How do you control temp in an nano reef tank?

[Taboojen]

I kept a reef tank for years (60gal) when I lived in the SF bay area. The temp. in the area was usually relatively cool, so I never had issues with rising temps and my coral.

Now that I'm back in Southern California, where on a random day, the temps can be up into the high 90's, my other tanks sometimes sit at 82-86 F degrees.

I'm thinking about setting up a reef tank with my spare 20, but as you know, the smaller tanks heat up a lot faster than tanks with larger volumes. How do you folks keep your tanks cool, without purchasing a chiller? Seems like overkill on a 20?

Any suggestions, other than getting a larger tank? Haha My large tanks are reserved for my monster freshwater fish.

Thanks!

 

[coreyweinkoetz]

a/c the room

 

[frasertheking]

you could build a chiller out of a small fridge, lots of pipe and pump, after a bit of playing you should be able to keep the tank stable at the expensive of using a little extra power.

 

[Knowdafish]

A 20 should fit INSIDE a refrigerator. Just make sure it has a heater and cut a viewing window in the door!

 

[HPIZZLE]

lol

 

[frasertheking]

A 20 should fit INSIDE a refrigerator. Just make sure it has a heater and cut a viewing window in the door!

nah i have seen it done a few times just run liek 20 feet of pipe through the fridge and get a small pump to run back water to the tank.once you got a nice steady flow you set the heater to what ever you want the tank at and bingo chiller for less than 50 quid instead of 500 and up for a commercial one.

 

[coreyweinkoetz]

Na, put it in the frig and modify the ice dispenser to help with the water changes

 

[Knowdafish]

Na, put it in the frig and modify the ice dispenser to help with the water changes

Yeah! You could keep baby king crab in it!

 

[serafino]

Ha lol the best way is to climate control the room that it is in, or very check the temp very frequently and use ice bottles to cool it and the heater to warm it up. The easier way is using the ambient room temp for the tanks.

 

[Taboojen]

Haha. I liked the idea of keeping some baby king crabs in the fridge/freezer aquarium. Definately one of the more cost efficient alternatives. hehe.

Your sugguestions are duly noted. Yeah.. i was thinking about toying with the idea of making a DIY chiller. I heard people used beer keg fridges, and they've worked well.

But since it is indeed a smaller volumed tank, maybe i'll just relocate it into one of the smaller rooms and get one of those portable A/Cs. I was just wondering if there was a way to do it without selling out too much $$$.

But if not, then A/C - as it cost about as much as a chiller, except i can use it for myself too. lol.

Thanks for the tips and comments