Home made cooling unit

[benjamin]

Because winter temperatures aren't always reliable, I've decided I'ld like to give my animals a cooling unit. I was thinking of making one in a styrofoam box that operate on the principal of a fan blowing over water. The water would run over many panels in order to have the max surface area to volume ratio. Because the cooling would be caused by forced evaporation I would add ice to it every day to melt and make more water. The cooling unit would have its own water and heat exchange would happen through metal pipes. Do you think my Idea would work?

 

[jennifer]

It's an interesting idea, but I have a feeling that it might not make a significant difference in the tank temperature. If you are going to be bringing ice every day, it would be more effective to just put frozen bottles directly into the tank. Also, what kind of metal pipes would you use, and how much of that metal would you be getting into the newt water? I don't mean to sound negative, but I am a bit doubtful.

 

[benjamin]

I wouldn't use coper (because it's apparently lethal to amphibians), or iron because it rusts, maybe brass. If I couldn't find any brass, then I would just put the coils on the outside of the tank. In either case I would probably put some thing insulating over the aquarium.

 

[colin]

Ben
if you have a browse on the internet for on marine aquarium sites you will get some sites where people do just what you are suggesting, but in a glass sump not a styro one. It is commonly used and seems to work well

 

[benjamin]

Thanks, I'll make one and test it!

 

[kaysie]

or put them in the basement.

 

[pin-pin]

Hi Benjamin,

I have used a water/fan/evaporation source for cooling and I would suggest that you make sure that your water reservoir does not drop too much between times that you are able to refill.

 

[benjamin]

I kind of have a basement but let me say that it is very run down. I already know it's a good hibernation site for newts because wild newts hibernate there (I has a door that opens to the outside with a large chunk missing from the bottom). I don't think I'ld be able to put an aquarium in there with out disrupting important habitat. I was a bit worried about the resevoir dropping too low I guess I'll just have to make one and test it. I'm glad that my idea would work.

 

[joeri]

Cool, wild and captive animals in the same house

About your idea, it seems to me like a lot of work that could be done with less effort; e.g. the frozen bottles.

 

[benjamin]

Well I guess I could use the bottles of ice idea. would putting some insulator (fabric, card board, styrofoam.. etc) around the walls of the aquarium help.

 

[colin]

Yeah, I set up another marine tank last week and used that silver reflective stuff that is used behind radiators to keep heat in... It would also keep the cold in... bit like a flask.

I cant find it at B&Q online but they have it instore