Review on Efficient Cooling Solution for Your Aquarium: Hamilton Technology Aqua Euro Max Aquarium Chiller by Stefan Eddy

We bought this cooler along with a canister filter with a pump for use in our 40 gallon tank to grow 2 axolotls and some live plants. Our setup is in a special cabinet we built to support our tank. We have been using this chiller successfully for about 2 months now. First of all, this cooler really works! We had to adjust the internal thermometer using the instructions that came with it, but it was easy and the radiator temp reading matched the tank thermometers we have on either end of our tank. Very easy. As some other reviewers have pointed out, the cooling performance only kicks in once the temperature is 2 degrees Fahrenheit above the set temperature. So keep that in mind when setting it up. We set it to 62 so our axolotls would be comfortable and cool in an aquarium that ranges from 62 to 64/65. Now the Nest thermostat controls the temperature in our house, but it's usually between 68 and 74. Conversely, when we had a smaller tank and only used a fan to cool the water, our tank fluctuated somewhere between 65 and 70 degrees in the summer, that made us nervous about the welfare of our cold-loving creatures. This cooler allows us to keep our house at a comfortable temperature for us and save money on energy bills while our axolotls used to freeze us. More importantly, it makes them happy and healthy. On the other hand, this reservoir produces a lot of heat. More than you think, even if you think you're ready. We built our tank stand ourselves and provided plenty of headroom to ensure proper circulation. We also drilled about 10" x 10" vents just behind the radiator inlet and another larger vent above the outlet. ALSO with all this, when we close the cabinet doors, the radiator overheats. We are working on installing a small computer fan to blow air so we can shut everything down. The chiller is fairly quiet when closed in a cabinet, but makes a decent (if not outrageous) noise level when the cabinet doors are open. Also note that the fittings for this cooler fit into much smaller tubes than most. canister filter. We were able to find replacement fittings at Lowe's that solved this problem for us, but it's definitely a factor to consider. Also, this sucker is big! We deliberately chose a cooler that would fit in our closet, but be aware that for many installations it will be too large and not very pretty or quiet when left unattended. Bottom line, this product is a must have if you want to breed axolotls or have an aquarium with corals or other cold water flora/fauna. This can be expensive, but it is worth it and even saves money in the long run. It works and I recommend it, but be aware that you may need to make some adjustments to your setup to accommodate this bulky, noisy, and hot device. The instructions are detailed, be sure to follow them or it may not work for you.