Do it yourself chiller
- Thread starter Lund
- Start date
It'll work. But, you won't be able to stabilize to any temperature other than what the fridge is set for. And, don't try using it on a saltwater setup or a freshwater setup with copper-sensitive inhabitants.
You'd be better off using flex teflon hose with a foam insulator sleeve than using the copper.
You'd be better off using flex teflon hose with a foam insulator sleeve than using the copper.
I buried a coil 6ft down outside and could regulate temp at 72*-74*.
You just have to watch the frost line.
Where are you in Michigan? I'm from Mt. Clemens, just Northish of Detroit.
Dr Joe
.
You just have to watch the frost line.
Where are you in Michigan? I'm from Mt. Clemens, just Northish of Detroit.
Dr Joe
.
Sorry, there are 2 links here on this and I thought it was dead...
It could work for trout but your going to have to do some experimenting with water flow vs cooling vs room temp to get the proper coil size. Trout are a cold water fish (60*) and need lots of clean moving water.
Are we wanting to raise dinner?
Try to contact your local aggricultural agent and contractors association to get ideas abiut the frost line and depth of cold and water table. If you've got any old farms around try and ask them some questions about it. I think you have some meandering underground streams up there don't you. Oh, are you on a well or city water?
And yes you can use pvc instead of copper it just throws the heat transfer way off and you have to quadruple your cooling field size.
If your worried about copper leaching, in freshwater copper will form a glazing that separates it from the water with age. That's one of the reasons it's used in housing for potable water. Copper leaching is only a problem in sensitve fish (usualy tropicals and higher water temps).
Go to wallyworld or kamrt and get a minnkota electronic thermometer with the 20 ft. wire w/remote sensor. One of them reads dual temps so you can chart the difference between bottom of the hole and surface temp. Then knock the dust off of your posthole digger and dig yourself a hole 4-6 ft. deep. Put the sensor in the hole (I tried it in a pvc pipe but had to add water to the pipe or the readings were higher) with a shovle of dirt from the bottom of the hole and compact it simular to original if its not damp, dampen it a little, check the temp reading (make sure it works) then fill the hole back up, making sure there is slack in the wire so as not to strain it (it's rather fragile in this useage). What your wanting is a year-round stable temp. (Here it's 6ft=72*) Chart it faithfully thru rain and drout for as long as you can, The next 2 months should give you a desending temp but not too much depending on your water table.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Dr Joe
.
It could work for trout but your going to have to do some experimenting with water flow vs cooling vs room temp to get the proper coil size. Trout are a cold water fish (60*) and need lots of clean moving water.
Are we wanting to raise dinner?
Try to contact your local aggricultural agent and contractors association to get ideas abiut the frost line and depth of cold and water table. If you've got any old farms around try and ask them some questions about it. I think you have some meandering underground streams up there don't you. Oh, are you on a well or city water?
And yes you can use pvc instead of copper it just throws the heat transfer way off and you have to quadruple your cooling field size.
If your worried about copper leaching, in freshwater copper will form a glazing that separates it from the water with age. That's one of the reasons it's used in housing for potable water. Copper leaching is only a problem in sensitve fish (usualy tropicals and higher water temps).
Go to wallyworld or kamrt and get a minnkota electronic thermometer with the 20 ft. wire w/remote sensor. One of them reads dual temps so you can chart the difference between bottom of the hole and surface temp. Then knock the dust off of your posthole digger and dig yourself a hole 4-6 ft. deep. Put the sensor in the hole (I tried it in a pvc pipe but had to add water to the pipe or the readings were higher) with a shovle of dirt from the bottom of the hole and compact it simular to original if its not damp, dampen it a little, check the temp reading (make sure it works) then fill the hole back up, making sure there is slack in the wire so as not to strain it (it's rather fragile in this useage). What your wanting is a year-round stable temp. (Here it's 6ft=72*) Chart it faithfully thru rain and drout for as long as you can, The next 2 months should give you a desending temp but not too much depending on your water table.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Dr Joe
.
I have used a small fridge and plastic tubing but an air conditioner unit would be more effective.