Chances are if you have a fish aquarium whether at home or at the office you need an aquarium chiller for the tank. An aquarium chiller keeps the tank’s temperature consistent which lowers the stress in the tank. It also prevents the growth and spread of disease and algae in your fish tank. During the summer months of the year, it is difficult to maintain a consistent water temperature. This is why you need an aquarium chiller. They are very low maintenance and once it is purchased it should give you years of service
The ideal temperature for fish in a fish tank is between 76 degrees and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. There are other ways to cool your tank such as using your air conditioner but when the temperature of the tank goes above 82 degrees the only solution you have is to use an aquarium chiller.
How Does an Aquarium Chiller Work?
How does an aquarium chiller work? It basically operates on the same principles that a refrigerator or air conditioner. There is a thermostat control unit on all chillers which allows you to set the optimum temperature for your tank. The workings of the chiller are based on that of gas expansion and contraction. A refrigeration gas, such as freon is compressed which results in a loss of temperature. This compressed gas flows through the heat exchanger, where it picks up heat from the aquarium water being pumped through the heat exchanger. The gas carries the heat back to the compressor and as it goes it comes across the expansion valve, which allows the pressure to drop suddenly. As the pressure drops, the gas gives up heat to a radiator, which dispels the heat into surrounding air with the help of a fan. The water then returns to the aquarium at a lower temperature then when it first entered the unit.
Types of Aquarium Chillers
There are two types of aquarium chillers. They are the drop-in and inline chillers. The drop-in chiller resides next to the tank while feeding coolant through an external probe that sits in the water. The inline chiller processes water being fed to it by the pump.
How do you decide which one is best for you? Well, basically they have the same features so either one of them will work. One deciding factor will be the size of your tank. A larger tank will require a larger chiller. A smaller tank will require a smaller chiller. Chillers range in quality and efficiency. If you need to purchase one you need to get literature from several companies that sell the chillers and compare them.
No matter what the size of your aquarium is, you will need the use of a chiller to keep your tank cool. You can search the Internet for prices on different chillers. Also your local pet store will have some information that they can give you.