Well, that really depends on your situation, is the short answer.

Here’s the long answer:

If you’re only interested in an aquarium chiller because you live in a warm climate where it’s difficult to control the temperature of your tank in the summer months, or even parts of spring and fall, then no - you don’t need an aquarium chiller in the winter. That said, it’s still the best time of the year to find deals on aquarium chillers, since they sell at a premium in the summer when buyers tend to run into the store desperate to save their tank.

If you use metal halides, however, you may still want to use an aquarium chiller on your tank, particularly if you have a small water volume. I know a lot of people who link to grow SPS corals in nano cubes or other small tanks because they live in apartments or don’t have a large room to dedicate to their aquarium, which leaves them with a lot of powerful lights and not much water volume to dissipate the ambient heat. In this case, an aquarium chiller is an essential piece of equipment year-round to balance out the heat from your lighting rig, although you may need to adjust the temperature in the winter to account for the change in weather.

And if you own a larger tank? That really depends on your tank volume and lighting rig. I know a guy who needs two chillers to cool his 200g tank because of the number of high-intensity lamps that he’s using to light his coral; however, many other hobbyists will be able to properly balance their lighting and tank volume. Ultimately, the aquarium chiller is just another tool to allow you to manipulate the tank space and lighting that is available to you. If you have no interest in stony corals, an aquarium chiller is probably overkill, unless you live in Texas or somewhere similar. However, if you’re interested in a full, vibrant reef set-up, and the kind of lighting that it requires, you’re probably going to need a chiller for at least part of the year.

Check out the store to learn more about what options are best for a tank and lighting set-up like yours.

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One Warning about the Iceprobe

by admin on January 22, 2010

Iceprobe Thermoelectric Aquarium Chiller


Cooling Ability 5star
Noise Level Score 4star3
Price 3star

Available on Amazon for $126 here

*This is ONLY for small tanks*

The Iceprobe is quiet, reliable, and efficient, and doesn’t use gasses or chemicals that could hurt your livestock. However, it’s only ideal for small aquariums. The manufacturer states that it can lower a 10 gallon tank 6-8 degrees, but it just doesn’t work for big tanks - they even say you might need more than one!

I use one on a 24 gallon tank, though, and it works great. It climbed up to 100 degrees this summer, and the air conditioning in my apartment isn’t that great, but with good flow I managed to keep my water temperature in the safe zone.

The Coolworks Iceprobe is currently on sale for $24 dollars off

Let me show you what current owners have to say about it.

JPC1985.,

I bought this chiller because I wanted to have more cooling power for the summer, but didn’t want to buy or install an expensive chiller. I have it set so that if the water temperature reaches 78.5 it turns on, then if the temperature reaches 78.9 the fan turns on too. Since I’ve had it, the fan has only turned on once for a few minutes. I feel that it exactly offsets the heat from the metal halide. I give it 5 stars based on price, easy install, and because it makes no noise!

Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here.

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Why Seahorse Tanks Need Aquarium Chillers

November 12, 2009

A lot of people have been asking me lately why some people suggest aquarium chillers for seahorse tanks, and other people don’t. It’s not actually a matter of opinion - it depends on the type of seahorse you want to keep.
Different species of seahorse occupy a wide range of habitats across the globe. While many [...]

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Is an aquarium chiller worth the money?

November 1, 2009

I get this question a lot when people find out I like to run an aquarium chiller on my aquarium: is it worth it?
My answer: absolutely
I know that buying an aquarium chiller is a big investment, but I tend to think of it like this - an aquarium chiller is an insurance policy. It helps [...]

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Cheap Aquarium Chiller Alternatives

July 20, 2009

I know everyone might not want or be able to afford a big aquarium chiller - the most common question I get is how you can make a cheap aquarium chiller to cool your aquarium without spending a lot of money. Here are the most popular solutions that I’ve tried, and the pros-and-cons of each approach.
1. [...]

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The Most Popular Aquarium Chiller on Amazon

June 22, 2009

1/3 HP Current USA Prime Tower Chiller

Cooling Ability

Noise Level Score

Price

On Sale on Amazon for $184 off
According to Amazon.com, Current’s Prime 1/3 hp aquarium chiller is the best-selling aquarium chiller on their site. This is an awesome aquarium chiller, powerful and quiet, and made out of really high quality stuff, like all of [...]

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Why You Need a Chiller for Your Aquarium

June 19, 2009

By Richard Gilliland
Heat is a factor that can adversely affect both humans and animals and if you own an aquarium you must be well aware that each type of fish needs to live in a temperature that mimics their natural habitat. Both freshwater and saltwater fish cannot live in temperatures that are warmer than the [...]

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Welcome to Aquarium Chiller Reviews

June 4, 2009

Welcome to Aquarium Chiller Reviews!
Check out some of our most popular posts:

The Most Popular Aquarium Chiller on Amazon
Why You Need a Chiller for Your Aquarium
Cheap Aquarium Chiller Alternatives

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