One chiller w/ multiple tanks?

[toolofnin]

Any ideas on whether I could hook up one chiller to multiple(3) tanks? Possibly without drilling the tanks? I know, I'm asking alot. Any thoughts or prior experiences would be appreciated.

 

[Nathan]

The easiest way would be to connect the three tanks to one another and then to a sump where the chiller is housed, which would probably require some significant drilling. However, it may be possible to have an independent chiller circuit with radiating coils dropped into each tank (see below). This is just speculation on my part, so get advice from someone more experienced before you follow it!

The coils will have to be something that transmits heat well, so vinyl will probably not work, but that is non-toxic, so copper is out. I don't know what other options are out there, but there's bound to be something.

 

[Mac Myers]

Good Question Nathan. I've used vinyl tubing before and it's inefficient (or efficient depending on how you look at it). Can anyone suggest a metal tubing that would be non-toxic if such a creature exists?
toolofnin I'm no help to you as I typically build my own chillers and non are good or sophisticated enough to handle multiple tanks.

 

[Nathan]

Apparently Aquatic Ecosystems used to carry a suitable product. However, I have also run across some statements that aluminum heat exchangers should not be used with deionized water or "untreated" water.

Process Technology has heat exchangers for aquaculture applications. Most are too large for typical newt tanks, but perhaps their design could be incorporated into smaller home-made versions. They use 316 stainless steel tubing for freshwater applications.

Of course some sort of thermostat and valve would also be needed to regulate the temperature. This could be quite an engineering project!