chiller purchase

[crisscross]

I am going to build a undercurrent dwc system with maybe 18 square buckets. Therefore if you include a res I will probably have around 110 gallons. I live in a super hot area and I NEED a chiller in order to keep roots from rotting.

therefore I am going to buy a chiller by the end of February. I have seen that a 1/3 hp chiller typically lowers 100 gallons 30 degrees. I don't need that much of a drop. I"m looking more at 10-15 degrees max in the summer with the lights low. If I add a pump for the undercurrent I'm probably getting closer to 15-20 absolute max drop needed.

All that being said, could I use a 1/4 hp chiller and be fine or is 1/3 the way to go. The only thing holding me back from the 1/3 is the price.

Lastly, does anyone recommend a specific brand on a chiller?

Thank you.

 

[crisscross]

Thanks for all the replies....I guess no one has a chiller.

Anyways, I ordered the EcoPlus 1/4 HP chiller today. I just ordered what my local store had in lieu of shopping online. Therefore it's all cash and I have someone to hold accountable that I can physically visit.

I will plumb in the chiller over the next couple of weeks and from there I will post a review under this thread in case anyone is looking at chillers in the future.

 

[Galactic]

Re: chiller purchase

Hey man you should be gravy. 1/4-1/3 sounds right... I have used ecoplus, aqua logic, and prime USA in these sizes. They all work. The fine print is in specs, up to you how anal you want to be. But plug and play with.the one you ordered is cool.

 

[crisscross]

Hey man you should be gravy. 1/4-1/3 sounds right... I have used ecoplus, aqua logic, and prime USA in these sizes. They all work. The fine print is in specs, up to you how anal you want to be. But plug and play with.the one you ordered is cool.

thanks. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[PrivateAero]

I ran a 24 5 gal bucket system with a27 gal rez with a1/4 horse active aqua. Dropped it 10 degrees just fine.

 

[Galactic]

Re: chiller purchase

Check the manufacturers manual to make sure you size your water pump properly.

 

[crisscross]

galactic: The manual says "Pump Size: Minimum 633 GPH / Maximum 1056 GPH"

I ordered the 633 pump. Ecoplus makes a 633 and a 1056...I went with the smaller pump because that way it won't cause the chiller to work too hard/fast...I don't even know if that makes any sense.

 

[Galactic]

Re: chiller purchase

You got it. Chiller does the same "work" set at a constant. Faster flow rate through, minimizes chilling per "water unit" per "time unit". Slower, vice versa, maximizes.

You prob got it covered but would definitely recommend everything be hard plumbed with PVC vs poly tubing.

 

[crisscross]

galactic: hard plumbed with pvc? I was thinking of using pvc but I can't find any decently priced uniseals for pvc at 3"+ which is my understanding the 'best' size to go between buckets. Did you use uniseals?

Polytube is crap in my opinion. I was thinking if I couldn't find decently priced uniseals that I would use a very thick tubing like almost radiator hose type stuff at 1.5" and call it a day. Unless you would advise against such a thing.

As for the pump I'm pretty sure it has a 3/4" inlet/outlet therefore anything greater than 3/4" would be fine if it wasn't for the pesky roots.

thanks for the help dude

 

[Galactic]

Re: chiller purchase

Yes PVC. Have used both 2" and 3" uniseals in 2 diy uc's. 2" should work for you. Have to suck up the price if you wanna play with the uc. I remember something ridiculous like $2-5 each.. your alternative like bulkheads will only be more expensive.

Once you do the hoses it become simple Dwc and throw out the efficiencies that make the uc supreme. Rigid, big piping is good for flow. Big water exchange. Big chilled water. Big oxygenation.

I would attempt to emulate their designs identically. You learn the tweaks on the way if you're still interested.

Also wanted to throw in that I eventually scrapped mine. It's high maintenance, high speed growing, with potential high reward. But easier to minimize the downside with other methods.

 

[Galactic]

Re: chiller purchase

Yes PVC. Have used both 2" and 3" uniseals in 2 diy uc's. 2" should work for you. Have to suck up the price if you wanna play with the uc. I remember something ridiculous like $2-5 each.. your alternative like bulkheads will only be more expensive.

Once you do the hoses it become simple Dwc and throw out the efficiencies that make the uc supreme. Rigid, big piping is good for flow. Big water exchange. Big chilled water. Big oxygenation.

I would attempt to emulate their designs identically. You learn the tweaks on the way if you're still interested.

Also wanted to throw in that I eventually scrapped mine. It's high maintenance, high speed growing, with potential high reward. But easier to minimize the downside with other methods.

Like promix, pots, nutes for soilless grow for the price of chiller with half the effort required.

 

[crisscross]

Galactic--thanks for your help.

One more question though: My pump and my chiller both came in today. Both the pump and the chiller have threaded fittings where I think I should be able to install pvc into....the only thing is that both the chiller and the pump came with pvc to tubing adapters and on each adapter there is somewhat of a bushing/gasket. If I thread on pvc with regular fittings that do not convert to tubing--will I need to use the gaskets OR can I just wrap the threads with teflon and call it a day?

basically, the pump and chiller are 'steering' me to tubing but I want pvc. Can I just do it my way?

Also, 3" uniseals are en route. Thanks for the info on that too.

 

[Galactic]

Re: chiller purchase

You are correct on the adapters being for tubing. Teflon on threads. Primer/cement on slip ends.

If you're needing different adapters, head over to the plumbing section at home depot. Any sch40 should be good, careful to not grab the cpvc.

 

[watts]

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/search.aspx?search=uniseals&page=1

best place i know for uniseals ^

 

[crisscross]

Watts, thanks for the info. I actually have purchased from there before...However, this time it was actually cheaper to order them through my local hydro store.

Also, I found the uniseals @ 3" for $4 roughly but the shipping was over $40 for only 20 pieces. WTF? Is it really that expensive to ship uniseals? It was ground shipping too lol.

 

[crisscross]

update: this chiller does chill quite well. Water temps are 20* lower than what they were before. I am cooling about 65 gallons and using a 950 gph submersible pump with an integrated uv light from the depot. It's bomb diggity.

 

[watts]

thought you were using the 633 pump. why the switch to 950? Is the 950 a danner magdrive?

 

[rocket1]

you can get 2"uniseals tipe on e bay for> 2.50

 

[rocket1]

2" ID RUBBER GROMMET Free Shipping!! DWC Item number:261171010853
I have never used them

 

[crisscross]

the 633 stopped keeping its prime. I couldn't find any reason for this whatsoever. I didn't want to go with the same model of pump so I changed to a brand and size that I could return to home depot without looking suspicious. Whereas I would probably get shit from the hydro store, maybe have to give some information or shit like that. Therefore I just ate the loss. What can we do when we don't want to get robbed? Who cares if you're doing it legal, jackers gonna jack.