Cheap chiller?

[Verruckt]

While digging in my basement looking for a 10gal tank that I thought I had, I came across some of my homebrew equipment and got some ideas.

I have one of those metal plates intended to cool beer. Its the kind that has the coiled tubing going through it, and its a big block of I think aluminum. You're supposed to put them in the bottom of a cooler filled with ice. If that was just sitting out, would it be possible to pump some water through that to offset the heat generated by lighting? The plate would basically be room temp, and you could regulate the flow. Anyone think it's "doable"?

 

[Anonymous]

The main issue is that some metal can be bad for the saltwater. Aluminium is not as bad as copper when it come to toxicity, and some may say that it is fine for invertibrate. But some feel not comfortable with anything other than CP grade titanium and certain type of stainless steel.

 

[Verruckt]

Correct, that's why I wouldn't want to put it in a sump or anything. The actual tubing going through it is stainless. I believe it's just 3/8" line.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey

Im a homebrewer!!
Stainless will corrode with saltwater. Titainum is better, but after you get the tubing you need and the bending, you might just be better off buying a chiller

You have to be able to remove the heat from the coil. I dont see it removing much heat unless you put the coil in subzero weather