Chiller Saga

[Kc0olm]

I got an expensive chiller a couple of weeks ago, when the whether started to warm up. It got above 70 in the tank, and my axolotl started to freak out, swimming around a lot, like she does when it's too hot or her water is not to her liking. At first, I just put frozen BPA bottles in the tank, and she would gravitate to those. But finally I sprung for a $400 chiller.

I set the chiller to 61 degrees Farenheit, and waited to see her reaction. At first, I really thought she loved it. But then after a few days, she retreated to her cave, and just stayed there all the time (maybe not in the middle of the night - I only checked once).

I tried various means to dampen the chiller tube vibrations - it''s only the output tube, and that is very slight. No change.

I tried putting a baffle on my HOB filter. No change. Still hiding.

Then I started increasing the temperature - first to 64, and now we are at 66.

When we first got her at Christmas, the tank was naturally around 68, and she was happy, I think, playing and running around. But I always worried she was too hot, based on what I had read. So now I'm not sure if she just got accalmated to the 68 degree water, and now she is trying to keep warm in her cave, or what.

 

[wolfen]

how is the water from the chiller distributed?
it could be causing cold spots in the tank (bit like pouring cold water into a warm bath) have the inlet (make sure there is a sponge/guard fitted) at one side of the tank (preferably the side with the hide/cave) and the outlet at the other with a spray bar.
if it is vibration then she will get used to it over time.
as axolotls get older it is more the norm for them to spend the day resting in their hides and coming out at night to feed.

 

[Kc0olm]

how is the water from the chiller distributed?
it could be causing cold spots in the tank (bit like pouring cold water into a warm bath) have the inlet (make sure there is a sponge/guard fitted) at one side of the tank (preferably the side with the hide/cave) and the outlet at the other with a spray bar.
if it is vibration then she will get used to it over time.
as axolotls get older it is more the norm for them to spend the day resting in their hides and coming out at night to feed.

I’d appreciate a picture of the set up you describe. I have a sponge filter underneath the outlet. In pump is submerged and self contained.

 

[wolfen]

by the looks of it your inlet and outlet are in the same area, ideally the inlet should be at one end of the tank and the outlet at the other, this allows the water to circulate.
a chiller normally requires being added after a filter (normally external hence the sponge/guard over the inlet) to prevent pipe clogging and then pipe freeze in chiller unit.
I don't use a chiller as I went the fridge/freezer route to cool my tank but I have found a illustration which shows how inlet/outlet setup

 

[Kc0olm]

by the looks of it your inlet and outlet are in the same area, ideally the inlet should be at one end of the tank and the outlet at the other, this allows the water to circulate.
a chiller normally requires being added after a filter (normally external hence the sponge/guard over the inlet) to prevent pipe clogging and then pipe freeze in chiller unit.
I don't use a chiller as I went the fridge/freezer route to cool my tank but I have found a illustration which shows how inlet/outlet setup

Thank you. Very helpful. Fixing the tube placement won't be hard. I don't understand the external filter, but I will look for references online

 

[Kc0olm]

I have this chiller https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0716XSSC4/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza It doesn't seem to require an external filter. Just recommends cleaning every 3 months

 

[wolfen]

had a look at the chiller, rather than recommend having to buy an additional filter it is supplied with a pump as well as instructions to clean every three months via flushing.
does seem to be a decent chiller with good reviews, does seem to be popular with axolotl keepers.