Chiller Advice

So, I know its still winter, but I am trying to think ahead. I have only had my tank a little over two months but I know summer will be here sooner than it seems.

So, I have never had this tank in all four seasons at my house. My house is NOT air conditioned, but rather it has evaporative cooling (which I love, I know, I'm crazy by most people's standards). Most of the summer the inside temps are in the high 70s but it feels like low 70's. Most of the summer is like this except the 7-10 days spread through the summer where the outside temps are in the high 80s to low 90s and the humidity is above 40. This is when the house is bearable but certainly not cool. I am afraid the tank will get too hot during some of these days and even some of the more moderate days as well.

So, I need a chiller most likely. I have ~120 gallons of water and I keep it at 80 degrees. I do not need a temp controller since I have a Reefkeeper. I want to hear from people that already run (or have run) a chiller...What size do you think I will need, what brands do you know are proven and what ones are the best value?

I just had to come back and help someone out. Darn, I can't stay away for more than two weeks...

The first question is why do you need a chiller? I would first wait to see if you really need one. If fans can't keep it cool due to the higher humidity, then maybe. If the tank never gets above 82 degrees F or so, I wouldn't waist my money. I'm sure you can get a chiller if and when you need it, but if you buy it now, you might be trying to sell it this summer for less than what you paid.

If you still need one, then I would recommend a Tradewinds or Aqualogic chiller, probably a 1/4 hp model, based upon your tank size. I would stick with an in-line model. I would also recommend a high-quality controller to go with it.

If you don't mind DIY, then you could purchase a titanium heat exchanger and do a geothermal loop chiller. You might not save that much money up front, but the power usage of chillers is notoriously high.

Hope this helps.