TECO Chiller/Heaters

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IMPORTANT! Before purchasing any chiller/heater you should consider all the points below.

The entire TECO TK range from the TK 500 upwards can heat as well as chill. Simply set the unit to your desired temperature and it will hold your aquarium at that temperature. The hysteresis is adjustable. This is a highly efficient way of maintaining your aquarium's temperature without the use of external heaters. TK 500, TK 1000 and TK 2000 models use the new environmentally-friendly gas R290. These chiller/heaters are 30-50% more efficient than those using older refrigerants.

The TK 3000, TK 6000 and TK 9000 models are capable of heating as well as chilling. They can be fitted with inboard heater upgrade kits up to 1.6kW in 400 watt increments. These heaters can be fitted at time of purchase or retro-fitted to existing TK 3000, TK 6000 and TK 9000 models if required.

If you are not sure which chiller/heater you require, please contact us and we will be able to work out which model would best suit your needs. We can calculate the true kcal/h of your individual aquarium or system and match it to the correctly sized unit.

When purchasing a chiller there are many things to consider beyond price and looks. It must be remembered that an aquarium chiller takes heat out of the aquarium, it does not put cold in. The water returning from the chiller unit is colder than the water entering the chiller but this is because the heat has been removed.

Chiller location
As we have established above, a chiller removes heat from the aquarium. The chiller unit then has to discharge that heat somewhere in exactly the same manner as the fridge in your kitchen does. If you feel the back of your refrigerator it will be warm; this is because it is removing heat from inside the fridge. If your chiller is located in an unventilated cupboard under your aquarium it will simply recycle that heat and drastically impair the chiller’s performance, so ventilation and air space are absolutely essential for the correct working of your chiller.

Sources of heat
Your aquarium may be located in a room where the temperature can fluctuate between 20°c - 30°c, which can have a significant impact on the inhabitants of your aquarium. Heat is generated by just about every electrical item you have in, on, above and in the sump of your aquarium. Pumps, lights, UVs, power skimmers, etc, all add heat to your aquarium. Please also consider the location of your pipe-work to and from your chiller. There is no point locating your chiller in a well-ventilated location then running your pipe-work directly under a heat source such as LED lights or other heat sources. Consider insulating this pipe-work if possible.

Sizing your chiller
This is crucial if you are to get the best out of your investment in a chiller. First use the TECO Aquarium sizing calculator, which is available from the App Store for Apple devices, and from the Google Play Store for Android devices. Just click on the Union Jack for the English version once you have downloaded the calculator. It is important that you DO NOT subtract volume for displacement of rock and decor in the aquarium as these items will also hold heat. It must also be remembered that dark objects such as rock will absorb heat from your lighting. It is a false economy and will not achieve the results you require to undersize your chiller. Remember, if the chiller is too small it may not work at all! It is also very important to ensure your chiller has the correct flow rate for the model you are using. Too little or too much flow will also impair your chiller’s performance. If you are at all unsure, please do call us for advice.

If you require any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Tel: 01509 262330