[digitalreefer]

Quote: Originally Posted by equinox it looks great! I have been looking for something like this. can you post pictures showing the whole chiller just so I get an idea of how it should look?

I'm now down a full 2 degrees after 15 minutes with the new ice packs. This makes my experiment a complete success in my opinion. Here's a couple other pictures of the bottom and the top without the fan.

[SlamaJama]

nice work..

[bad coffee]

Nice work.

And Breeze, lots of people have tried the mini fridge idea. Nobody could get it to work efficently. You either burn up the fridge or it doesn't chill enough.

B

[cali_reef]

Replace that cardboard with a piece of plastic, you don't want the paper to soften up with mositure from your tank and cause everthing to fall into the tank. This will work when you are home but how are you going to ever leave your tank on a warm day?

The mini fridge thing has been tried way too many times with only failures in the long run. Just buy your self a $300-$400 chiller and get it over with, you kill that much live stock in this hobby in no time.

[masterswimmer]

Quote: Originally Posted by cali_reef The mini fridge thing has been tried way too many times with only failures in the long run. Just buy your self a $300-$400 chiller and get it over with, you kill that much live stock in this hobby in no time.

Agreed.

In addition to Cali's reasons, you'll spend more than that on electricity running the fridge because of inefficiencies. Of course the chiller will drawn electric, but it'll run efficiently and cost less in the long run.

swimmer

[aaron]

I have looked in depth into the mini fridge chiller but unfortunately he big problem is that plastic hose is too good an insulator, you just cant get the cold from the freezer to pass through the tube into the water which is why real chillers use titanium. So unless you find a titanium coil on the street its just too costly to DIY.
I am currently using fans and frozen soda bottles in the sump and can pull the tank (40Gal) down 5 or 6 degrees.

[inkblue]

caLi... haVe u thougHt about mY chiLLer idea

[Savager]

Quote: Originally Posted by cali_reef The mini fridge thing has been tried way too many times with only failures in the long run. Just buy your self a $300-$400 chiller and get it over with, you kill that much live stock in this hobby in no time.

Yes, I tried everything but it doesn't really work nor work efficiently. I bought several types of fans, and I got ice probe and I got different type of cheap chiller. But I ended up buying used 1/10 chiller and I am so happy with it. I spend close to $100 on cheap alt chiller and I ended up spending another $200 for real chiller. I could've easily spend brand new chiller for $300 and I didn't have to worry about my tank long time ago.

I've seen used 1/10 chiller for around $200 many times. I think mini fridge and long hose thing probably cost your around $100. Save $100 more and get real chiller.

[cali_reef]

Quote: Originally Posted by inkblue caLi... haVe u thougHt about mY chiLLer idea

Nope, the cold water pipe thing? No going to work for 99% of the people.