DIY Pseudo-Chiller

[digitalreefer]

Ok, in an attempt to keep the tank cooler, here's my shot at a make shift chiller of sorts. I took a scuba mask case and cut a about a 1 1/2 x 3 inch slot on the bottom of one side to let air out of the bottom near the water surface. I took a piece of cardboard and cut a hole for a computer fan on the top. The air blows through the case and out through bottom. Inside the case are 2 ice packs (the kind they make for beach coolers) I picked up for 99 cents each.

I don't know how well it's going to work, but it won't overcool and hopefully it'll help a bit... here's a couple of pics and I'll let you know if it works in a couple of hours.

P.S. If it does work, I don't care that it looks ghetto

 

[equinox]

it looks great! I have been looking for something like this. can you post pictures showing the whole chiller just so I get an idea of how it should look?

 

[digitalreefer]

it looks great! I have been looking for something like this. can you post pictures showing the whole chiller just so I get an idea of how it should look?

That's basically it, when I change the ice packs I'll snap another shot of the bottom so you can see it... otherwise that's the whole thing... really just enclosed ice packs running air over them and on to the water.

 

[equinox]

ok thanks, so did it work? what was the difference in temperature, I just need to lower my tank like 2-4F*.

 

[Breezp]

you can also get a mini fridge, drill two 1" holes into the side that goes into the freezer, run tubing through the hole and out the other hole so that the tubing wraps around the inside... and put the two ends into the tank, and just connect the powerhead to one of them..... and there u have it, a makeshift cooler... the onli thing is i dont know how much a mini fridge is :headache:

 

[digitalreefer]

ok thanks, so did it work? what was the difference in temperature, I just need to lower my tank like 2-4F*.

It's been about 20-30 minutes and it's come down about 1 degree I think... the ice packs were not quite frozen, so I'm hoping the next batch will work better. It does seem to work at least a little bit.

the onli thing is i dont know how much a mini fridge is

This cost me $4 (4 ice packs @ 99 cents each), as I had the mask case, cardboard and computer fan... and I used a 12v AC adaptor from an old set of computer speakers.

 

[Breezp]

yea but so far ur onli getting a degree cooling.... but like you said it could be because of the icepack.... my way is guarenteed, but if your way works it would be a much better way to do it.... and plus... you can store food and :beer: in my chiller :biggrin: But you know the saying... to each his own. It looks pretty cool, i hope it works...

 

[digitalreefer]

yea but so far ur onli getting a degree cooling.... but like you said it could be because of the icepack.... my way is guarenteed, but if your way works it would be a much better way to do it.... and plus... you can store food and :beer: in my chiller :biggrin: But you know the saying... to each his own. It looks pretty cool, i hope it works...

I think it will work for a couple of degrees, but I'm going to keep an eye out for a cheap mini fridge, after all, I just had to walk across my apartment for a cold Yuengling... this is unacceptable.

 

[Breezp]

lol there ya go.... good luck!!!

 

[equinox]

:smile: and to think that I gave away a mini fridge to my cousin! I'll try the ice pack and fan, I have tons of adapters and computer fans laying around.

 

[digitalreefer]

it looks great! I have been looking for something like this. can you post pictures showing the whole chiller just so I get an idea of how it should look?

I'm now down a full 2 degrees after 15 minutes with the new ice packs. This makes my experiment a complete success in my opinion. Here's a couple other pictures of the bottom and the top without the fan.

 

[SlamaJama]

nice work..

 

[bad coffee]

Nice work.

And Breeze, lots of people have tried the mini fridge idea. Nobody could get it to work efficently. You either burn up the fridge or it doesn't chill enough.

B

 

[cali_reef]

Replace that cardboard with a piece of plastic, you don't want the paper to soften up with mositure from your tank and cause everthing to fall into the tank. This will work when you are home but how are you going to ever leave your tank on a warm day?

The mini fridge thing has been tried way too many times with only failures in the long run. Just buy your self a $300-$400 chiller and get it over with, you kill that much live stock in this hobby in no time.

 

[masterswimmer]

The mini fridge thing has been tried way too many times with only failures in the long run. Just buy your self a $300-$400 chiller and get it over with, you kill that much live stock in this hobby in no time.

Agreed.

In addition to Cali's reasons, you'll spend more than that on electricity running the fridge because of inefficiencies. Of course the chiller will drawn electric, but it'll run efficiently and cost less in the long run.

swimmer

 

[aaron]

I have looked in depth into the mini fridge chiller but unfortunately he big problem is that plastic hose is too good an insulator, you just cant get the cold from the freezer to pass through the tube into the water which is why real chillers use titanium. So unless you find a titanium coil on the street its just too costly to DIY.
I am currently using fans and frozen soda bottles in the sump and can pull the tank (40Gal) down 5 or 6 degrees.

 

[inkblue]

caLi... haVe u thougHt about mY chiLLer idea

 

[Savager]

The mini fridge thing has been tried way too many times with only failures in the long run. Just buy your self a $300-$400 chiller and get it over with, you kill that much live stock in this hobby in no time.

Yes, I tried everything but it doesn't really work nor work efficiently. I bought several types of fans, and I got ice probe and I got different type of cheap chiller. But I ended up buying used 1/10 chiller and I am so happy with it. I spend close to $100 on cheap alt chiller and I ended up spending another $200 for real chiller. I could've easily spend brand new chiller for $300 and I didn't have to worry about my tank long time ago.

I've seen used 1/10 chiller for around $200 many times. I think mini fridge and long hose thing probably cost your around $100. Save $100 more and get real chiller.

 

[cali_reef]

caLi... haVe u thougHt about mY chiLLer idea

Nope, the cold water pipe thing? No going to work for 99% of the people.