The water temperature is important for aquatic life to thrive properly.
Since the inhabitants of the aquarium would be fish and they are cold-blooded, you can expect that their body temperatures would be controlled by the surrounding environment.
It is the reason you need to get a chiller so as to help bring the temperature of the aquarium within the right range for your fish breed.
So, which are the best aquarium chillers?
Anyone who has never used an aquarium chiller before would have this question in his mind. Well, let that not worry you so much as we get to check out some of the best chillers you can get for your aquarium below.
Table of Contents
How to Choose an Aquarium Chiller?
The Flow Rate
It is important you get the right model with the best flow rate. The flow rate often determines just how well the chiller can maintain the water temperature of the aquarium. You need the chiller to have the right flow rate, which is neither too fast nor too slow.
Energy Consumption
The chiller will be running on electricity and this sometimes gets people concerned about the amount of energy they would use. Chillers are often designed to consume less energy so that they can be useful for keeping the water temperature within the right range. It will not hurt to compare different models to find one that consumes less energy.
The Aquarium Capacity
The flow rate often goes in hand with the capacity of the aquarium. It is always better to get a model that comes with the right flow rate for the aquarium capacity.
Do not use a model meant for small aquariums on the large aquariums, as it will not be effective. Most manufacturers would indicate this figure on the product description so that you know where to use the chiller.
The Construction
You will need a model that lasts for years to come. This calls for checking out the construction material used to make the chiller. Most would be made of plastic materials with a few metal parts. You need to make sure that even the plastic part can last for long giving you value for your money.
The Refrigerant Liquid
Today we have many people who are concerned about the environment. It is the reason you will find them taking the time to look for a refrigerant that does not affect the environment.
Well, most of the aquarium chillers are also moving in that direction. Check out the different types of refrigerants used in the chiller and find out if it is great for the environment first.
Operating Noise Level
No one wants to end up with a chiller that would be making a lot of noise while operating. So, check out what other people are saying about the operation noise to expect from the model first before buying.
Some might have a buzzing noise, which at first might not be bad, but can get irritating with time. The fan noise can be tolerated, as it is not always easy to find a chiller without a bit of operation noise.
The question is how loud is the noise?
The 5 Best Aquarium Chillers for Your Small or Large Tanks
If you were a person who loves the environment, you would opt for this type of Active aqua chiller. The reason is that these chillers are Freon-free types of chillers making them safe for the environment. As for the refrigeration, they use the R134a refrigerant, which is safe.
The chiller will help in keeping the reservoir’s nutrient solution at the right temperature at all times. The unit overall is just easy to control thanks to the few controls that come with the chiller.
You should end up loving the chiller with its large refrigeration capacity. It can easily work with volumes of 10 to 40 gallons/50 to 150 L (1/10 HP), 80 to 250 gallons/300 to 950 L (1 HP).
With such a capacity, you can expect that it would be perfect for the different types of aquariums that people own today. You can take it home knowing that it would deliver the right performance for your aquarium.
The model is further great to use for both freshwater and saltwater aquarium. This is due to the use of the anti-corrosive pure titanium for the evaporator. No more worries about rust that would have been caused by the saltwater as all that is eliminated. You can also easily use the same chiller for the different types of aquariums that you own.
What about the rate of flow?
That is something that people would want to know. At 1/10 HP, it is still great for aquarium use. This kind of power gives it an impressive flow rate of 132 to 396 gallons per hour. As you can see, it should be great for different types of applications depending on the aquarium that you own now.
The microcomputer control system is great when it comes to using the model for chilling the aquarium. The control system also makes it easy for the user to interact with the model without referring to the manual all the time. Since it is user-friendly, expect more people to find it as a great product to keep using.
Pros
It is user-friendly
It is Freon free
Impressive flow rate
It offers a large refrigeration capacity
Cons
The construction quality could be improved
2. Hamilton Technology Aqua Euro Max Aquarium Chiller
The controls found on the display are great when it comes to maintaining the water temperature within the correct range. You can lower the water temperature easily so that the aquarium inhabitants get to stay in a great environment.
The best part is that you still get a thermostat important for returning to the last temperature that the user set in the event there is a power outage. There is also the anti-freezing system important not to allow the heat exchanger to cause memory recall.
The model comes made of titanium material for the heat exchanger so as to avoid the chiller from issues of corrosion. The heat exchanger works at 25 percent BTU per watt, which is an advantage as it will be using less power and still provide the best cooling effect for your aquarium.
The model comes fitted with a high efficient condenser that will be using less energy thus saving you on a number of energy bills you have to pay for having the additional chiller for your aquarium.
The compressor found in the model uses Dupont, which is an environmentally safe refrigerant as compared to the other types of refrigerants that other compressors use today. You will always be using the chiller knowing that it would not harm the environment. The model is rated by 1/13 HP, which is enough power to handle the different types of aquariums.
The model is great for aquariums of different capacities up to 50 gallons. The flow rate is 160 to 295 gallons per hour. For its size, the flow rate is sufficient keeping in mind the capacity of the aquarium it would be used on.
The overall set up process for the model is easier. The manufacturer provides you with all the instructions important for the process. The manual is easy to read and understand so that you get to install the model easily.
The cleaning and maintenance of the model are still easy as the setup process. You have to make sure that you stick the maintenance schedules as recommended by the manufacturer. This should help keep the model in the right working condition all the time.
Pros
It is a powerful model
It has a compact design
It is easy to operate
It has an anti-freezing system
Cons
No instructions for cleaning the filter and condenser
3. IceProbe Thermoelectric Aquarium Chiller
The model is designed to be compact so that you do not have to worry about the space and where to store the chiller after buying it. The chiller uses a thermoelectric liquid for the chilling process. The liquid is important for absorbing the heat by using the probe mounted on the model.
The heat is then dissipated to the environment by using the heatsink found on the model. The heat sink is kept cool by having a low-speed fan running all the time. The best part is that this is the only moving part of the chiller, thus friction is down.
The chiller is further made to be lightweight and reliable when it comes to using it. You will not have to think about taking it to the technician all the time to fix something as the model is designed to be the best. The other great feature about the chiller should be that it is easy to install. With a few parts to connect, you should be done in no time when you decide to get this model for your aquarium.
The model is having all these features make it great for a wide range of applications. You can find the model often being used where small amounts of water or other liquids have to be cooled. The common application would be for aquarium chilling as it removes the heat from the aquarium to achieve the right temperature. Some other applications include chilling the residential drinking water systems.
The model overall is designed to be a low voltage device. So, if you were always concerned about the amount of power the new devices are going to consume, then all that should not be a problem. The model will end up using the same power a standard 40-watt light bulb will be using.
As for the capacity, you could use the chiller for a 20-gallon aquarium for the right amount of chilling. The efficiency might however go down when used on the larger aquariums.
The chiller seems to be built with high-quality components as it will last for a long time to come. The fan found at the top of the heat sink is further quiet so that you do not have to worry about the noise.
Pros
It is an affordable model
It is reliable
No need for a water pump
It offers a quiet operation
Cons
Not the best for larger aquariums
4. JBJ Aquarium Arctica Titanium Chiller
This is another top aquarium chiller that you can get on the market today. It is a start art chiller that comes with the best-advanced features when compared to the other types of chillers on the market right now.
The company used years of research and development to make sure that the device they produced was the best when it comes to stabilizing the water temperature in the aquarium.
The titanium heat exchanger is made of a titanium coil. This allows for the maximum contact exposure so that you can have more heat exchanged easily as compared to some other chillers. This is one of the best and unique types of heat exchanger you can get on the market today.
The condenser of the model is placed on the front side of the chiller. Such a design is great to ensure that cool air is drawn from the front and have the warm air out from the back. You should also have easy access to the condenser if you have to clean it with ease because of the location.
Energy efficiency is another thing that will get you loving the model even more. The model comes with high heat removal capacity, but this still happens at the low amperes. The low amperage draw makes sure that you do not have to worry about paying a lot of money on the energy bills at the end of the month.
You still get a fully automated digital control system for the temperature. The thermostat is what makes this possible, as it will help control the water temperature to the desired range. There is a bright LCD on the model that should make reading both at night and day easy.
The low noise and vibration levels should get anyone interested in getting this chiller for themselves. This is a big plus for most people who would love to have a chiller in their living rooms for their aquariums.
The model is still compact in size so that it does not take up much of your space. The compact size should make it easy to find somewhere to keep the model without any trouble.
Pros
Impressive reliability
It is easy to use
A quite model
Simple to install
Cons
It is expensive
Slow customer service
5. Coralife Energy Savers ACL36060 Chiller
If you are in the market for a top aquarium chiller, this is also another option. Coralife is a brand that has the best reputation when it comes to making premium aquarium products. You can always get this chiller having the confidence that it should work just as you expect it.
This model comes with an accurate temperature control system. You simply have to choose the right type of temperature and get it working properly without having to worry so much. The right temperature is always important to make sure that the fish get to stay within the right environment.
There is also the use of high-quality materials to make the model. These high-quality materials are important to make sure that the model lasts for a long time to serve you better.
There is the inclusion of an air filter important for keeping the contaminants from reaching the cooling unit. This means that the cooling unit gets to work at maximum efficiency to keep the water within the right temperature range. Lack of dirt is also great for the longevity of the chiller motor.
With no dirt getting to it, the motor should work optimally always. The access to the air filter is easy and can easily be removed if you have to do some cleaning to it. The best part is the air filter is easily reusable once you have cleaned it.
Pros
It is easy to use
Reusable air filter
It is easy to install
Comes from a top brand
Cons
It is loud when operating
What is the Best Aquarium Chiller?
The JBJ Aquarium Arctica titanium chiller is one of the best chillers you can get on the market today. It comes with all the important features you can want in a chiller.
It is quiet when it comes to its operation so that you can keep it in the living room without worrying that it will affect your comfort. With its high efficient condenser, it is able to use less energy compared to other models.
When to Use an Aquarium Chiller?
The work of the chiller is to help keep the water at a cool temperature that the cold-water fish requires. This means that you would want to have an aquarium chiller if you are rearing the type of fish that would need colder water and also higher dissolved oxygen in the water.
How Does an Aquarium Chiller Work?
An aquarium chiller works by taking the heat from the water and then transferring it to another place such as the environment. This process is often referred to as the heat exchange. The chiller would have components such as the heat exchanger, expansion valve, compressor, and a condenser coil.
The cooling cycling will start from the heat exchanger where the refrigerant will absorb the heat from the aquarium water being circulated in the unit. Most of the time, you will get a heat exchanger made of titanium, which is corrosion resistant even when used for saltwater aquariums.
The compressor will then pump the refrigerant vapor to get to the condenser when it is cooled and then sent back to the heat exchanger to take out more heat from the aquarium water.
How to Install an Aquarium Chiller?
The installation will vary based on the type of chiller. The basic types include a drop-in chiller and an inline chiller. The drop-in chiller will have a heat exchange coil that you place in the sump for it to work. It is as simple as that.
The inline chiller will have water pushed through it for cooling before it is circulated back to the aquarium. You have to choose a model with the right flow rate so that the water in the tank will be maintained easily.
As for the installation, check out the manual of the chiller for further instructions and tools that you need for the job.
Where to Place Aquarium Chiller?
Most of the aquarium chillers would be compact thus taking up less space. You should have an easy time finding several spaces to put them.
Make sure that the chiller is close to the aquarium water so that the water is easily maintained within the right temperature range.
How to Clean Aquarium Chiller?
Start by disconnecting the water pipe connections to the aquarium chiller as the first step. You should do the same for the electrical connection.
For a model that was used for freshwater, then cleaning should be easy. You simply rinse the chiller with clean water until it is clean. As for that used with saltwater, there might be some calcium deposits on the side.
You have to clean with vinegar as a way of removing the deposits sticking on the sides and end up with a clean chiller.
Conclusion
The aquarium chillers reviews give you all the important information that you need to know about the chiller before getting one. This means that the next time you have to choose the right chiller, you get to do so based on the correct information.
Taking care of the aquarium life should get you enjoying a lively tank each time as the water temperature is within the right range thanks to the chiller. Take the time to check out the different models before you can decide on one that can fulfill the needs that you have for a chiller.
I totally disagree with Hydrofarms chiller even being on here. Why? I have had several of them fail. I do aquarium maintenance and had problems with sensors and fans going out usually within a year of use. One reef tank went into the high 80s and I lost several corals and fish because the fan went out. Another had a bad sensor and was on a lobster tank at a restaurant and all the lobsters died!
So what do you use for a chiller then if those ones didn’t work or didn’t last? What’s the product name and how well does it really work and what size tank are you using it on the one you’re using now??
The water temperature is important for aquatic life to thrive properly. 
I totally disagree with Hydrofarms chiller even being on here. Why? I have had several of them fail. I do aquarium maintenance and had problems with sensors and fans going out usually within a year of use. One reef tank went into the high 80s and I lost several corals and fish because the fan went out. Another had a bad sensor and was on a lobster tank at a restaurant and all the lobsters died!
So what do you use for a chiller then if those ones didn’t work or didn’t last? What’s the product name and how well does it really work and what size tank are you using it on the one you’re using now??
you do know that # 1 and # 2 come from the same factory right?
this factory makes several braands of chiller but all are the same
Your list does not include TecoUS Chillers.
These Italian chillers are easily better than any JBJ chiller on the market.
They have a lot lower power draw, directional air output, WiFi expandability, and they are quieter.