Jaymzha
Community Member
Good idea or Bad idea?
The Problem:
Without a chillers, most reefers can only
heat > cool water,
but NOT cool > warm water.
My oberservation:
Especially during the winter I chose to add the new salt water into my heater chamber during water changes. But, I realized after doing so many water changes (each about 10%) that doing it this way, my tank doesn't fluctuate temperatures drastically +/-.5 - 1° even with using new water at 60° or even 50°.
But that only works during the winter.
So again...
The Problem:
Without a chillers, most reefers can only
heat > cool water,
but NOT cool > warm water.
But many of us (esp. on the east coast) are always worried about the Summer Heat. Many of us do not leave the AC on all day when we are out. But as a consequence, I've personally had temperatures reach up to 85° last year . But, Chillers are expensive, obnoxiously big, and many have terrible reviews.
So I had an idea...
Nutshell:
Keep ATO water in a picnic cooler relative to tank's size and heating capability.
Diy Method:
1. Get a cheap temperature resistant cooler (ie. Igloo, Coleman etc.)
2. Clean and add in clean RODI.
3. Cool water with Ice Packs or Bags of ice and get the water to desired cooler temperature (ie. 60° or less for me). Then remove icers. Them temp should stay relatively the same throughout the day.
4. Close the lid with small opening for ATO line.
5. Use cooler water for ATO to heating chamber to counter summer heatwaves, higher evaporation rates, but also get heated by heating chamber if temps go below the standard 78°.
6. Rinse and repeat as ATO temp rises.
The theory:
As Summer heat waves cause tank water to evaporate quicker and tank temperatures to rise, the 'cooler' ATO water will keep the temperature better regulated by adding cooler temp water and doing it in a safe way after testing what 'what cold water temp' your tank can handle.
Also, just to tie it all together.
My 10% water changes at 60° was safe.
My ATO will be set to add way less at about 2%.
It might not make a huge difference, but thinking that splashing in 'safe temp' cooler water during every ATO evaporation cycle might be able to battle the Summer heat.
Would like to hear thoughts, opinions, and yes even criticisms (Although there is the obvious crowd that loves to doom diy reefers for trying something new. I come in peace ✌.)
So Good idea or Bad idea?
The Problem:
Without a chillers, most reefers can only
heat > cool water,
but NOT cool > warm water.
My oberservation:
Especially during the winter I chose to add the new salt water into my heater chamber during water changes. But, I realized after doing so many water changes (each about 10%) that doing it this way, my tank doesn't fluctuate temperatures drastically +/-.5 - 1° even with using new water at 60° or even 50°.
But that only works during the winter.
So again...
The Problem:
Without a chillers, most reefers can only
heat > cool water,
but NOT cool > warm water.
But many of us (esp. on the east coast) are always worried about the Summer Heat. Many of us do not leave the AC on all day when we are out. But as a consequence, I've personally had temperatures reach up to 85° last year . But, Chillers are expensive, obnoxiously big, and many have terrible reviews.
So I had an idea...
Nutshell:
Keep ATO water in a picnic cooler relative to tank's size and heating capability.
Diy Method:
1. Get a cheap temperature resistant cooler (ie. Igloo, Coleman etc.)
2. Clean and add in clean RODI.
3. Cool water with Ice Packs or Bags of ice and get the water to desired cooler temperature (ie. 60° or less for me). Then remove icers. Them temp should stay relatively the same throughout the day.
4. Close the lid with small opening for ATO line.
5. Use cooler water for ATO to heating chamber to counter summer heatwaves, higher evaporation rates, but also get heated by heating chamber if temps go below the standard 78°.
6. Rinse and repeat as ATO temp rises.
The theory:
As Summer heat waves cause tank water to evaporate quicker and tank temperatures to rise, the 'cooler' ATO water will keep the temperature better regulated by adding cooler temp water and doing it in a safe way after testing what 'what cold water temp' your tank can handle.
Also, just to tie it all together.
My 10% water changes at 60° was safe.
My ATO will be set to add way less at about 2%.
It might not make a huge difference, but thinking that splashing in 'safe temp' cooler water during every ATO evaporation cycle might be able to battle the Summer heat.
Would like to hear thoughts, opinions, and yes even criticisms (Although there is the obvious crowd that loves to doom diy reefers for trying something new. I come in peace ✌.)
So Good idea or Bad idea?
