Chilling question

JSB99 · Jan 24, 2016

In reference to RDWC and chilling the res,

Is it better to run a closed-loop system with coils in your reservoir along with its own pump, rather than use the reservoir water and a single pump? I recall seeing something recently that said running nutes through your chiller isn't good for it. Maybe it was something else.

Are there any advantages/disadvantages to running a closed-loop chilling setup over using a single pump?

I plan on having an outside water-filled bucket with coils for the winter. For the summer I'll use a chiller.

Thanks for the feedback

Dumme · Jan 24, 2016

JSB99 said:
I plan on having an outside water-filled bucket with coils for the winter. For the summer I'll use a chiller.

Depending on you Latitude, your water would change dramaticly with night/day, without some sort of controller.

redi jedi · Jan 24, 2016

Depends on the chiller. Aquarium chillers have titanium heat exchangers were a general purpose chiller will have a plain carbon steel exchanger. If you were to use a general chiller with hydroponics you could have problems with your nutes reacting with the steel. The life of the exchanger will also be reduced due to high aeration and conductivity.. the exchanger will corode quickly.

redi jedi · Jan 25, 2016

So if you only need to cool one system you could use an aquarium chiller and run it inline..pumping nutes through the chiller. Or you could use a general chiller and run it closed loop. If you wanted to cool multiple systems with one chiller..closed loop is the most economical solution.

JSB99 · Jan 25, 2016

redi jedi said:
Depends on the chiller. Aquarium chillers have titanium heat exchangers were a general purpose chiller will have a plain carbon steel exchanger. If you were to use a general chiller with hydroponics you could have problems with your nutes reacting with the steel. The life of the exchanger will also be reduced due to high aeration and conductivity.. the exchanger will corode quickly.

I was looking at the Active Aqua chillers. It sounds like my best bet is to get copper tubing and put it in the res, and scrap the "outside bucket" idea.

JSB99 · Jan 25, 2016

redi jedi said:
So if you only need to cool one system you could use an aquarium chiller and run it inline..pumping nutes through the chiller. Or you could use a general chiller and run it closed loop. If you wanted to cool multiple systems with one chiller..closed loop is the most economical solution.

Would the Active Aqua chiller allow me to run nutes through it?

I could go with the copper coil, but it's obviously extra money.

JSB99 · Jan 25, 2016

or would I have to go with something like this

redi jedi · Jan 25, 2016

JSB99 said:
Would the Active Aqua chiller allow me to run nutes through it?

I could go with the copper coil, but it's obviously extra money.

This chiller is an aquarium chiller, so it should have a titanium HX. Like I said before, the materials used are better suited for the application.

Do not use copper. It will react with nutrients and kill your plants. Anyone that does, is just getting lucky IMO. Google wort chillers, these are coils made from stainless steel.

JSB99 · Jan 25, 2016

redi jedi said:
This chiller is an aquarium chiller, so it should have a titanium HX. Like I said before, the materials used are better suited for the application.

Do not use copper. It will react with nutrients and kill your plants. Anyone that does, is just getting lucky IMO. Google wort chillers, these are coils made from stainless steel.

okay, so I'm just going to use the Active Aqua chiller inline with the RDWC.

Thanks for your help

Alaric · Jan 26, 2016

JSB99 said:
or would I have to go with something like this

I use the Ecoplus 1/4 hp chiller for a 100 gallon rez. Made by Sunlight supply.

I prefer the inline configuration which allows me to keep my entire nute volume equalized.

Those two Brute 44 gallon garbage cans are equipped with float valves like the yellow one used in the lower rez

If you notice the blue poly line going to the top garbage can-----the blue line is Teed into the return chiller line (if that makes since (sp))------very nice, almost free feature.

Make sure to use an inline pump sized correctly----very important.

A~~~

JSB99 · Jan 26, 2016

Alaric said:
I use the Ecoplus 1/4 hp chiller for a 100 gallon rez. Made by Sunlight supply.

I prefer the inline configuration which allows me to keep my entire nute volume equalized.

View attachment 3594288

Those two Brute 44 gallon garbage cans are equipped with float valves like the yellow one used in the lower rez

If you notice the blue poly line going to the top garbage can-----the blue line is Teed into the return chiller line (if that makes since (sp))------very nice, almost free feature.

Make sure to use an inline pump sized correctly----very important.

A~~~

Cool setup.
Thanks for the advice

HempletonState · Jan 26, 2016

JSB99 said:
I was looking at the Active Aqua chillers. It sounds like my best bet is to get copper tubing and put it in the res, and scrap the "outside bucket" idea.

You cannot use copper in hydro you have to get stainless steel tubing

adower · Jan 26, 2016

You shouldn't run nutes through your res. Get a stainless steel wort coil and another res with pump that keep water going through the coil. Drop the coil in your main res.

JSB99 · Jan 26, 2016

adower said:
You shouldn't run nutes through your res. Get a stainless steel wort coil and another res with pump that keep water going through the coil. Drop the coil in your main res.

Even if it's an aquarium chiller? It's no big deal setting up a wort cooler, but it is a little extra money. But, if it extends the life of the chiller then its probably worth it. Ever heard of anyone running some other liquid that's made for closed-loop chilling, or just purified water?

Do I ever have to change the water in the chiller and coil?

Thanks for the advice. Appreciate it

adower · Jan 27, 2016

JSB99 said:
Even if it's an aquarium chiller? It's no big deal setting up a wort cooler, but it is a little extra money. But, if it extends the life of the chiller then its probably worth it. Ever heard of anyone running some other liquid that's made for closed-loop chilling, or just purified water?

Do I ever have to change the water in the chiller and coil?

Thanks for the advice. Appreciate it

I'm not sure about an aquarium chiller. However if you look at an active aqua is says not to run nutes through it and it voids the warranty. I think some people use water and some type of additive. However I just use tap water. It never mixes with the res. I've used the same water in the coil for 5+ years. Although I've added some due to evaporation.

JSB99 · Jan 27, 2016

adower said:
I'm not sure about an aquarium chiller. However if you look at an active aqua is says not to run nutes through it and it voids the warranty. I think some people use water and some type of additive. However I just use tap water. It never mixes with the res. I've used the same water in the coil for 5+ years. Although I've added some due to evaporation.

Sounds like they are just advertising them as "aquarium" chillers when they're actually "general". Based on prices, it looks like the cost of a real aquarium chiller and an Active Aqua with a 25' wort coil and a small pump come out pretty close to each other.

Although, having a separate pump means I can run a smaller pump for the manifold. In the end, maybe it is cheaper to set up a wort chiller.

Thanks man

adower · Jan 28, 2016

JSB99 said:
Sounds like they are just advertising them as "aquarium" chillers when they're actually "general". Based on prices, it looks like the cost of a real aquarium chiller and an Active Aqua with a 25' wort coil and a small pump come out pretty close to each other.

Although, having a separate pump means I can run a smaller pump for the manifold. In the end, maybe it is cheaper to set up a wort chiller.

Thanks man

No worries.

blackforest · Jan 28, 2016

found a 1/10hp aquarium chiller on CL. Guy used it in his salt water aquarium. Paid $80,works like a charm over several grows. (For reference)

JSB99 · Jan 29, 2016

blackforest said:
found a 1/10hp aquarium chiller on CL. Guy used it in his salt water aquarium. Paid $80,works like a charm over several grows. (For reference)

Yeah, I'm really debating which direction I want to go. It is, after all, an "Active Aqua Hydroponics Chiller" so I imagine that's what its purpose is. Yeah, I think I might just do that. If many years down the road I need another one, then I'm okay with that.

Easier setup too.

Thanks

fabizpwn · Jan 29, 2016

Copper works fine in a closed loop system and is a third of the cost of stainless. This will not harm your plants....most people's domestic water systems are made from copper lol. You change your res often anyways so any leached metal is going to go down the drain.

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