When it comes to creating a 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.
There is a built in temperature sensor so that it can stay accurate and not run constantly. Keeping high efficiency the freon free compressor provides more rapid and stable cooling compared to smaller fans.
It uses r135a refrigerant, circulating with out pollution.
BTU rating: The 160L chiller is 1/10hp (0.07Btu/hr) and 300L chiller is 1/3hp (0.24Btu/hr)
Taking a closer look, the inner elements are pure titanium, so the chiller will not be affected by corrosion.
The chiller features an easy to use digital thermostat controller with accurate temperature detection from 68 degrees F to 78 degrees F.
The red display makes the temperature settings easy to read. It only shows temperatures in Fahrenheit, but you can set the starting temperature and shutdown temperature.
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 IceProbe Thermoelectric Chiller is one of the best known “probe” chillers in the aquarium hobby. This chiller is popular because most of them are kept in small aquariums under 20 gallons. 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. The first is how it was originally designed which is to be inserted through a hole in the side of the aquarium. So to do this properly it will need to be done before set-up of the tank, because you will need to drill a hole, secure and silicone seal. 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.
The adjustable brackets allow for versatile placement options, accommodating various tank sizes and configurations. Do note: it is a rim clamp, and can be adjusted to a max of 12mm thick tank rims. With a thicker rim the negative is you might not get the fan to point directly down onto the water or as close to the water surface for better cooling. The clamp works well with rimless tanks, however like any equipment that hangs on the edge of the glass you might want to add a thin foam or cloth for protective layer aiding to avoid scratches.
The fan blades are designed with a protective cover, preventing any accidental mishaps. It comes with a power cord with a 12V plug, that can be plugged in directly or added to a timer. This is the biggest negative about the design, the cord is short (120cm/47.2) inch, so plan to have an extension cord.
When it comes to performance, the LONDAFISH Aquarium Cooling Fan meets expectations in most cases. The fans operate quietly on low setting and a bit loud on fast setting. I was impressed by the airflow generated by the dual fans, effectively reducing the water temperature and providing a gentle current throughout the tank. Even during hot summer days, the cooling fan managed to keep the water temperature within the desired range.
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
- On thicker rim tanks – can’t be tilted flat with water surface