Squidbilly
Well-Known Member
So the other day I set up my automated DTW system.
After it was all set up and running for a few days I noticed that my resevior was getting warmer then I liked. The one day it was really hot out my resevior temps soared to almost 80degrees!
I was ready to buy a chiller, but I thought I'd try a few things first:
1. 1/2 gal frozen jugs: Put a handful in the freezer and rotate them into your resevior. Very effective when your able to keep changing them out, however, doing this defeats the purpose of automating things. I don't want to have to go in my room 2-3 times a day just to exchange jugs. WORKS great in a pinch or for short term use.
2. Move air pump: Move air pump(sending air into stones) to a colder area. This can get you a 1-5degree difference.
3. Move resevior to colder location/other room: Very effective if feasible : ) This could completely solve your problem.
4. Insulate your resevior: Put reflective material or other insulative material around your resevior. A white damp towel covering your resevior does wonders. Just changing this once a day can drop temps a couple degrees.
5. Jumping off of #4: I bought a nice 30 gallon cooler and converted it into a resevior. I moved it across the room further away from my tent as well. I spend $60.00 on a nice cooler, but it's big enough and it claims to keep ice for 5 days in 90 degree weather. So far filling the resevior with cold water and one half gallon jug of ice keeps my temps 60-65degrees for 4-5 days. GLAD I DIDN'T WASTE MY MONEY ON A CHILLER.
Hope this might help some smaller DTW guys out-a cooler instead of a store bought resevior or rubbermaid bin works great!
HOW DOES EVERYONE ELSE MANAGE RESEVIOR TEMPS?
After it was all set up and running for a few days I noticed that my resevior was getting warmer then I liked. The one day it was really hot out my resevior temps soared to almost 80degrees!
I was ready to buy a chiller, but I thought I'd try a few things first:
1. 1/2 gal frozen jugs: Put a handful in the freezer and rotate them into your resevior. Very effective when your able to keep changing them out, however, doing this defeats the purpose of automating things. I don't want to have to go in my room 2-3 times a day just to exchange jugs. WORKS great in a pinch or for short term use.
2. Move air pump: Move air pump(sending air into stones) to a colder area. This can get you a 1-5degree difference.
3. Move resevior to colder location/other room: Very effective if feasible : ) This could completely solve your problem.
4. Insulate your resevior: Put reflective material or other insulative material around your resevior. A white damp towel covering your resevior does wonders. Just changing this once a day can drop temps a couple degrees.
5. Jumping off of #4: I bought a nice 30 gallon cooler and converted it into a resevior. I moved it across the room further away from my tent as well. I spend $60.00 on a nice cooler, but it's big enough and it claims to keep ice for 5 days in 90 degree weather. So far filling the resevior with cold water and one half gallon jug of ice keeps my temps 60-65degrees for 4-5 days. GLAD I DIDN'T WASTE MY MONEY ON A CHILLER.
Hope this might help some smaller DTW guys out-a cooler instead of a store bought resevior or rubbermaid bin works great!
HOW DOES EVERYONE ELSE MANAGE RESEVIOR TEMPS?