diy water chiller question/ideas need help will rep++

Frito Bandito420

Active Member
im looking for a diy water chiller. right now i have a rdwc system. but having a hard time keeping water temps within range. i was looking on egay and found this.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24L-21qt-12V-Portable-Handheld-Travel-Car-Cooler-Warmer-Mini-Fridge-Refrigerator-/200650939657?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb7ba5d09

I could use that as my res. pump and stuff inside it. the thing that concerns me is
The cooler is equipped with a DC adapter that plugs into your car's 12 volt cigarette lighter drawing only 5 amps. It cools to 15℃(40°F) below ambient temperature and heats to 65℃ (149°F) by set-point thermostat!

i could always convert to reg power so i can just plug it in. but i see it say cools to 40*f below ambient temp. it never goes above 80*f in my grow room. but does that mean the water temp could get down to 40*f? since it could cool it down 40*.

what is the coldest the water in a dwc/rwdc should be? if this will work im going to buy it. better than spending hundreds + on a water chiller. since i only have a smallerish grow.

thanks guys
 

WillyBagseed

Active Member
That is a cooler, like a beer cooler that is electric. Will not keep gallons of running nutes cool.

How many gallons total do you have and how many containers/res. You need to either get a chiller or convert to all coolers(igloo etc) I run DWC in a 90f room and res never gets over 70. I add 1 frozen gallon jug every other day and it holds temp 66-70. This is in a 150qt / 37.5 gallon marine cooler.
 

Frito Bandito420

Active Member
I have 2 5 gallon home depot/lowes that I use. one for the plant one for res. its just the home depot one is leaking slowly. and I want to upgrade. so that cooler I posted a link to will not work?
 

QuarterbackMo

Well-Known Member
Make a coil out of plastic tube or copper tube (idk how copper effects nutrient solution so dont quote me on that) and stick it in a mini fridge... have a pump that pumps from the res through the coil and back to the res.... thats my first thought on it
 

snocat

Active Member
I dont think the mini fridg will work because your moveing a large volume of water and the water(nute solution)will not have enough time to cool down,I would switch to coolers,I use 150 quart coolers and all I do is put a frozen water jug in it every other day and my temps never go above 70 deg. keep in mind that the pump will generate heat as it is running and will cause your temps to rise,now maybe a large freezer would do it if you have one to use but in my opinion I would save the cash for a chiller and be done with it,I dont mind dealing with the frozen jugs I have to check the ph and ppm every day so its no big deal,I made my lids out of styrafoam isulation and have the middle section removable so I can change out the jugs and see my roots if I have to good luck
 

woodsmaneh!

Well-Known Member
the ideal temp for RDWC is 61 to 64 as water holds the most dissolved oxygen at this temp. It also makes it hard for pathogens to develop. you will not believe how well they grow at that temp. Check out may grow at bottom.

If your short on money buy a 3 to 5 days cooler and cool it with frozen water bottles.

If you got the cash buy a 1/4 hp chiller

EcoPlus 1/4 HP Chiller


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Suitable for reservoirs, hydroponic systems or fresh & saltwater aquariums. Each chiller has a high performance titanium heat exchanger for optimum performance and corrosion resistance. Efficient and reliable compressor.
The micro computer with digital LCD display allows for easy operation.

Specifications:

* Capable of Chilling: 170 gallons - 10° F; 100 gallons - 30° F
* 480 Watt
* 120/60 V/HZ
* 4 Amps
* 3/4" Fittings
* GPH min. 633 / max. 1056
 

ZAQ

Member
We use a Harbor freight air dryer and run 500 Gal clone set up got it on sale for 225 it keep watter at 60 year round
 

ZAQ

Member
THAT THE BEAST You run water not air is how we do it I have seen a few that run air but water run slow dose better heat transfer
 
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