Diy Chiller

[madmom]

I have entirely too much free time so I surf the web. I came across this chiller on www.reefs.org that seems to work. My outside temp is 96 degrees now and inside is not much cooler even with fans. The temp in the tank is 76 degrees. I've had this chiller running 5 days now and the only drawback I see is adding ice every 3 - 4 hours. I freeze sandwich bags and 20 oz. soda bottles and add them to the melted water in the chest.

Items needed :
1 med. size styrofoam chest
1 powerhead ( I used one for a 10 gal tank) the original called for a 201 powerhead
3-4 inches 1/2 I.D. hose
1 1/2"-1/4" adapter (available in hardware or plumbing supply stores
25' 1/4" hose.

Total cost under $45.

Drill two holes big enough to fit the 1/4" hose through into the styrofoam chest near the top on one side. Attach the adapter to the 1/2" hose and attach the 1/4" hose to the adapter. Run the 1/4" hose through one hole ; coil around bottom of chest and out the other hole into the tank. Attach the powerhead in the tank and the 1/2" hose to the outflow opening.
Fill the cooler with ice cover and plug powerhead in.
As ice melts I've added the frozen bottles or sandwich bags to keep water in chest cold.and drained out excess water. Lasts about 6 hours.
It ain't pretty but mine seems to work. It may be because I only have a 10 gal tank.

 

[Die_Grinder]

i have just lined my mini fridge with 6mm air line. rigged it up to a powerhead, and when it gets too hot i turn it on. cool tank and cold beers

DG

 

[saboy]

i have just lined my mini fridge with 6mm air line. rigged it up to a powerhead, and when it gets too hot i turn it on. cool tank and cold beers

DG

That is a excellent Idea ! Im gonna try that one day !

 

[SkiFletch]

It ain't pretty but mine seems to work. It may be because I only have a 10 gal tank.

It is only because you have a 10 gallon tank. The thermal mass in larger tanks, even 30 gallons would make the amount of ice needed to cool teh tank an astronomical figure. Trying to cool a 30+ gallon tank with ice is simply not physically possible. Fans pointed at the water surface of either the tank or the sump will be MUCH more effective for large tanks

Great idea though for your setup, and thank heaven I have AC