Has anyone tried the Coolworks Ice Probe?

ovie

Member
I've been having res temp issues. I finally got an in-line fan installed and my room temps are at 75 degrees now. However, my res temps are at 75 degrees as well. Since my res is only about 3-5gal, would the Coolworks ice probe benefit me?
 

Bigz2277

Well-Known Member
just the bucket itself or any insulation? Alum foil tapes makes it light proof and reflects light.
 

ovie

Member
I have it wrapped in mylar... I was using ice bottles within 12 hours the temp was at 72 degrees. I don't have the time to keep up with it like that.
 

dbkick

Well-Known Member
I was wanting to try an iceprobe for awhile but they only cool 10 gallons or so, the other problem I see with using an iceprobe is that any heat removed from the water is dissipated in room air. Bigz certainly has the right idea, insulate the water from the room , the best way I know to do this is use an igloo (or any brand) cooler as a bucket/res. If you do this you won't be needing an iceprobe BUT I think an iceprobe would work pretty good in an igloo cooler.
 

dbkick

Well-Known Member
OR you could not worry about the few degrees you're over what you think is right and run beneficial bacteria. 75 degrees really isn't that bad but does leave room for bad bacteria to grow, the bennies keep that from happening.
 

ovie

Member
Thanks guys. I've tried most of your suggestions already. I tried using beneficial bacteria, but it got nasty with the ice bottles. Without them my bucket is room temp. It is insulated with fiber glass and wrapped in mylar. It is not helping. At this point I am looking for a way to keep my res temps low and consistent. Was wondering if "anyone has ever used a coolworks ice probe?"
 

mike91sr

Well-Known Member
Yes, they will easily work to cool a res your size. I can't speak for longevity though.

Also, have you tried putting your air pump somewhere cooler too if that's an option? Pumping hot air through your res can undo a LOT of cooling power.
 

ovie

Member
yeah I recently moved it to the other side of the room opposite my light. It made a 2-3 degree temp difference. My room is pretty large, I am wasting space. However, until I successfully manage 1 plant I don't want to burden myself with multiple plants. Hydro has been a lot more difficult than soil, it's been a long expensive journey.
 

mike91sr

Well-Known Member
That's what I mostly hear, idk though. Expensive I guess, to do things right and go big. But a small rdwc setup with a few buckets and an airpump will run the same as a couple bags of good soil. I hadnt successfully finished my first soil grow by the time I had almost a dozen hydro plants goin, and aside from figuring out that I DO need a RO setup, it's been mostly smooth sailin. So I disagree about the difficult part, I think being able to precisely control my medium is way easier than figuring everything out in soil. Plus, who wants to wait 4 days to see if feeding the plants helped or not?
 

ovie

Member
vouch. i enjoy growing hydroponically much, much more. I've just run into some stupid problems. I just ordered a reverse osmosis filter system. I'm installing it tomorrow.
 
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