Cooling your res?

Hey guys, whats the most cost effective way of cooling a 22-gallon reservoir? Aquarium coolers look pretty expensive, I'm looking at ebay for something cheap but so far not much... thanks guys.

not a bad idea... but a bit high maintenance

Or you can buy a bunch of freezer packs and just swap them out every 8 hours.

Twistyman said:

Take a couple of 2 liter soda bottles filled with water and freeze...then put in res.
Just an idea...

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That's a good idea Twisty, lol. Or you could empty half out and add cold ph'd water to it.

Have you looked into a cooling probe? works by transferring the heat to a cooling fin base----it mounts through the wall of your res----it would work well for that small of a application.

2 liter bottles work. its a little hassle but not a big a hassle as root rot!

true! And I have the freezer space....

Add Salt to the water before you freeze it.I can't remember the scientific explanation but it has something to do with the water not freezing at 32 so you can get colder a temperature.

I remember seeing something about this on mythbusters about salt water getting beer colder than normal water.

chillers are expensive, but worth it.
For consistent rez temps the chiller is the only way to go. during the hotter months i can't not have one.
ebay and wholesalers seem to have much better prices than retailers.

where are the wholesalers?

GAMEBRED said:

Add Salt to the water before you freeze it.I can't remember the scientific explanation but it has something to do with the water not freezing at 32 so you can get colder a temperature.

I remember seeing something about this on mythbusters about salt water getting beer colder than normal water.

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Wouldn't salt dehydrate the plant and kill it?

Twistyman said:

Take a couple of 2 liter soda bottles filled with water and freeze...then put in res.
Just an idea...

Click to expand...

That's exactly what I do do. Once in the morning and once in the evening... it's not a big deal because I have to adjust the PH anyway..... plus I like visiting the babies

No way I'm spending $600 on a res. chiller when I can use frozen 2 liter bottles for free!

florida...what method do you grow using? and how big is your res?

ranunky said:

Wouldn't salt dehydrate the plant and kill it?

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LOL.... he's talking about adding salt to the water INSIDE the 2 liter bottle..... before freezing... not salt in the reservoir.

LoudBlunts said:

florida...what method do you grow using? and how big is your res?

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I'm growing Hempy .... my reservoir is only 13 gallons... but I only have 4 plants right now. I use one 2 liter bottle in the morning... and one at night. I also keep my res. out of the grow tent so it doesn't have the light shining on it promoting algae..... and I keep it covered with a towel.

This is actually my first time growing in about 20 years (I tried and failed miserably to grow a few plants in my early 20s). After this first grow I'm going to take down that ridiculous tent.... I don't need it and don't know what I was thinking wasting $200 on it! oh well ... live and learn. My room has gone through a lot of changes since I started.... I've got a few more tweeks to make before I'd call it "ideal".

LOL... as you can see... I also use the 2 liter bottles for homemade CO2 generators too

google the iceprobe


or the cl-85 chiller


yes, you love me, i know!

i seen the cl 85 for 150...im thinking about maybe getting that one....or a 1/15 maybe even 1/10...not sure yet


what RO system ya got? care to share?

LoudBlunts said:

what RO system ya got? care to share?

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Haven't got it yet... it just shipped today... but here's a link to the one I bought (I got the 150 GPD). I LOVE that it's portable!!!

Countertop Portable Reverse Osmosis 100-150 GPD - Great RV's and traveling.