| As the name suggests, fish tank chillers are designed | | | | than a chiller unit. It is also possible to purchase an |
| to keep the water in your fish tank cool in warmer | | | | aquarium heater and chiller in one unit which can be |
| climates. They are mainly used in marine aquariums | | | | used year round to maintain the water temperature |
| where fish tend to be highly sensitive to temperature | | | | in both summer and winter. |
| although fancy goldfish in tropical climes also benefit | | | | When choosing your chiller you will have a choice of |
| from the use of a fish tank chiller. An additional | | | | thermoelectric, in-line or drop-in fish tank chiller. |
| benefit is that cooler water has a greater capacity to | | | | Thermoelectric chillers are commonly used in small |
| hold dissolved oxygen thus avoiding issues with low | | | | tanks of less than 60 gallon capacity. They are |
| levels of oxygen in your aquarium. | | | | energy efficient and silent running and can be used in |
| When do you need the fish tank chiller? | | | | both salt and freshwater aquariums. |
| A fish tank chiller will be required when you run an | | | | Drop-in chillers are commonly used in saltwater |
| aquarium with fish that prefer to live in cold water | | | | aquariums or reef set ups. They require no additional |
| only. Aquarium chillers will maintain the water | | | | plumbing and are fitted in line with the tank filter. |
| temperature you desire. Changing the temperature is | | | | They are simple to install and have low maintenance |
| something you need to do yourself, manually. | | | | requirements. |
| An alternative to a chiller is to run an air conditioning | | | | In-line aquarium chillers are manufactured for tanks |
| unit in the room that contains the aquarium, however | | | | with a capacity of 60 gallons or more. They have a |
| running the air conditioner just to keep the fish tank | | | | motor, a compressor and cooling fans and will require |
| water at the desired temperature can be a very | | | | a well-ventilated area for installation. They may |
| expensive option. And even though a fish tank chiller | | | | require professional installation and they are quite |
| may seem like an expensive item it will soon pay for | | | | large. |
| itself if you are not running the air conditioner day - | | | | An aquarium thermometer is an inexpensive |
| especially if you are not home during the day or you | | | | necessity to use in conjunction with your tank chiller. |
| are on vacation. | | | | If your chiller fails or mismanages the temperature of |
| Another chiller alternative is to add ice to the tank | | | | your aquarium you need to know immediately. A |
| but this is highly impractical unless it is a very short | | | | thermometer is a reliable way of monitory the |
| term method to deal with heat wave conditions. If | | | | temperature. |
| you do need to add ice to your tank it can be added | | | | The main disadvantages of fish tank chillers are the |
| by freezing water in a bottle. The frozen water | | | | cost of the units themselves - which can vary from |
| bottle can be lowered into the tank or hung on the | | | | a few hundred up to several thousand dollars - and |
| side of the tank. | | | | the energy that they consume, which can be 80-100 |
| For very warm climates and for fish that naturally | | | | watts per hour. |
| require cold water there is no real alternative other | | | | |