Aquarium chiller
Device that cools the aquarium water. Indispensable in summer for reef aquariums where the temperature must remain below 27 degrees.
Detailed explanation
The refrigerator is the opposite of the heater: it removes heat from the water. In the reef it is often more important than the heater because summer temperatures in Italy easily exceed 28-30 degrees, critical threshold for corals.
It works like a small air conditioner: a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser exchange heat between the water and the ambient air. The water passes through the exchanger and returns to the aquarium cooled.
The sizing depends on the volume of the aquarium, the maximum ambient temperature and the heat generated by the lighting. A rough rule of thumb is 1/10 HP for each 100 litres of aquarium in an environment with a maximum temperature of 30 degrees.
The most used brands are Teco, Hailea, Aqua Medic and JBJ. Teco are considered among the best for reliability and silence.
The cooler must be placed in a ventilated environment. The heat it removes from the water is released to the air. In a closed compartment the chiller heats the surrounding environment and loses efficiency.
Alternatives to the refrigerator include: cooling fans on the water surface (cheap but increase evaporation), air conditioning in the room (expensive but also cools the room), turning off the lighting during the hottest hours.
In freshwater aquariums, the cooler is only needed in aquariums with demanding species (Caridina shrimp, stream fish). Most tropical fish tolerate up to 30-32 degrees for short periods.
Cold water fish and koi do not need a refrigerator: they tolerate high temperatures as long as there is enough dissolved oxygen.
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