Easy DIY Chiller Build

[Kbra]

I've done this same chiller last summer. work's great until I decided to turn off the fridge (no controller) it just so happen the pump and the fridge are both on the same power strip. the stagnant water made my tank crash. lost a lot of coral by doing that...lesson learned.

Did you have stagnant water through out your tank or just the little bit of water that was in the coil that made you tank crash?

 

[R-nel]

Did you have stagnant water through out your tank or just the little bit of water that was in the coil that made you tank crash?

In the coil...it was off for a month. I couldn't figure out what was going on, until I opened the fridge. The smell was so bad it stunk up the whole living room. :thumpdown: I took the whole thing down, as a matter of fact the mini fridge is still outside in the middle of the yard.

 

[Kbra]

well mine never stands longer than a day... i wonder what can be so bad about that?

 

[gumbii]

i think adding a metal core like the other guys said would make it way more efficient...


get a piece of galvanized steel and wrap the vinyl hose around that... the metal core will be able to transfer way more heat than that piece of ABS tube...

 

[Kbra]

a 4" steel pipe wouldnt be cheap and the pvc wasnt for heat transfer just for shape. Also im not having heat transfer problems sooooo its all good

 

[RustyShackleford]

I think the best way to do it with a fridge would be to place a large plastic container in the fridge and have a powerhead to circulate the water, have water flow in from the top and drain out of the bottom, I would also install fins on the inside of the container to direct any warm water upward to be further cooled. if you start with a large amount of cold water keeping the water cold will not be a problem and will work on the same principles as a water heater only in reverse.

 

[jamescobb22]

FYI: In the drilling industry we use 6" stainless steel rings to take samples at depth. If you ever see a drilling rig on a gas station I would bet they have some rings. I Have a few in the back of my truck at all times. If anyone wants some let me know at the next SCRK meeting.

 

[gumbii]

if you guys want to dump some moneys on a titanium coil i can probably get some made at the shop... either mandrel bend or crush coil made...

i might have some Ti soon too... i might make my self some Ti bullhorns for my bike...

 

[emantclphie]

bump!! how did this chiller turn out?!

 

[Gino]

bump!! how did this chiller turn out?!

+1 and wheres the beer?

 

[gumbii]

in for updates...

 

[coral diver]

Well Where the BEER that will help cool the tank?

 

[thedirtboys]

Why not put a tank of water in the fridge that the pump would feed directly into and out of, kind of like a sump or refugium? You could have a pump inside the fridge for circulation to avoid stagnant water, then put a temp control on the pump that feeds the water from the tank into the fridge? If you were really ingenious could you put a temp control valve system on it to avoid stagnant water in the tubes as well? That would avoid the coiling tube problems and heat transfer somewhat... the idea just came to me now so I may realize it's completely stupid later but anyone think it would work?

 

[BD Enterprises]

Very clever

 

[Migs7]

Awesome idea.... Attach a pump to constantly move water and then run the fridge off of a temp controller...

Stagnant water problem solved and fridge only runs when it needs to... Check valve on the pump in case it fails... Now if the temp sensor gets stuck on different story... Maybe get a fridge that will allow you to set its temp to only safe temps???

I think i'll do this once i move into my new place...

Just my 2 cents... Chiller for unDer 100 bucks. In!