Possible to DIY Chiller with using picnic ice box?

**RockBaby** · 29th Dec 2009, 14:54

Hi,

Is it possible to get a picnic ice box and drill 2 hole to make as a chiller?

**bossteck** · 29th Dec 2009, 15:03

Using ice cubes?

**eviltrain** · 29th Dec 2009, 15:11

You will need to cool down the water going thru the ice box. Some of the ways are like using ice packs or TEM. Any ways got its pros and cons

**RockBaby** · 30th Dec 2009, 00:06

ya. my water from tank goes to the ice box fill with ice and water. then go to canister and go back to tank.

**bai** · 30th Dec 2009, 01:28

So u will need to keep top up everyday or every few hours??

**stormhawk** · 30th Dec 2009, 01:44

You can probably do this for a small tank, and with the cooler box stuffed with those cooler packs filled with freezable coolant. The only downside to this is that you'd have to replace the packs every now and then. You'd have to use a metal pipe over several coils to get maximum heat/cold transfer within the cooler box and also required to insulate the pipes going in and out of the box.

http://www.blacks.co.uk/mantiki/imag...3210640740.jpg
Picture of a Coleman cool pack. Some people buy these to keep their canned drinks cold within the cooler box.

**RockBaby** · 30th Dec 2009, 08:21

if use metal pipe i think it might change the water parameter. i read a thread here someone use small fridge with metal pipe and all the flora and fauna turning bad.

**stormhawk** · 30th Dec 2009, 10:07

The pipe in question should be made of a material that will not react with tank water. If you used a copper pipe, it is fairly obvious that eventually copper will start leaching into the tank. Why else do some chillers, come with titanium pipes in their construction?

If you fear the metal pipe may affect your flora and fauna, you can always use the plastic hose instead. Just remember to insulate the hoses so you don't lose much cooling power.

**ranmasatome** · 30th Dec 2009, 10:34

Insulate those outside the cooling box. Some people will really go insulate those inside the cooling box!!..hahaha..

But how to regulate temperature?

**eviltrain** · 30th Dec 2009, 10:59

how about restrict the flow rate going into the box for the cooling rate?

**Fuzzy** · 31st Dec 2009, 07:58

Yeah the biggest concern I'd have with this type of DIY is temperature regulation, I guess you could get an external thermostat and link it to a powerhead to only circulate water from the icebox when the tank temp rises.

Really though I'd just pick up a 2nd hand chiller for around $100 - $150 this project is liable to cost more than that if you do it right.