DIY Chiller

[Flounder]

I am thinking with the cost of a chiller and well...."global warming" it might be time to figure out someway to better cool my aquarium. I had two ideas....I have an old dorm size fridge...and I could get a air conditioner. Have any of you guys run across designs or plans on how to convert either of them to a chiller? I think that the fridge would be easier. I could just take out the cooling coils and make a plastic box thing which tubed water could run around the cooling coils. I dont think that putting the cooling coils into a rubber made tub would be the smartest idea.
Any ideas?
Flounder

[David Grigor]

The fridge has been proven many times over to be not very effecient and little chilling capacity. Not a good option better off buying a 1/10 hp commercial chiller vs. the fridge project.

while I have no idea size of tank or what you temps are running now. But should exhaust all improvements that can be made to better ventalate your lighting and/or get the most out of fans. A temp controller would be good if you just on the verge and just want a level a saftey to shut your lights down at peak temps. Can also look into changing your lighting schedule to run longer during evening hours and less during peak heat of the day during summer months. Even when I had 5X400W MH, I have yet to need a chiller.

[wes]

big fan across the surface of the water will do wonders! Just keep your top off system solid!

[Troy]

I just want to give you a 2nd vote for what David said. I love DIY projects and have struggled my way through some of the more complicated ones. I wouldn't touch a DIY chiller with a 10' pole. The msg boards are full of very talented people who failed. The methods listed above work very well, but if you have to get a chiller, it's one of those things you just gotta suck up and buy.

I was able to keep my tank alive through the last summer with no air conditioning using the methods suggested and 3 400W Metal halides. Keep frozen 1 litre bottles handy for an emergency. I'm tired of the stress though and will probably get a chiller this year. I think if you have A/C you should be able to get it under control without one.

[Flounder]

The fan worked amazing. My temp was 80 and rising....after a few hours with the fan on it, I had to turn my heaters on high to stop the rapid cool down. So I am now looking for a controller to help me regulate temp with out me turning on and off coolers and what not

Fan is the way to go! Thanks

[Flounder]

oh and I had to add a gallon of top-off after 4 hours with the fan. No joke

[David Grigor]

Yep, Evaporation rate goes up so there is a trade off. A controller will help minimize as you would only run the fan when it needs to.

[wes]

The fan worked amazing. My temp was 80 and rising....after a few hours with the fan on it, I had to turn my heaters on high to stop the rapid cool down. So I am now looking for a controller to help me regulate temp with out me turning on and off coolers and what not

Fan is the way to go! Thanks

amazing the powers of evaporative cooling. it's why we sweat and kangaroos lick their arms. :biglaugh2: worked wonders for me, too.