How to Size a Seafood Chiller: Delin's 1HP–3.5HP Integrated Series (2.7–8.5 kW)

Choosing a seafood chiller almost always comes down to one question: "which model will hold my tank at the right temperature?" The answer is not just about horsepower — it depends on three numbers: your tank volume, your target water temperature, and how warm the room gets.

Delin builds the integrated seafood chiller (the all-in-one constant-temperature unit) in five models from 1 HP to 3.5 HP (2.7–8.5 kW), all sharing one compact, self-contained design. The machines look the same across the line — only the cabinet size and the cooling capacity change. This guide walks you through the sizing table so you can match a model to your tank in a few minutes.

The 1HP–3.5HP Line at a Glance

Model	Capacity	Cooling Capacity	Power Input	Dimensions (mm)
DL-E010R2A-AA	1 HP	2.7 kW	0.92 kW	768 × 286 × 575
DL-E015R2A-AA	1.5 HP	3.6 kW	1.25 kW	768 × 286 × 575
DL-E020R2A-AA	2 HP	5.2 kW	1.70 kW	898 × 375 × 823
DL-E030R2A-AAS	3 HP	7.2 kW	2.41 kW	898 × 375 × 823
DL-E035R2F-AA	3.5 HP	8.5 kW	2.69 kW	898 × 375 × 823

The whole line is available with a choice of refrigerants — R134A, R404A, R407C or R410A. The 1–3 HP models run on 220 V / 50 Hz single-phase power, and the 3.5 HP runs on 380 V / 50 Hz three-phase — a 60 Hz variant of each is available on request.

The Sizing Table That Answers Your Question

The table below is the one we use with customers. For each model it lists the maximum water volume the unit can hold at three target temperatures — 5 °C, 10 °C and 20 °C — assuming an aquarium room up to 30 °C and unit ambient air up to 40 °C:

Model	Capacity	At 5 °C target	At 10 °C target	At 20 °C target
DL-E010R2A-AA	1 HP	200 L	400 L	1,100 L
DL-E015R2A-AA	1.5 HP	350 L	700 L	1,700 L
DL-E020R2A-AA	2 HP	550 L	1,150 L	2,500 L
DL-E030R2A-AAS	3 HP	750 L	1,500 L	4,000 L
DL-E035R2F-AA	3.5 HP	1,000 L	2,200 L	5,000 L

The figures above assume an aquarium room at 30 °C or below and unit ambient air at 40 °C or below. In a hotter room the same machine holds less water — tell us your conditions and we will size for them.

Why Target Temperature Changes the Answer

Look at the spread in each row: the same 2 HP unit holds 550 L at 5 °C but 2,500 L at 20 °C — nearly five times as much. Why?

Holding water at 5 °C is harder work than holding it at 20 °C. The colder the water, the more heat you must pull out of every litre, and the bigger the temperature gap you fight against the surrounding warm room. The same compressor therefore serves a much smaller volume at 5 °C than it does at 20 °C.

This is the most common sizing mistake we see: buyers pick a model by horsepower alone, without checking the temperature they actually need. A unit that is "too small" at 5 °C can be perfectly sized at 20 °C.

Three Worked Examples

Example 1 — Cold-holding at 5 °C (lobster or abalone display). A restaurant live-lobster tank holds 500 L and must stay at 5 °C. The DL-E020R2A-AA (2 HP) covers 550 L at 5 °C — the right choice with a little headroom.

Example 2 — Standard live-seafood holding at 10 °C. A seafood market's holding tank holds 1,000 L at 10 °C. The DL-E020R2A-AA (2 HP) covers 1,150 L at 10 °C.

Example 3 — Ornamental and tropical fish at 20 °C. A 2,000 L display tank kept at 20 °C. The same 2 HP unit covers up to 2,500 L at 20 °C — comfortably sized.

Notice that all three examples land on the same 2 HP machine, because target temperature — not volume alone — drives the choice. If your tank exceeds 5,000 L, you move up into Delin's larger DL-E range; tell us your numbers and we will place you correctly.

Single-Phase vs. Three-Phase: What the Voltage Column Means

The 1–3 HP models run on single-phase 220 V / 50 Hz, which plugs into a normal commercial outlet — ideal for restaurants, markets and small hatcheries. The 3.5 HP model runs on three-phase 380 V / 50 Hz, the standard for larger installations.

For 60 Hz markets (parts of the Americas, the Philippines and others), both the single-phase and three-phase units are available in 220 V / 60 Hz on request. If you are unsure what your supply can deliver, read our guide on single-phase vs. three-phase power for seawater chillers before ordering.

Two Footprints, One Look

All five models share one appearance but come in two cabinet sizes:

• 768 × 286 × 575 mm — the 1 HP and 1.5 HP units, slim enough to slide under a counter or beside a small display tank.
• 898 × 375 × 823 mm — the 2 HP, 3 HP and 3.5 HP units, for larger tanks and busier back-of-house spaces.

Measure your installation space — under a counter, in a back room, or next to the tank — before you commit to a model. The machines look identical in photos, so the cabinet dimension is the detail that tells them apart.

Built for Live Seafood, Not Just Chilled Water

These integrated units are engineered specifically for holding live seafood, with:

• Pure Grade 2 titanium heat exchanger — resists seawater corrosion and never leaches metal into the water.
• ±0.5 °C control accuracy — holds the narrow band that keeps fish and shellfish healthy.
• Copeland / Emerson / Panasonic compressors — low-maintenance, long-duty refrigeration cores.
• Low-noise operation (under 55 dB) — quiet enough for a dining room or retail floor.
• Anti-corrosion casing — built for the humid, salt-laden air around live tanks.

Bring Your Numbers — We'll Confirm the Model

Sizing a seafood chiller is a 60-second check once you have three numbers in hand. Send us:

1. Your tank volume (litres or gallons).
2. Your target water temperature (°C).
3. Your available power supply (voltage, single- or three-phase, 50 or 60 Hz).

We'll confirm the right model from the table above — or place you in the larger DL-E range if your system outgrows the 1HP–3.5HP series.

📩 Request a Free Sizing Recommendation →

Related reading: How to Choose a Seafood Cooling System — the full decision framework, from heat-load calculation to material and installation.

Related reading: 5HP Seafood Chiller: DL-E050R2F-AA (14.5 kW) — the next step up when your tank exceeds 5,000 L, with the full 5 HP spec sheet and tank-volume table.