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Question about water chillers

marx2k

marx2k

Active member
Veteran
I am only doing personal grows (25 gal res, 6 plants max per grow) and would like to grow through the Summer. If an a/c doesn't cool the room enough, I may have to use a water chiller. But are there any water chillers that are small/economical enough for this type of setup? The only chillers I'm seeing online are huge industrial varieties.
 
FreezerBoy

FreezerBoy

Was blind but now IC Puckbunny in Training
Veteran
Try "micro" chillers. The CL 150 is a possibility. Available from multiple vendors at multiple prices, I think the Imperial Garden label is the lowest price. Note here that the identical units from AquaEuro are $60-$70 more. Pacific Coast and Resun are other providers. Apparently it's an import that anyone can slap their name on.

http://www.nextag.com/OSI-Pets--zzaquarium+chillerz2702000zOSIz2299932zB2uz5---html

Here's the CL 280 (1/10th HP)
http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/browseproducts/Pacific-Coast-CL280-1-10HP.-Chiller.html
 
marx2k

marx2k

Active member
Veteran
EXCELLENT links. Thank you. I will probably end up buying one of the ones you linked for NexTag. My next questions:
- Do the water lines clog from nutes? Probably not as they seem to be thick enough to allow decent pass-through
- Do they have a settable thermostat that allows me to dial in desired water temp? (65 would be my ideal).
- The OSI Imperial Garden Products Chiller CL85 is rated for 16 gals. The CL150 is rated for 32 gal. I have a 20 gal res. The CL85 *should* be able to handle it, but I might up the size of the res in the future. Would the CL150 be overkill for the 20 gal res?
 
petemoss

petemoss

Active member
I'd recommend getting a larger size chiller than you currently need. That way, the chiller won't have to work as hard to keep the res at your desired temp. Are you aware that you'll need a separate water pump to circulate through the chiller? I had a CL-280 and used a 500 gph magdrive externally. It worked beautifully and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. If you use a submerged pump for one of the smaller chillers, the pump will heat up your res about 2F degrees.
 
H

Haps

stone fool
Veteran
I use insulation as an alternative to a chiller, and it works great for me, no cord to plug in.
H
 
H

Hydro-Soil

Active member
Veteran
marx2k said:
I am only doing personal grows (25 gal res, 6 plants max per grow) and would like to grow through the Summer. If an a/c doesn't cool the room enough, I may have to use a water chiller. But are there any water chillers that are small/economical enough for this type of setup? The only chillers I'm seeing online are huge industrial varieties.
Click to expand...

If you live anywhere it gets even mildly warm, save yourself hours of work each year and frustration by going to an Ebb&Flow or Drip system.

I've been there and back with DWC and temp issues as well as DO issues and all that. Why bother when E&F and Drip are just as simple to set up and get just as killer results, without the hassles in hot areas. :)

(Grown in areas that go over 120F.)
 
marx2k

marx2k

Active member
Veteran
Hydro-Soil said:
If you live anywhere it gets even mildly warm, save yourself hours of work each year and frustration by going to an Ebb&Flow or Drip system.

I've been there and back with DWC and temp issues as well as DO issues and all that. Why bother when E&F and Drip are just as simple to set up and get just as killer results, without the hassles in hot areas. :)

(Grown in areas that go over 120F.)
Click to expand...

I'm currently working with a flood/drain system. I have a flowering cab with a 3x3 flood/drain table. The in/out tubing goes through the wall of the cab and into a 20 gal res. The res has a continuous 60gph water pump going to mix the water up as well as a 12" bendable airstone aerating it. Right now it's about 25F outside and the res sits at 65F constantly for the last few months. However, it does get to be about 80 to 90 here in the Summer so I'm deciding between an air conditioner, a water chiller or both. I have no problem dropping another submerged water pump in the res to pump to the chiller.
 
thecarguy

thecarguy

Member
Chillers are magnificient. Lower water temps give you higher dissolved oxygen AND lower chance of root disease.

Here's the bummer: The EcoPlus 1/4 hp and 1/2 hp water chillers use the same amount of electricity!
The 1/2 hp model is twice as efficient, and twice as expensive. Though, it also has a heater, which automatically comes on when I refill my res, to bring the water temp up from like 55 to 68. It's a really, really nice unit. Extremely silent. Also like 900 dollars :(. Worth it for us DWC guys.
 
HairlessCaveApe

HairlessCaveApe

Active member
Thats realy not a bad price. You can also check "petsolutions.com", they got some 1/10hp units. Get a bigger one tho. You wont be sorry. Mabey you can get a 1/4hp joint. I think you can make do with the 1/10th but there aint no doubt bout the 1/4. Anyhow, overkill's good.
 
G

Guest

1/4 is the min I would say, also chillers put out heat so it's a good idea to have it outside your growing area and also go overboard on the ac, this will save on a dehumidifier as well ...
 
H

Hydro-Soil

Active member
Veteran
marx2k said:
The res has a continuous 60gph water pump going to mix the water up
Click to expand...
Heat
marx2k said:
I have no problem dropping another submerged water pump in the res to pump to the chiller.
Click to expand...
More Heat


Add more airstones/pumps, quality style and get rid of the pump in the summertime. Seems to be keeping things just about perfect in the winter. :)

If you switch to all airstones with external airpumps, you should be able to skip the submerged pump and have lower temps. A simple window a/c unit would probably take care of the rest for you, depending on your room wattage.
 
A

Arlen

Member
I have been using the Eco_PLus 1/4 HP model for a year now. Wonderfull chiller no problem, has an outlet for a heater, keeps my 12 bucket bio system under 3 killowatts of light at whatever temp I need curently at 68F. I do have everything insulated though wich should be the first thing you do just to save on electricity.
 
A

Arlen

Member
On a side note, I also use the Eco-Plus 1/10 HP chiller for my veg cooler, ( a 65 gallon ice chest I use to root and veg) without any problems either. It has the same options as the larger chiller and works well. I first used it for the 12 bucket bio system but at only 1/10 HP it couldn't keep water temps under 70 .
 
K

Kal-El

Go with 1/4 hp minimum.
You can find used ones on craigslist.
I found some really good ones, picked up a 1/3 hp for $100.
 
A

Arlen

Member
40 to 50 pounds. But seriously, if you are doing dwc with only a 25 gallon rez and 6buckets and you insulate the res/ buckets well you dont need a 1/4 hp chiller A converted ice-chest works wonderfully for an already super insulated res by the way. I used a 40 gallon rez with 12 5 gallon buckets in my bio bucket system and my 1/10 hp would keep the temps at 70. The advice you are getting is sound advice, always buy more than you need. But insulating saves money on electricity and wear and tear on the chiller.If you ever expand to more buckets then the larger chiller makes sense, but keep in mind a highly oversized chiller will cost more to run from the continuous and frequent on/off cycling. Make sure you buy a chiller pump that meets the specs for the chiller, the higher side of the maximum pump capacity is best.
 
S

SpendThrift

Member
^^ That is the same exact one I have, I havent gotten the chance to put it into action yet, but I've heard nothing but great things about that chiller.
 
O

Observer Tom

Member
How many GPH does the pump for those chillers need to be?

If your res pump was large enough, couldn't you just circulate through the chiller on the way to the buckets?

It would mean putting your res and chiller near each other of course, but if the chiller allows enough water to go through it that would let you use only one pump.

Anyone own a chiller able to give an opinion on how much water can pass through those things?
 
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