Heater core aquarium chiller

[mr_cool_guy]

Well I just finished replaceing a heater core in a friends mustang(real fun try it sometime), and got the idea to use one of these small heat exchangers to cool an aquarium 2 or 3 degrees maybe even more. Ive ran into a wall in two places though. One being I can't seem to find anyone else that has tried this. And two being the heater core itself is made of mostly made of copper. I know that its not a good idea to use copper on marine aquaiums with inverts, but I have a freshwater tank with fish and crustaceans. Was wanting to know if anyone has tried this or have any ideas, also any experiences with copper in aquariums. Heres some pics i did find on the net.

Heres a heater set-up on a race car, but maybe I can use the principle.

A aluminum heater core, so far these seem to be twice as expensive as copper ones of the same size, still looking though.

A copper core.

I could attatch these fans onto the core to pass air through the fins.

 

[CHOMPERS]

The good news is you have a very creative brain. The bad news is that a fish tank at ambient temperature is going to remain at that temp unless introduced to a different temperature.

A chiller works because it uses freon like an air conditioner or heat pump to transfer energy. A temperature differential is created by compressing the freon gas (which heats it up). The gas is then transfered to another location where it is cooled in a condenser (looks like the radiators/heat exchangers in your pics). This is where the fans come in to play to cool off the condenser. As the gas cools, it condenses into a liquid. The condensing also gives off additional heat. The freon is then pumped back to the other side where the pressure is then released. This occurs in the evaporator, so called because the liquid evaporates back to a gas. In the evaporation, the freon absorbs energy from the surroundings. And the process starts all over.

 

[mr_cool_guy]

Yhea but I was thinking this would work for someone whos tank is a few degrees above room(ambient) temp. because of pump and lighting heat. Also the copper issue is no longer a issue as I have found a few aluminum cores for around $25, not bad at all.

 

[Dr Joe]

Copper probably would have been glazed over and not been a problem anyway.

Watch out for the aluminum cores as it's been sited that aluminum causes Alzheimer's

If you can contain the core you could install a misting system on it and let evaporation cool the coils/water.

Let us know how it works out.

P.S. Nice duct tape work.

Dr Joe

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[rallysman]

throw the heater core in a mini fridge

 

[ITHURTZ]

stick the core outside or in the basement

 

[ichthius]

You should do a test on the aluminum ones too as the brazing can contain harmful metals. Even an old copper one will still leach ions especially in soft acidic water.

Good luck with your project.