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Chilling multiple reservoirs on one chiller

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inquisitiveone

New member
Hey guys, I'm looking into running staggered runs on different photoperiods with DWC.

I'm thinking of getting a 1/4 or 1/2 HP water chiller and cooling all the different reservoirs with just the one chiller.

My question is how should I go about this?

I can get a stainless steel heat exchanger but I'm not sure if the hydro solution will eat away at it/poison the plants in time.

I could just run chilled water in tubing throughout the reservoirs as well but not really sure how well that'll work.

Anyone have any experience in this?
 
T

The Doktor

Member
I personally use one chiller for cooling multiple rez's. The way it breaks down is this, you have a main rez that your chiller runs through with added glycol as a wetting agent. This water/glycol mix will never touch the plants, it is just for the sole purpose of making the water as cold as you can get it. Then you will connect a pump, hose, and valve from your cold chilling rez (externally if possible) to a SS wort chiller that you will place into the rez you are wanting to chill. For each additional rez you want to chill, you add another circuit of pump, hose, valve, and wort chiller. Using the valves helps to control the temps in each separate rez. Best of luck. Also, do not use copper coils as they will react to the nute solution and leech into the water, both will kill your plants.

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Efficient-Stainless-Steel-Chiller/dp/B004D4QPQW
 
E

Epod

Member
hi yes it works well I have used it for over a years now 1/4hp chillier
I use a looped system now much easer
I did have it set up so I could control each tank but I have to set the chillier to 16c to get the 3 tanks at 18c stable so better all as one I just use tap water inside the 22mm pipes and a bump to push in around works good here
 

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I

inquisitiveone

New member
Hi Epod, what length and ID/OD tubing did you use in your system?

I'm paranoid about the stainless steel eroding so I'm probably going to be going with something like your setup.
 
T

The Doktor

Member
Stainless steel eroding? Are you serious? SMDH. I will leave you to figure this out on your own. I don't make it a point to rehabilitate the terminally stupid. Good luck with your plastic pipe cool coils. I am sure they will not erode at all and will be superduper efficient. /s
 
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inquisitiveone

New member
The Doktor said:
Stainless steel eroding? Are you serious? SMDH. I will leave you to figure this out on your own. I don't make it a point to rehabilitate the terminally stupid. Good luck with your plastic pipe cool coils. I am sure they will not erode at all and will be superduper efficient. /s
Click to expand...

Yes I'm serious.

It appears that you're completely ignorant of the fact that stainless steel is vulnerable to acidic environments, i.e. 5.5-6.2 which is typically what's found in a reservoir.

http://www.estainlesssteel.com/corrosion.shtml

Various grades of steel have differing corrosion resistance but ultimately they will all degrade.

Plastics and rubber based hoses will leach plasticizer making them stiffer and prone to rupture if bent but that would also take years and won't be a problem if left alone.

Corroding steel on the other hand may poison plants much like copper. However, it appears people are running stainless heat exchangers without much problems.

However, that doesn't mean I'm wrong, both materials break down, I just wanted to know if either one was better.

The benefits of running hosing for me is clear.

1. You can specify the length/width/height by simply coiling. Stainless is prefabricated.

2. They're typically cheaper.

3. They're more inert.

The fact that none of these facts are even considered and you go straight to attacking me leads me to believe that you're not very bright.
 
ghostmade

ghostmade

Active member
Veteran
Btw the oceans ph is 8.2 or someshit.its actually alkaline which makes sense.where spur or greywolf when you need him.lol
 
T

The Doktor

Member
inquisitiveone said:
Yes I'm serious.

It appears that you're completely ignorant of the fact that stainless steel is vulnerable to acidic environments, i.e. 5.5-6.2 which is typically what's found in a reservoir.

http://www.estainlesssteel.com/corrosion.shtml

Various grades of steel have differing corrosion resistance but ultimately they will all degrade.

Plastics and rubber based hoses will leach plasticizer making them stiffer and prone to rupture if bent but that would also take years and won't be a problem if left alone.

Corroding steel on the other hand may poison plants much like copper. However, it appears people are running stainless heat exchangers without much problems.

However, that doesn't mean I'm wrong, both materials break down, I just wanted to know if either one was better.

The benefits of running hosing for me is clear.

1. You can specify the length/width/height by simply coiling. Stainless is prefabricated.

2. They're typically cheaper.

3. They're more inert.

The fact that none of these facts are even considered and you go straight to attacking me leads me to believe that you're not very bright.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are wrong on ALL counts! Your link to some obscure web page that was made by some random individual without citing a single source is as bad as posting a link to some random blogger. If you feel attacked then that's all on you. I'm not the one asking how to perform simple plumbing questions so maybe you want to think again about who's not so bright to begin with let alone that you think stainless steel will corrode in hydro. That and the other assertions that you have made with zero regards to practical applied sciences prove to me that you are not worth helping. Stainless steel corroding in a nute rez...That is just the most asinine thing I have read on the internet today. SMDH. :laughing:
 
S

SBudz08

Member
If you're concerned about the heat exchanger I hear that titanium is the best way to go, which is what the EoPlus chillers have. I'm looking for a good used one myself.
 
I

inquisitiveone

New member
The Doktor said:
Yes, you are wrong on ALL counts! Your link to some obscure web page that was made by some random individual without citing a single source is as bad as posting a link to some random blogger. If you feel attacked then that's all on you. I'm not the one asking how to perform simple plumbing questions so maybe you want to think again about who's not so bright to begin with let alone that you think stainless steel will corrode in hydro. That and the other assertions that you have made with zero regards to practical applied sciences prove to me that you are not worth helping. Stainless steel corroding in a nute rez...That is just the most asinine thing I have read on the internet today. SMDH. :laughing:
Click to expand...

And you are wrong all ALL counts! :laughing:

That "obscure" web page just happens to cite sources including major manufacturers.

http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1177

http://www.3-a.org/News/Presentations/2012/6-Corrosion_and_Corrosion_Resistance_Fritz.pdf ~pg 30, 32 +

The fact that you didn't even see that makes me believe all you're able to do is talk out of your ass.

Stainless steel definitely corrodes in low pH environments, especially with high ppms, moving water (in a heat exchanger), and free ions. Nitrogen and other useful nutrients are absorbed by the plant leaving salts behind which is why people flush res's in the first place.

Your ignorance of basic high school chemistry is hilarious when combined with your attitude.

I had already asked this question before specifically to a heat exchanger dealer (Dudadiesel) and he specifically said it would be better if I went with nickel based exchangers due to corrosion causing decreased exchanger lifetimes.

But by all means, wallow in ignorance and ignore reality. The rest of us will be free to laugh at you. :woohoo:
 
I

inquisitiveone

New member
By the way, if a technical paper is too complicated for you due to your lack of basic chemistry knowledge, maybe wikipedia will do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel

High salinity, low ph, moving water - the perfect environment for stainless steel corrosion.

There's a reason manufacturers use titanium in heat exchangers for people who chill aquariums and nute res's and that shit ain't cheap. You think they'll use titanium is stainless is a ready option?

There's also the fact that res's commonly contain chemicals known to cause corrosion in stainless such as chlorine from potassium chloride etc...
 
T

The Doktor

Member
Seriously? You are linking Wiki now? A site that ANYONE can edit? You are beyond ignorant on how to prove a scientific point. You seem to be OCD'd on this random piece of information and cannot let that go (which is inapplicable for the subject content). I have been an industrial engineer for the past 25 years and you want to try and tell me about why there are titanium in heat exchangers? I am done here and done with you.
 
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inquisitiveone

New member
Yes, I am linking wiki because they cite their sources as well. Third citation is on stainless steel corrosion.

http://www.corrosionclinic.com/corrosion_resources/stainless_steels_why_how_p1.htm

Before that, I cited both a manufacturer as well as a research presentation which you seem quite keen to ignore because they refute your flimsy argument.

If you're an industrial engineer as you claim, you sure are a bad one.

But whatever, by all means, run away when you lost the argument like the child you are.
 
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