Chiller Noise - Fritz Teclima series v. Others

[ENS]

Anyone with experience on the sound/noise level of the Fritz Teclima series chillers (specifically the CA680 and CA240), which are advertised to be extremely quite (42 dba), please tell me about them.

Also, if you have knowledge about how they compare versus other 1/5 to 1/3hp chillers on the market, please tell me about them.

I currently have a new Aquanetics Slimline chiller that is WAY to loud for my livingroom-- bought it a couple months ago (looking to possibly sell it and buy a Teclima CA680).

I recently posted a similar question, but only received one response. If you have info, please respond. Thanks!

 

[easygoer2]

just falling your post. What about this Arctica chiller? Have you heard anything good or bad about them? Seen them on Ebay, sold by reefking. Also jbjlighting.
easygoer2

 

[King Jason]

I've seen the new JBJ Lighting chillers. They look really nice. But are kind of pricey. A store by me has one running on their 180 display tank and it doesn't seem very loud. But it's hard to judge because all the water in the store drowns out the noise from the chiller.

 

[ENS]

I have also seen information on the Arctica chiller from JBJ Lighting and I am very interested (especially since it is much less espensive than the Teclima chiller), but the specs don't include sound dba level info, as with the Teclima chillers. The sales info only states "You will be amazed how quiet this unit is for a chiller."
I will call the company this week for info and post the results, but if I get a sales person who simply says "its quiet" without any confirmed data, I wont give the item another thought -- especially since they aren't sold in my area (to my knowledge).

 

[ENS]

King Jason,

I was interested in which LFS in Huntington Beach are stocks the Arctica chillers? I'm in Santa Monica, so if I cannot find anyplace closer to me, maybe I'd take a drive down there some Saturday to check the unit out. Do you (or anyone reading this thread) know of any So.Cal place that stocks the Teclimas??

Thanks.
Cheers, Evan

BTW - I've followed your posts on the board re your new aquarium and seen your pictures: very nice and impresssive. Good luck with finishing it and getting it up and running.

 

[leftovers]

While having installed several Teclima i can say they are quiet but they don't chill anywhere near their ratings IME. I would opt for other brands and use a remote chiller. Even if you go with the Tec. I would recommend it being located outside or under your home or in some large area with good air flow away from main tank viewing area.

Also all chillers get louder with age ime as well.....

good luck

 

[King Jason]

King Jason,

I was interested in which LFS in Huntington Beach are stocks the Arctica chillers? I'm in Santa Monica, so if I cannot find anyplace closer to me, maybe I'd take a drive down there some Saturday to check the unit out. Do you (or anyone reading this thread) know of any So.Cal place that stocks the Teclimas??

Thanks.
Cheers, Evan

BTW - I've followed your posts on the board re your new aquarium and seen your pictures: very nice and impresssive. Good luck with finishing it and getting it up and running.

It's actually in Anaheim. The store is Pacific Reef. Website is www.reefpacific.com (address and hours are posted on their site)

 

[ENS]

While having installed several Teclima i can say they are quiet but they don't chill anywhere near their ratings IME. I would opt for other brands and use a remote chiller. Even if you go with the Tec. I would recommend it being located outside or under your home or in some large area with good air flow away from main tank viewing area.

good luck

Thanks for the input, but a remote chiller is not an option for me (and for many people), which is why I am trying to get first-hand info from users of these various chillers as to noise level since it must be near the tank. Noise is all the really matters to me. Performance isn't much of an issue b/c I would run a more powerful model than needed -- possibly the Teclima CA680 (rated for a 300 gl tank 10 degree pull down, 180 gl tank 20 degree pull down) for my 75 gl tank. I need 12-15 degree pull down, so this would work fine and allow for a larger tank in the future.

You mention you have installed "several Teclima"s -- are you familar with the CA680? How does the sound compare to others?

Thanks.

 

[miken]

The Fritz Teclimas are very quite, I have a 680 in my lobby and never notice it. They are advertised as having a noise rating of 42 dBA.

I found the following axamples of othe common noises dBA

Threshold of hearing
0 dB

Motorcycle (30 feet)
88 dB

Rustling leaves
20 dB

Foodblender (3 feet)
90 dB

Quiet whisper (3 feet)
30 dB

Subway (inside)
94 dB

Quiet home
40 dB

Diesel truck (30 feet)
100 dB

Quiet street
50 dB

Power mower (3 feet)
107 dB

Normal conversation
60 dB

Pneumatic riveter (3 feet)
115 dB

Inside car
70 dB

Chainsaw (3 feet)
117 dB

Loud singing (3 feet)
75 dB

Amplified Rock and Roll (6 feet)
120 dB

Automobile (25 feet)
80 dB

Jet plane (100 feet)
130 dB

Hope that helps...