Hi all I need to cool down my tank to 20-24 celsius,it's currently sitting at 28-29 celsius.Doing a water change brings it down to around 26c but it goes back to 28 or so the next day.Heater hasn't been plugged in for a week and i am getting desperate So far i am thinking of throwing in 2x 2L frozen water bottles into the container i use for water changes about 5 hours before the next water change. It probably won't work longterm so i am thinking of putting a fan in a wooden box with 2 openings and having a copper cooling system in the middle and then having it coild around glass pipes that are connected to the outflow of my cannister filter. I'll draw up a design later today,i'm currently at work but i thought it would be a good idea to get everyones opinion now instead of waiting until i get home.
Or, go to the Gumtree, buy a small mini bar fridge and rig up a system like this: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1802159 Many options depending on your hunger for DIY... (edit) Serious DIY: http://raazebaghaa.ir/english/showthread.php?tid=2360
For us planted tank guys this can be hard. You would generally turn off the lights and put a fan blowing onto the water surface (If you have good circulation this works rather well). You can float a frozen water bottle on the water but this requires you to be there to make sure the tank does not get too cold. apparently ziplock bags with a few ice blocks in works well to keep the temp constant. If its too bad you better start drilling holes in your fridge for your canister
Too expensive for me atm ,tough month.I only have 2k to spare. Woa,that seems pretty cool.Will try and give it a try if i can find a fridge for a good price. Lights are only on for 3 or so hours a day,room has almost no air circulation when i am not home because i keep the windows closed (can't risk a break in).Tank is too high for the fan to reach and the top is closed (filters pipes and all wiring have to be disconnected to take off the top) The bar fridge idea seems to be the best and sounds awesome.
Interestingly, my boss asked me about chillers this morning. So great coincidence and very welcome to see this thread. You say you have a closed top? Otherwise I'd recommend maybe an old PC fan blowing on the water.
have you not tried one of these as hanekka suggested? they really do work bringing down some peoples tanks temp down till the point that they need to do daily top ups and switch on the heater
Bar fridge R400 on the good old Gumtree: http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-refrigerators-freezers/goodwood/bar-fridge/1001097904970910186332709 Get that drill ready
Yep,closed top.The is no place i would be able to snap them on to unfortunately wow,never thought they were that effective. Unfortunately the top is closed with no place to snap anything on. No problem. This one seems like a good buy for R700 http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-refrigerators-freezers/arcadia/mr/1001097296060910227570909 I'm guessing that i can adjust the way it cools by increasing and decreasing the pipe length in the fridge.
I'm just reading that link I sent you with the fridge, they make good points about the bar bridge having to operate quite hectically. I think it'll depend what your requirement is. I would imagine a very small pump with a small flow rate but just enough head to get through the system will work. Keeping the fridge on, but you could also wire up the pump to a temperature sensor so it works on auto and as required. Or using the pump when you see the weather is getting hot. In fact blowing air over the surface is probably cheaper with the way elec is going... Evaporation will be more, of course.
Good point. Tank is 400L so it's allot to cool. Maybe i should just cut out a piece of the canopy and mount a fan inside,only problem is making it water tight and setting up a wire mesh so no fish jump into it.
That second link is intriguing. After a quick look, the parts will cost around R800-ish, without a pump. I'm tempted to DIY one. The only thing I can't find right now is the aluminium water fitting.
Easy, use eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/new-B-type-Aluminum-water-cooling-blocks-Heatsink-Cooler-plater-122x-41mm-/310807257736 or: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PCS-Copper-Base-Water-Cooling-Block-Waterblock-CPU-Cooler-Aluminum-Clasp-W03-/281265116230 or: http://www.ebay.com/itm/4x-Aluminum-water-cooling-blocks-for-cpu-Heatsink-Cooler-plater-122x-41-x-12mm-/290852901685 I assume that's the part you were talking about?
Looks like he used this one, sorry for the double post: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PCS-CPU-Water-Cooling-Block-Waterblock-Liquid-Cooler-Aluminium-Interl-AMD-W12-/161010105531
a few freeze blue bricks floating on the surface if urgent, but make sure they are not leaking accompanied by one of those cheap small clip on desk fans available at PNP, Checkers or the like blowing over the surface does the trick.
I think the best way is to get a cooler box, drill some holes.. then get a container and fill the container with ice. Pipe some filter pipes and add a pump.. water just circulates through.. replace the ice daily, reuse, or go better, mix water and liquid alchool and in a sealed bag freeze overnight, get two sets going.
Sounds like a good idea,i have spare freezer that i am not using so plenty of space for ice packs.Only need to buy the bags,a pipe and some fittings.I'm thinking of hooking it up to the outflow of my cannister. Macro has some good deals on Cooler boxes http://www.makro.co.za/c/1317/cooler-boxes/# Thanks for the help all.
Those are usually under 200..Think they around 150 lps dependant. It's cheap and easy soon if it fits on your tank.