect to pay several hundred dollars for your aquarium water chiller. Cheap aquarium chillers purchased second hand are one money saving option. Sometimes people will buy an old second hand marine aquarium and discard the chiller in preference of their new plans for a tropical tank. This can be a good opportunity to pick up an aquarium chiller cheaply. If they are a reliable brand such as Teco aquarium chillers there is every chance the second hand alternative will chill your fish tank for years to come.