DIY Chiller

[ChilDawg]

Originally posted by slipknottin in another Forum
The new DIY chillers are being made out of the $99 home depot AC units. With a decent amount of titanium coil (going to cost +$100) you can cool a large tank pretty efficiently, and with the AC unit being mounted outside, the heat isnt getting added back to the room.

Anyone got any plans for this?

[slipknottin]

Depends how good you are at DIYng stuff.

the big parts you need

1. window AC unit, can find one at home depot or walmart for $100

2. temp controller, a unit like the medusa is perfect (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=3973)

3. a heat exchanger. You could either DIY one out of bare titanium tubing (you could use stainless for FW applications) or buy a professional model. Heres the bare tubing- http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/109/html/0106.html#.

Here are the professional models- http://www.sw-wilson.com/prod04.htm

With one of those heat exchangers, you pump freon through the exchanger then back to the AC. You would also need a water pump to pump tank water through the heat exchanger and back to the tank. With the bare tubing, it would be easier to run the freon right into the tubing and submerge the tubing into the sump (or main tank)

The end result will be a high efficiency chiller thats good for somewhere up to 800+ gallons, and costs from $200-$600 or so. It can be cheaper or more expensive than a regular chiller initially, but it much more efficient and will save quite a bit of money in the long run. Compared to the DIY mini-frig chillers, this can do a larger tank, cool it faster, save electricity, and wont cost a whole lot more.

[ChilDawg]

Thanks, slip! Might have to get one so that Madtoms can survive in my tanks...

[ChilDawg]

Would I need a 220V outlet for the AC unit?

[slipknottin]

Nope, they should all be 115 volts.

[TrashmanTodd]

Hey, just a thought, but what about using a oil or transmission cooler from J.C. whitney or something like that. You could mount it in front of the air conditioner, use simple tubing from the tank and a little pump to push the water through. Other then the air conditioner it shouldn't cost you much.

Just a thought.:D

Todd

[slipknottin]

I believe they are made out of aluminum. It will corrode and oxidize in salt water, and is only 50/50 in freshwater.

[TrashmanTodd]

Sorry! I didn't realize he was talking about salt water.:eek:
Todd

[slipknottin]

Hes not, but aluminum can corrode in FW also. Im all for keeping all metals out of aquariums except for titanium and 316 stainless.