Question: How do I set up a chiller?

[dad of axle]

Hello my new Hailea Chiller has finally arrived and I had expected it to come with some tubing to go into the tank, I dont know how to set it up and the instructions dont tell me how to set up very well.
So I am looking for some advice about how to set it up.

the instruction booklet mentions something about having a filter in the tank and i have a small sponge filter, Am I supposed to link it up to that somehow?
I cant fathom how to set it up and would appreciate some straigt forward instructions.

 

[lea]

how exciting
You will need to get a pump or a canister filter. You will notice when you take the pump out it has two openings one on the top(blows water back into the tank) and one on the bottom(sucks water into the pump
hoses will then go
pump(bottom bit) to IN chiller then
OUT chiller hose back into tank

I hope i didnt confuse you anymore

 

[tusken raider]

Sorry a little off topic but where abouts did you order your chiller from or can you recommend somewhere? Im about to set up my tank for my first axolotl and i feel that keeping the water temperature down/ideal will be an issue as you know Australian summers are hot.

 

[dad of axle]

THanks Lea, I will venture to the pet store or big W and get a new canister Filter tomorrow. I am really looking forward to having this Chiller working it will mean I don't have to worry about the temperature in the tank for my axie when I have to go out. No more frozen water bottles.

My Chiller was an ebay purchase.

 

[Blaze]

If you are in Queensland - Guppys Online Aquarium Products

Easiest to use is the Tank Maid internal filter I found. I got the 1500 for my 300L tank as it does 1500L/ph which is a fast turn over. Bunnings has some plastic tubing which is safe and food grade. Take one of the chillers in or outlets and just try a few sizes of hose until one fits on it tightly. The outlet on the internal filter goes to the inlet of the chiller then from the outlet of the chiller back into the tank.

I found this the easiest most effective way.

 

[dad of axle]

Thanks Blaze, I wish I had a car when people mention these things as it would be so quick to get to Bunnings that way instead of the 2 horu round trip on the bus.

I think I should make an effort though as I have heard that it is going to be 35 on the weekend and I don't want my little fellow to endure another hot spell. Frozen water bottles are not my ideal.

I actually approached Guppy Aquariums with my questions when I was looking to buy the chiller and the email bounced. So I bought from else where , but it seems that other people have not had that problem.

I have written to them again to give them a second try too.

I am In South Australia and will try a store nearyby too called Olivers.

it just takes a bit of fun out of a new toy when you find that you need to buy other things for it to work.

 

[iChris]

it's recommended that the water is filtered before it passes into the chiller to prevent the build up of derbies in the chiller itself.

as stated, you'll need a canister filter, a internal power filter or a powerhead with a sponge over the intake.

choose a pump/filter with a flow rate that matches your tank capacity (the filter/pump will need to turn over the total volume of the tank at least 4 times a hour) so if your tank is 100L, it's 100L X 4 and this will give you the base flow rate you'll need. also keep in mind that the filter/pump will need to be strong enough to push water through the chiller and up again though the pipes into the tank so you might want to consider getting a pump that is slightly more powerful than what you need, but you can restrict that flow with a spraybar or simply plumb a tap in before the outlet of the pipe.

also be aware that the chiller will cause condensation in the warmer months and on humid days, and if you have evaporative air con. If you have a wooden stand or a wooden cabinet, this condensation can cause the wood to swell and weaken your stand and you risk getting damp/wet carpet. a good chamois comes in handy, I've got a dedicated shamwow for my tank.

also keep your current sponge filter running too for at least a month to allow for seeding of beneficial bacteria into your new canister filter/power filter. the bacteria will also colonise the inside of the chiller and tubes (over time)

I've got a aqua one reef chiller and it's fed by a 600LPH internal sponge filter, then the outlet goes into the trickle filter into the hood of my tank and then back into the tank.

don't forget hose clamps!

 

[dad of axle]

I looked at filters yesterdat and was a little confused as they all only had one outlet and not two. as did the pump that I looked at, This included looking at a tank maid pro 2000.

I didn't buy one because I didnt know that they were the right thing to buy because I thought I needed an in flow and out flow to the filter not just one flow nozzle near the top of the filter or a single flow nozzle in the pump.

 

[iChris]

that's all you need. the outlet of the pump goes directly into the chiller, so the chiller runs directly off the pump/filter.

 

[dad of axle]

Thank you to everyone for the help with setting up my Hailea Chiller,which is now up and running. It is just in time too as the next few days the temperature is expected to be around 37 Degrees Celsius here in Adelaide.

I am so looking forward to not spending time at home changing water bottles and stressing out my axie with the heat.
yipee

The poor thing is going through a temperature transition at I type because he has spent the first six months of his life with temps at the upper limit of desirable. The new filter that I had to buy to work with the Chiller is working well too and I now realise that the former small sponge filter was way too small for the job. ( I have followed the advice and am going to leave it in the tank for a month while the cycle takes hold in the new filter).

 

[lea]

You dont realise how much time you spend fiddling with the tank just to keep it cool do you???
Well done your axie is loving it as well.