When it comes to creating chiller thriving environment for your aquatic companions, maintaining the ideal water temperature is a critical factor that cannot be overlooked.
Fortunately, aquarium water chillers offer a reliable solution to combat rising temperatures, ensuring a refreshing and comfortable habitat for your underwater pets.
So whether you are battling relentless heat in certain regions or seasons and aim to keep your tank stale, or have specific cool water loving species like axolotls a water chiller might be a necessary purchase.
In this enlightening article, we will plunge into the world of aquarium water chillers, exploring their significance, features, and the leading contenders that claim the coveted title of the best chiller for your aquatic haven.
So, let’s dive in and discover the coolest allies to keep your aquarium’s temperature in check!
The JBJ Aquarium Arctica chiller is one of the most popular and for good reason! It was built to last, super-quiet, and two-year warranty, yet reasonably priced
My Top Pick:
Aquarium Chiller Reviews
1. JBJ Aquarium Arctica Titanium (1/10, 1/3, 1/5 HP)
The JBJ Arctica Titanium Aquarium Chiller incorporates some of the most advanced technological features.
The unique JBJ titanium coil design provides maximum contact to increase chilling efficiency.
The condenser is located on the front side of the chiller.
This configuration draws cool air from the front and exhausts the warm air out of the back.
Be sure to leave enough room for the hot air to circulate away from the coils.
The built-in thermostat and controller will automatically maintain your desired set temperature within +/-1 degree Fahrenheit.
The controller has a bright light LCD that can actually be read day or night. Hoses connect to the chiller by ½”-3/4″ barbed fittings. The chiller has a two-year warranty.
Dimensions are: 16.5″ L x 9.8″ W x 18.5″ H. The chiller is rated for a maximum aquarium size of 130 gallons. The recommended water pump should be rated at 160-295 gallons per hour.
The best way to size the chiller is through JBJ’s on-line calculator.
This is what they recommend:
1/10 HP – Aquariums up to 130 gallons
1/5 HP – Aquariums up to 180 gallons
1/4 HP – Aquariums up to 260 gallons
1/3 HP – Aquariums up to 340 gallons
Pros:
- Very quiet compared to some other chillers
- Good reliability
- Easy to read LCD controller
- Two-Year warranty
- Plug and play simplicity
- Easy to read LCD controller
Cons:
- Customer service is slow
2. BAOSHISHAN Aquarium Chiller 1/10 HP
The Baoshishan is a complete temperature control system for aquariums. It is ideal for tanks less than 42 gallons/160L, keeping temperature consistent with the ability to drop up to 8-10 degrees F.
If you wish to have water temperature be below 68 degrees F, this can be achieved if the tank is 42 gallons or smaller.
The build-quality is great! With a fit and finish to look nice sitting next to or under your aquarium. This also means no sharp edges and no annoying rattles and vibrations.
A top pro of this chiller is how quiet it is! A soft hum-white noise with a slightly louder “off” click, but nothing you would ever come to hate.
The water temperature probe uses incoming water as a reference. This ensures that the thermostat is reading the water temperature in the aquarium, not the outgoing chilled water.
Water in and out connections fit 3/4-inch outer diameter tubing, with an inner diameter of 12mm. This tubing is included with purchase of the chiller.
The recommended pump flow is 600-800L/H (158-211gph) and that is achieved with the provided pump.
Dimensions are 13.39 x 7.87 x 11.81 inches.
Rated for 110v
Pros:
- Outstanding buld quality & exterior design
- One-year warranty
- Hightly efficient operation
- Extremely quiet
- Easy install
- Great customer service
Cons:
- Only sufficient to cool aquarium less than 42 gallon/160L
- Cost is a bit high for the volume it can cool
- Limited to Fahrenheit display only
3. Active Aqua Chiller 1/10 HP
Active Aqua chillers are used primarily by hydroponics growers but are designed to work as an aquarium chiller.
The control display, buttons and performance are well-suited for aquarium use.
Active Aqua is a Freon-free system that uses environmentally friendly R-134a refrigerant.
The touch pad with LCD makes it easy to set the temperature.
Temperature settings are stored in the unit’s memory. This means the chiller will restart and maintain the proper temperature setting after unplugging it or a power failure.
The default “deadband” setting is two degrees F above the temperature setting. This prevents the chiller from short-cycling or constantly turning on and off. This feature will dramatically prolong the lifespan of the unit.
Built-in handles make positioning and moving the chiller easy. It has a corrosion-resistant titanium heat exchanger that is safe for fresh and saltwater applications.
The chiller is rated for 1,020 BTU per hour. It comes with two sets of fittings, so you’ll have a choice of either ¾” or 1” tubing. It is capable of chilling a 40-gallon aquarium by 15°F and a 13-gallon tank by 30°F. The recommended water pump flow rate is 132‒396 GPH. The chiller is relatively quiet with a 50-dB sound level. The range for user-set temperature is 39°F to 90°F (3°C to 32°C). Dimensions are 18.3L x 11.8W x 18.4H.
Pros:
- Plug and play simplicity
- Reliable & accurate
- Digital display
Cons:
- Most of the online information is for hydroponics
- No aquarium-related instructions or guides
- NO customer support for aquarium application
- More expensive
4. IceProbe Thermoelectric Aquarium Chiller
The chillers are well-built with high-quality components. The fan on top of the heat sink is relatively quiet.
With this style of chiller you have two options for use. If you want to drill through your aquarium the probe requires a 1.5” hole. The chiller comes with a sturdy threaded nut and gasket that seals the chiller in place and prevents leaks. The chilling probe requires 3 – 1/8 inches of clearance inside the aquarium.
The second way, if your tank is already set up is to get a little creative, because it will need to be placed on the waters surface. Some great ideas are creating a custom holding system for proper use, or cutting a hole in your HOB filter.
The device measures 4″ x 4 3/4″ x 7 1/2″ including the probe.
The IceProbe has a one-year warranty.
Pros:
- Great for cooling smaller aquariums
- Quiet operation
- Reliable
- Moderately priced
- No water pump needed
Cons:
- Can’t cool larger aquariums
- Looks unattractive when suspended over the aquarium
5. LONDAFISH Aquarium Cooling Fan
The LONDAFISH Aquarium Cooling Fan boasts a sleek and compact design, making it easy to install and integrate into any aquarium setup. Equipped with two fans, it offers double the cooling power, ensuring a consistent and comfortable environment for my aquatic inhabitants. The double fan can consistently reduce the water temperature from 2 to 5 degrees. Of course the effectiveness of cooling depends heavily on the ambient temperature.
This is the biggest negative about the design, the cord is short (120cm/47.2) inch, so plan to have an extension cord.
2 Fan Size (LxWxH): Approx.20.3 x 6.5 x 9.5cm/7.9 x 2.5 x 3.7inch
Pros:
- Moderate build quality & sleek exterior design
- Decent efficiency in reducing temperatures by 2 to 5 degrees (depending on ambient temperature)
- Acceptable quiet on low speed
- Easy install
- Affordable!
Cons:
- Only sufficient to cool aquarium less than 42 gallon/160L – will need to purchase more than one pair
- Short power cord 120cm/47.2 inch