Explain Chillers to Me, Please!

[curiouscookie]

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a Hailea HC-150A to keep my axie's tank cold in preparation for summer in Australia, and I'm having an absolute nightmare researching what else I need and how I set it up. In short, can someone please explain how to do this for me as if I am stupid? I really don't mind being patronized; I'm messing about with water and electricity here and I don't want to make any mistakes. My current understanding is that I need a canister filter, the chiller, some form of tubing, and something to secure said tubing. So what I really want help with here is what stuff I need to get so that it works and I'm not spending a small fortune on the wrong equipment. For context, this is for a 70ish litre tank.

TLDR; what tubing and bits and bobs should I get?

Also, before anyone points this out, I did try to ask the people at my LFS and I was repeatedly told "I don't need a chiller" and "just putting in frozen bottles will be fine." Hence why I'm coming here for help. I'm really hoping someone here can help me, as I'm finding this whole research process absolutely flipping impossible. Thanks so much!

 

[wolfen]

using an external filter (canister) prior to the chiller cuts down muck build up in the chillers pipe works which allows the chiller to work more efficiently. the manual even states that a filter is required.
you should get pipes with an external filter, also get either a inlet sponge or mesh inlet guard to go over the inlet to protect from any accidental injuries.
the inlet pipe goes from the tank to the filter, the filter outlet pipe then goes to the chiller inlet, the chiller outlet pipe goes back to the tank.
the pipes that fit the filter should also fit the chiller.
using a chiller is a lot better than ice bottles as the water temperature is kept at a constant temperature rather than fast fluctuating temperatures which can be as stressful as high temperatures.