What Can Be Used To Cool Nutrient Reservoirs

guymandude said:

i hear ya, man. stuff is expensive. If you con convert a fridge and that is what you want to do, go for it. Ot may take a bit longer to get yoru solution to temp, but the only way you'll know is to do it.

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I know the fridge will work fine because the difference required in temperature is not a lot.
We use the same system in our cool room for drinking water, tap out the side.
I am a Farmer, growing fruit and vegetables for many years.
We have a saying: There are only two types of Farmers, those with forklifts and those without. :)

In winter months, the plants really perform with constant Res Temps around 22.
The system is NFT with 4x 2mm feeder nozzle, there is very little water used.
Within 10 seconds of switching off pump, all nutrient is back in Res.

Thanks,
Horto

Yep

guymandude said:

Icebox heat exchanger. They're made as water heat exchangers to cool a room, but if you blow cool air through the exchanger it will cool the liquid running through the "radiator", if you have a cool air source.

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This is a very interesting piece of kit, bet it has many users still to discover.

I had a private discussion with someone drawing air from in front of the A/C for Res Air Pump.
The efficiency would be incredibly low, but the Air Pump could be connected by thermostat if it overcomes the heat energy of Res.

Putting these ideas together, you could put the Air Pump in Ice Box (Full of Ice).
Connect a Thermostat, and you have control of the energy transfer.
My point is, you might choose a slightly higher then optimum temperature setting to pace the system.
Perhaps the "Air Pump Cooler" could just run intermittent on a timer, if the system worked?
(You would still run your normal Air Pump continuous for Aeration)

Just an idea.

Horto
Boofheaded Bovine

You could run an "Air Pump Cooler" continuously.
But if your Temp is mostly fine, we are wasting ice and reducing productivity.

Obviously: If you are not skilled with things electrical do not do this.

I have a "Series A19 Temperature Control" (Single Pole Double Throw) by Johnson Controls.
Not suggesting anyone use this type of thermostat, as it is expensive and not super accurate.
And the metal used in thermostat could effect nutrient balance.

But you can wire the Single Pole to Power In.
And connect two separate electrical devices to be in opposite states.

EG. When the thermostat switches Above set Temperature, the "Air Pump Cooler" is turned on.
The standard Air Pump for Aeration is Off.

Thermostat switches the other way and power is swapped back to standard Air Pump.

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You could also create a closed loop system, connect a tube between Ice Box and Res so there is no hot air drawn in from outside. You could even draw air from Res container, using closed loop for Aeration.
Might help for Small sealed systems.

I take dorm fridges, remove the guts, and mount the plate in res, and control it with an arkbird temp controller....like 15 bucks on amazon. Less than 20 bucks in my chillers. (Dorm fridges seem to be dime a dozen....even new at wallyworld under 90 bucks)

MysteryMoog said:

I take dorm fridges, remove the guts, and mount the plate in res, and control it with an arkbird temp controller....like 15 bucks on amazon. Less than 20 bucks in my chillers. (Dorm fridges seem to be dime a dozen....even new at wallyworld under 90 bucks)

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I think fridges get overlooked, they are made to keep produce or liquid at a set temperature.
Fridges can run on 12 volt, or even Kerosene: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator

My requirements are minimal.
Not sure if cool aeration will get there, if it doesn't a fridge will be very efficient.

Thanks for the input

Thought id post a few pics for you. This is the cloner, but same way in any rez.

My use of fridge will be to put the nutrient container inside as is.
I have assumed you are putting the fridge cooling element in nutrient.
Cannot make a lot of sense from the Pics.

Yes, i put the cooling plate in the rez.

MysteryMoog said:

Yes, i put the cooling plate in the rez.

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Thanks,

I started a post in relation to the General use of Aluminum in hydroponics and any chemical reaction, out of interest in using Aluminum Materials. Not specifically relating to Fridges.

See if we have any chemistry folk in community.

id sa

Horto said:

Thanks,

I started a post in relation to the General use of Aluminum in hydroponics and any chemical reaction, out of interest in using Aluminum Materials. Not specifically relating to Fridges.

See if we have any chemistry folk in community.

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Y for sure ,you Don't want aluminium leaching into your feed pal.

I am not overly concerned with anything leaching from the chiller plate in the water. Ph slowly goes up, ppm starts at 003 and the rez is changed out once a week. Ph goes up about .75 of a point, and ppm sits at about 005-010ppm when i change it. This is the clone rez. Just use ro water in it, and clone all different things in it, including rooting pine tree cuttings....lol

MysteryMoog said:

including rooting pine tree cuttings....lo

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Yes, my use of equipment is used for agriculture. I made a seed box using NFT and Fluro, with Temperature control. It means I can create any seedlings 12 months a year, plant out early vegetables that are well established.

Air Pump Cooler

Note:
You could place your Air Pump in an Ice Box, or just a fridge.
If its there and not costing anything to do it, just use common sense around water.

When you pump air from Ice Box, or inside fridge the air will draw around the seal.
This is not ideal because the hot outside air mixes quickly with cold air in Box/fridge.

One solution is to join the Ice Box to top of Res with hose. This creates a closed loop, your air line goes through this hose.

In the case of a fridge you could get a roll of clear tubing, make sure you can blow air through without having a hernia. Drill a hole the same size through fridge wall.
Throw the roll of tube in fridge and plug it into the hole you drilled, from the inside.
This will allow the outside air more time to cool before mixing with the cool air in fridge.

Ideas to ponder.
Horto