DIY cooling system - Anyone willing to experiment?

[bclee]

I think my friend my be able to salvage a compressor for less than $100 from Sungei Rd.

I will try to see if I am lucky enuf.

BC

[vinz]

Bawater, did you insulate the box?

As for making it last longer... instead of ice, how about using the blue freezer blocks?

[anakin]

Vinz, came across this site:

www.reefs.orgdiydiy11

that discussed an idea quite like your idea too, Dustin (the author) claimed that it works but didn't say how well, he also advocate using ice packs.

Just an idea, stainless steel piping or coils?

[anakin]

sorry slashed wrong way:

www.reefs.org/diy/diy11

[]

[vinz]

errr... wild idea... not enough zzzzz... []

Spare or cheap external filter. Remove media. Put in ice bottles, freezer blocks, etc. Put filter in styro box for insulation. Connect to thermostat... run filter as long as water is too warm... stop when water is cool enough. Replace ice, freezer blocks as necessary (probably once/twice daily). Use rain bar to ensure good distribution of water, instead of a really cold spot at single output.

I've got a spare 2231 lying around, freezer blocks, spare 2.5 feet tank. Just need to find a styro box to fit the 2231. Run without thermostat to see what it can do and how long it'll last. Now I need time and place to set it up...

[anakin]

Wah Vinz! see your mind at work. haiz! But the ice won't last long with the current in the filter so high. So you'd get a very cold output for a short time.

Tough! 2 pages of posts within one day Guess everyone's been thinking hard and long about a cheap DIY chiller. But good ah, at least worth considering all possible alternatives.

[bawater]

vinz- didn't insulate- didn't see the point cause the tank water melted the ice fast(if i ran water thru it which was the most effective way of cooling the water).The box just was there as a place for the process to take place.
But ...will look for those freezer blue thingy. It may work longer. Have to try first & see how.

anakin-wat abt plastic hose> easier to coil as many times as u need & cheaper. Although stainless steel will have better surface temp distribution(thus cooling easier)its more ex$. SSteel does work well.
A friend of mine uses a big cooler box with SS coils to cool draft beer(for outdoor functions).A bag of ice(those big ones)will work for 4hrs of cooling(i've been at the tasting end & its cold(shld be abt 16c-20c)." wonder where i can get one hmmm!

[anakin]

Hahaha Bawater, maybe we should all go for a drink and mull over the whole chiller issue and see how long our beers will stay cold [] in that chiller box of your friend's!

On a more serious note: since it's a betteronductor of heat, will still stick to SS coil - just wanna know if it'll harm the fish or alter the water chemistry. so probably the latest design might be:

connect outlet plastic tube to SS coil (in ice box with ice/ice pack) then back to plastic tube, then into the aquarium!

Once this busy period is over (i'm toggling between work and the internet now), I'll look for all the 'ingredients' for the DIY chiller.

"Nothing venture, nothing gained"
[hopefully it's not "No pain, no gain"]

[anakin]

Just one thought - with all that coiling, will it overwork our filter pump? Mine is 1200l per hour, so I think should be no problem in pumping extra length other than shortening its life span?

[tawauboy]

the main challenge would be the design of the heat exchanger.
makes or breaks any diy chiller design.
one question is what is the acceptable size of the diy chiller?
i think it will be quite big as it involves 2 loops, namely, primary and secondary.
primary loop will be the refrigerant loop and secondary loop will aquarium water.
primary loop will consist of compressor, radiator and heat exchanger while secondary will be filter piping and heat exchanger.
plus you will need another container for heat transfer medium.

other than stainless steel, you can consider aluminium ones, such as atf(auto transmission fluid) cooler used in cars.
size may be about 6"x6"x4".

using ice is not a very good idea.
very troublesome unless you have a freezer solely for freezing ice packs and a maid who will change ice packs for you.
will your CHO/CHOS (chief home officer/s) give you approval for freezer space?
what happen when you go out to work/shop? (does not apply for those who have a maid)?

[vinz]

That's the price to pay.

[tawauboy]

what about getting a normal window unit air conditioner and duct the air to blow across the tank surface.
saves all the hassle.

[bawater]

t.boy= window aircon unit ard- $800++
same price as chiller!.

anakin- dun think SSteel will affect water, but matter of time till SS rust.
u dun need a fast flowrate thru the piping- a moderate or slow flow is enough so water gets max contact chilling time.

wat abt using those big U-PVC pipes like 10"diameter?Those are cheap & u can get lots of loops in them? u can stand them right next to the tank or hide in the cabinet. drill a valve at the bottom & u can drain melted ice(water). & all u need is an end cap at the bottom to get a cylinder.

[tawauboy]

then get a bar fridge.
put a plastic container big enough to accomodate an aluminium atf cooler.
fill plastic container with water and dunk atf cooler in it.
run the filter outlet pipe to the atf cooler then to tank.
put a heater to tank for temperature control.

[vinz]

Where would you get hold of an ATF cooler?

[tawauboy]

either buy new from car spare parts shop or......
scrap yards near sungei kadut.....
pzzt! along the way to gan and teo[]

[anakin]

haha, will be off the net for the next few days, better rush out my work first [] thanks Bawater, will think about it still, SS will rust ah? thought they are suppose to be rust-proof? anyone knows any differences quality in SS? hmm, think I have a friend who's in the steel industry, will find out if I can lay mmy hands on rust-proof metal pipings will keep you guys updated.

[Simon]

anyone try the idea of constructing a hugh heat sink, silicone on the back of the tank and blowing a fan at it? technically shld work

[mok]

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On 10/16/2002 5:36:39 PM

anyone try the idea of constructing a hugh heat sink, silicone on the back of the tank and blowing a fan at it? technically shld work
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nah, won't work. heatsink is for heat dissipation, it will only cool the tank to ambient temperature. most cooling device work based on the theory that evapouration removes heat. conventional chiller, home aircons and cooling towers all cool by evapouration. unless you keep spraying mist over the heat sink.

[tawauboy]

using heatsink, i think you will get room temperature at most.
then you will complain about the huge fan noise.[]