Cheap Chiller!!

[Fatman]

I dont know why I have not posted this yet. But my tank was getting way to hot with the lights on for more than 6 hours, so I decided to do my "chiller" idea and it works pretty well.
2 of these lower my tank 3 to 4 degrees if put together.

Basically fill a 2 liter bottle of gatorade (or coke) with water and freeze it!

Thats it!

Make sure the water from the inside doesnt leak into the tank. I usually place it in the sump and works pretty well.

Been doing this for 8 months now with no problems.

[dakar]

Just out of curiosity, how often are you having to change your *chillers*? I'd think 80F water flowing around that would melt them down pretty quickly...

Amazing what the simplest ideas can accomplish with some determination.

[Fatman]

Just out of curiosity, how often are you having to change your *chillers*? I'd think 80F water flowing around that would melt them down pretty quickly...

Amazing what the simplest ideas can accomplish with some determination.


I have 2

and they take about 30 mins to fully melt, but since they drop the water 2 to 3 degrees it takes another 4 to 5 hours max for the water to come back up, and when i put them in the lights are only going to be on another 2 to 3 hours so its usually ok.

my light schedule is 1 to 9, i get home at 5 , throw the chillers in (only if i have to mind you), then take em out whenever i get around to it.

[Fatman]

Also the temp swings (of 3 and even 5 degrees) really dont seem to affect anything in the tank at all. If theres an EXTREME swim usually 7+ degrees negative the hippo tang (aka dory) will usually break out in ich and well, garlic time all over again.

[hummer]

what kinda lights you running

[Fatman]

what kinda lights you running

MH 150W x 2 and 2 actinics PCs.

Obviously the MH are the major heat source.
I noticed a 1degree rise when I dropped the 2 powerheads in it.