DIY DIY Water Chiller

[Monkeypox]

Just an FYI , if you use a fridge to chill/cool water you can get a thermostat that you can dial in to the temp you want . I used one for brewing lagers which need lower than room temp to ferment . The kit can be obtained through places like Northern Brewer .

 

[Muddy]

Room temps should be very consistent. Lighting will be T5s and the room will have it's own mini split heat pump to provide heat and a/c. So res temp will need to come down about 10 degrees +/-. The refrigerator however, will be outside the room, probably about 10' away from the res. I'm not sure I could cool enough air, and move it that distance without significant warming, for it to be effective.

I don't think so because the fridge would be at a consistent temp, and the lengths of tubing will be the same, so all other things are consistent except the lighting schedule. As long as you're below 70-72, you're golden, unless you add something like dutch masters zone, then you can have some higher temps. Temperature consistency in the rez isn't that big a deal, IMO, as long as your in the range of say 62-72 deg.

 

[The Medicine Man]

Wrap the air lines in some heavy electrical tape. I bet you can maintain cool enough temps to make it worth it. Would be a heck of a lot cheaper than anything else, anyways. I have faith in ya!

 

[Muddy]

When I saw the cost of chillers that was what got me thinking about building one. I thought if I circulate the res water I'd just use 1/2" pvc covered with pipe insulation. But I do like the air idea as I wouldn't need to run air and water pumps, just air. Eventually this system is going to have two 40 gallon res so I want to make sure whatever I do it can handle both of em.

 

[Monkeypox]

Pex tubing with pipe insulation would be adequate to maintain water temp for a fair distance .

Also , here is an example of what I was speaking about :

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/johnson-refrigerator-thermostat.html

 

[agito]

hose pipe works
drill freezer put a res filled with food safe antifreeze and use an inline pump attached to a copper coil in res and a thermostat or use the freezer as your hydro res
or buy an aquarium one

 

[Muddy]

Thanks much, perfect for what I'm thinking about.

Pex tubing with pipe insulation would be adequate to maintain water temp for a fair distance .

Also , here is an example of what I was speaking about :

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/johnson-refrigerator-thermostat.html

---------- Post added 10-14-2011 at 10:01 AM ----------

That's basically what I was thinking, only using the refrigerator instead of the freezer. Also wondering if thin wall plastic tubing would be as effective as copper. Copper is big $ right now.

hose pipe works
drill freezer put a res filled with food safe antifreeze and use an inline pump attached to a copper coil in res and a thermostat or use the freezer as your hydro res
or buy an aquarium one

 

[agito]

I can not see why not long as its food safe i would compensate by adding extra coils if you can feel the cold its being transfered it may just take a touch longer so adjust the flow rate. or just plumb your centre res inside the fridge and recirc through drippers

 

[Monkeypox]

PEX tubing is food grade ( used for hot/cold water in houses) and not expensive . 100' is around $45 at Home Depot . And they make cheap fittings for the pEX , as well as you can probably rent/borrow the tool for connections.

Heres 1/2 " x 50 foot pex for $14 .

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[JM]

well if your incoming cold water supply is cold enough a few copper coils like 1/4" would work through your res and then dump to drain... a slow trickle would keep it chilly.