EcoPlus Commercial Grade Water Chiller – 1-1/2 hp

The EcoPlus Commercial Grade Water Chiller – 1-1/2 hp is built for growers, aquaculture operators, and facility managers who need reliable, precise water temperature control at scale. Centered on a commercial-grade titanium heat exchanger and a high-quality Japanese compressor, this chiller handles large reservoir volumes while staying energy-efficient. A 30 ft remote temperature controller lets you monitor and adjust settings without being physically next to the unit, and it ships with fittings for both 1 in hard PVC pipe and 1 in flexible tubing.

EcoPlus Commercial Grade Water Chiller – 1-1/2 hp Specifications

All specifications below are drawn from manufacturer documentation for the EcoPlus Commercial Grade Water Chiller – 1-1/2 hp (SKU 870883000912).

Specification	Value
Brand	EcoPlus
Model	Commercial Grade Water Chiller – 1-1/2 hp
SKU	870883000912
Horsepower	1-1/2 hp
Weight	97.35 lb
Refrigerant	R410A (environmentally friendly)
Heat Exchanger	Commercial-grade titanium
Compressor	High-quality Japanese compressor
Housing	Heavy-duty galvanized steel, powder-coated finish
Display	Digital LCD
Remote Controller	30 ft cord (included)
Pipe Fittings Included	2 fittings — 1 in hard PVC or 1 in flexible tubing
Power Failure Protection	Auto restart and temperature memory
Compatible Applications	Reservoirs, hydroponic systems, aquariums

Why Choose the EcoPlus 1-1/2 hp Commercial Chiller?

This chiller is built for operations where water temperature stability is not optional — large indoor grows, commercial aquaculture tanks, and research aquariums where temperature swings damage crops or livestock. Here is what distinguishes it from lighter-duty alternatives.

Titanium heat exchanger. Titanium is the correct material for heat exchangers that contact nutrient solution or salt water. Unlike stainless steel or copper alternatives, titanium does not corrode when exposed to fertilizer salts, pH-adjusted water, or the trace minerals common in aquaculture systems. The commercial-grade designation indicates heavier wall thickness and a larger surface area than residential-class exchangers, which translates to more consistent heat transfer under continuous load.

Japanese compressor. The compressor is the mechanical heart of any refrigeration system. Japanese-sourced compressors — the category includes units from manufacturers such as Mitsubishi, Panasonic, and Daikin — are recognized in the HVACR trade for tight manufacturing tolerances, lower noise floors, and long service intervals. A reliable compressor matters most in a grow environment where the chiller runs 24/7 for months at a time and downtime directly affects yield.

30 ft remote temperature controller. In a practical installation, the chiller is often placed in a mechanical room, a crawl space, or outside the grow tent — anywhere with adequate ventilation and clearance. The 30 ft remote controller cable means you can read and change the setpoint from inside the grow space without opening a door or relocating the unit. This also keeps heat generated by the compressor out of the plant environment.

Auto restart with temperature memory. After a power interruption — whether from a grid outage, a tripped breaker, or a generator transfer — the chiller restores its previous setpoint automatically. This eliminates the manual reconfiguration step that could leave a reservoir warming for hours before someone notices.

Environmentally friendly R410A refrigerant. R410A does not contain chlorine and carries zero ozone depletion potential (ODP), which matters for operators in jurisdictions with refrigerant regulations and for facilities pursuing environmental certification. It is also more energy-efficient than the older R22 refrigerant it replaced in commercial equipment.

Best Uses for the EcoPlus Commercial Grade Water Chiller

This unit is sized and built for applications that exceed what a 1/4 hp or 1/2 hp residential chiller can handle. The following use cases fit the 1-1/2 hp platform well.

• Large indoor hydroponic reservoirs. Deep water culture, recirculating drip, and NFT systems with reservoir volumes typically exceeding 100 gallons benefit from the 1-1/2 hp capacity. Keeping the nutrient solution below 68°F (20°C) reduces the risk of Pythium root rot — one of the most common causes of crop failure in recirculating hydro. For smaller systems, consider the HydroLogic Micro 75 GPD RO system to start with clean, temperature-stable source water before chilling.
• Commercial aquaculture and fish-holding tanks. Coldwater species — trout, salmon, tilapia at certain growth stages — require consistent water temperatures that room air conditioning alone cannot maintain. The titanium exchanger is compatible with both fresh and salt water, making this chiller suitable for marine holding systems as well as freshwater aquaculture.
• Large display and research aquariums. Public aquariums, university research facilities, and high-volume retail fish rooms need a chiller that can run continuously without service interruptions. The commercial-grade compressor and corrosion-resistant exchanger are designed for this type of duty cycle.
• Multi-tent or multi-room grow operations. A single 1-1/2 hp chiller can serve a central reservoir that feeds multiple grow rooms via a recirculating loop. The 30 ft remote controller makes it practical to install the chiller in a utility area while monitoring it from the primary work space.
• Facilities requiring power-failure resilience. Operations using backup generators benefit from the auto restart and temperature memory feature, which restores the setpoint without manual intervention after power is restored.

EcoPlus 1-1/2 hp vs. Smaller EcoPlus Chillers

EcoPlus produces commercial-grade water chillers in multiple horsepower ratings. The question of which size to buy is primarily a function of reservoir volume, ambient room temperature, and the heat load added by pumps and lighting.

The 1/2 hp model is appropriate for reservoirs in the 50–100 gallon range in a temperature-controlled room. The 1 hp model handles moderate volumes or situations where the ambient temperature is elevated. The 1-1/2 hp unit reviewed here is appropriate when reservoir volume is large (typically above 150 gallons), the ambient room temperature is high (above 75°F), or when the system is running in an unconditioned space during warm months.

Undersizing a chiller is a common mistake. A unit that is too small runs continuously at full load without reaching the setpoint, which shortens compressor life and still fails to hold temperature during peak heat periods. If your calculation puts you between sizes, choose the larger unit. The compressor in a correctly sized chiller cycles on and off, which is less stressful than continuous operation.

The 1-1/2 hp unit also has the 30 ft remote controller as a standard feature, which makes remote-installation scenarios straightforward. If you are planning a multi-room setup where the chiller will live in a separate mechanical space, confirm your plumbing run lengths fit within the included fitting kit before ordering smaller models that may not include the same accessories.

Compatibility

The EcoPlus 1-1/2 hp chiller is compatible with the following system types and plumbing configurations.

• Reservoir types: Open-top reservoirs, enclosed tanks, and recirculating hydroponic systems. Suitable for use with freshwater and saltwater (titanium exchanger). Compatible with standard nutrient solutions; titanium resists corrosion from fertilizer salts and pH-adjusted water.
• Plumbing: Ships with 2 fittings sized for 1 in hard PVC pipe or 1 in flexible tubing. Most commercial hydroponic and aquaculture plumbing runs at 3/4 in or 1 in; confirm your inlet/outlet pipe diameter before installation. If your system uses smaller tubing, adapters are available from standard plumbing suppliers.
• Pumps: An inline chiller requires a dedicated recirculating pump to move water through the exchanger. The pump must be sized to meet the chiller’s minimum flow rate requirement — consult the product documentation for the specific GPH/LPH range. A pump that moves too little water will reduce chilling efficiency; one that moves too much can exceed the exchanger’s design flow and reduce contact time. Consider pairing with an appropriate circulation pump such as an Active Aqua air pump for supplemental aeration in large reservoirs.
• Controllers and monitoring: The included 30 ft remote controller handles temperature setpoint and monitoring. For operations that also want to track electrical conductivity and pH alongside temperature, a dedicated meter like the Apera GroStar EC electrode integrates into the same monitoring workflow without requiring the chiller itself to output data.
• Water filtration: Chillers work best when the water passing through the exchanger is free of sediment and particulate matter. Inline filtration upstream of the chiller inlet prevents fouling of the titanium exchanger. A 200-mesh inline filter is a common choice for this purpose.

Usage Tips

Getting consistent performance from a commercial water chiller depends on installation location, flow rate, and ambient conditions as much as on the unit itself. The following tips apply specifically to the EcoPlus 1-1/2 hp model.

• Ventilation clearance. The chiller expels heat from the condenser coil into the surrounding air. Install it in a space with adequate air exchange — a closed mechanical room without ventilation will cause the ambient temperature to climb, reducing chilling efficiency and potentially triggering the high-temperature cutoff. Allow at least 12–18 in of clearance on all sides unless the manufacturer’s documentation specifies otherwise.
• Set the digital LCD before closing up the installation. Use the LCD panel to confirm the temperature setpoint, then verify the remote controller reads the same value. If there is a discrepancy, confirm the controller cable is fully seated. The 30 ft cord is long enough for most remote-install scenarios, but do not extend it with non-rated cable.
• Allow the refrigerant system to stabilize. After powering on a chiller that has been stored or shipped, let the compressor run for 15–30 minutes before evaluating performance. Refrigerant may shift during transport and needs time to normalize in the system.
• Monitor flow rate through the exchanger. Too low a flow rate results in the water sitting in the exchanger too long, which can cause the outlet temperature to drop sharply and trigger the chiller’s freeze-protection cutoff. Too high a flow rate reduces contact time and cuts efficiency. Dial in the pump speed using a ball valve on the return line until the inlet-to-outlet temperature differential is within the manufacturer’s target range.
• Use temperature memory after power interruptions. The auto restart feature restores the previous setpoint automatically, but verify the actual reservoir temperature after a power event. A long outage may have allowed the water to warm significantly; give the chiller time to recover rather than assuming it will return to setpoint immediately.
• Seasonal water temperature. Source water temperature varies by season. In summer, municipal water or well water may arrive significantly warmer than in winter. Account for this when sizing the chiller’s duty cycle. The 1-1/2 hp unit has overhead capacity to handle warmer inlet temperatures, but note that your pump will be moving more heat out of the water when ambient and source temperatures are both elevated.

How to Set Up Your EcoPlus Commercial Grade Water Chiller

The following steps outline a standard inline installation for a recirculating hydroponic or aquaculture system. Consult the documentation included with the unit for model-specific torque specs and electrical requirements.

1. Choose the installation location. Select a spot near the reservoir with adequate ventilation (12–18 in clearance on all sides), a level floor surface, and access to a grounded electrical outlet rated for the unit’s amperage draw. Avoid direct sunlight and sealed rooms without air exchange.
2. Prepare the plumbing connections. Attach the included fittings to the chiller’s inlet and outlet ports. Use thread-seal tape on all threaded connections. If connecting to 1 in hard PVC, use appropriate primer and solvent cement and allow full cure time before pressurizing the line. If using flexible tubing, ensure hose clamps are snug but not over-torqued.
3. Connect the recirculating pump. Install a dedicated pump to draw water from the reservoir, push it through the chiller’s inlet, and return it through the outlet. Mount the pump below the water line when possible to ensure self-priming. Confirm the pump’s flow rate is within the chiller’s operating range.
4. Route the remote controller cable. Run the 30 ft remote controller cable from the chiller to the monitoring location (the grow room, head house, or operator station). Do not pinch the cable or route it through areas with sharp edges. Plug it into the designated port on the chiller housing.
5. Power on and configure the setpoint. Plug the chiller into a grounded outlet. Use the digital LCD panel on the unit (or the remote controller) to enter the desired water temperature setpoint. Common setpoints for hydroponic nutrient solution are 65–68°F (18–20°C); aquaculture setpoints vary by species.
6. Prime the system and check for leaks. Open all valves and start the recirculating pump. Let water circulate for 5 minutes before starting the chiller compressor. Inspect all fittings and connections for drips. Tighten as needed and re-check after the first hour of operation.
7. Verify remote controller sync. Confirm the temperature reading on the remote controller matches the LCD display on the chiller. Monitor actual reservoir temperature with a calibrated thermometer for the first 24 hours to verify the chiller is reaching and holding the setpoint.
8. Test the auto restart feature. Intentionally cycle the power off and back on to confirm the chiller restores the setpoint automatically. This verifies the temperature memory is functioning before you depend on it during an unplanned power event.

Sources & Further Reading