SantaMonica
03-05-2011, 02:21 PM
( Note: This info does not include a pump. Here is an older post that does include a pump:
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=110 (http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=110) )
Here is a micro-sized electronic food chiller that is great for nano's:
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/WineCooler.jpg
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/WineChillerBox.jpg
It's only $19.99 USD from ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Electronic-Wine-Bottle-Chiller-Cooler-Ice-Bucket-/350242591478?pt=Refrigerators&hash=item518c15d2f6
...although some places would like to charge over $100:
http://www.vinotemp.com/View.aspx/3003/ ... ler-Warmer (http://www.vinotemp.com/View.aspx/3003/Single-Bottle-Wine-Chiller-Warmer)
Here is the PDF owner's manual;
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/ChillerManual.pdf
I've been using this chiller for about 2 years, and I have it setting on top of my 100 gal reef. It holds a bit under 16 ounces (460 ml) of liquid food. The inside is shaped like a wine bottle, of course, and it is metal; all you need to do when you get it is seal the bottom seam with silicone, and it becomes waterproof. Here's some things which may be of help:
All wine chillers will cool a bottle of wine, but this model is great because:
It will cool to freezing, if your room does not get above 70 degrees (21 C). Some other units will only cool to 25 or 30 degrees (F) below the room temp. If the chiller gets too cold, just leave the top uncovered, or set it near your lights.
It runs on 12V, and comes with the AC adapter. It's probably better than 120V being near the top of your tank. If you operate on 220 power, you can just get a cheap little power converter at any electronics, travel, department or home improvement store, or online at many places like this:
http://www.110220volts.com/7-ss100w.html
It continues to run if not touched. Many other models are designed to turn off after a few hours. This model stays on constantly.
This chiller has a thermostat, but the annoying thing about it is that it clicks every 30 seconds or so as it adjusts temperature. If it's in your basement, then it's no problem. But if it sits on the tank like mine does, or if it's in your bedroom, then you don't want this clicking. The way to eliminate it is to put the temperature selector on the coldest setting. This causes the thermostat to always stay "cooling". This stops the clicking. However the temperature can get very cold after a day or so if you seal the top of the chiller with a towel or something, and if your room is not warm. To prevent freezing the food, leave the top of the chiller open.
Leaving the top open has another use: You can stir it easily.
Power failures: If the power goes off and comes back on, some other chillers will not automatically come back on. This chiller will come back on, however it comes back in the full-cooling (no thermostat) mode. This is fine if you were previously running the full-cooling quiet mode, but if you had a temperature set (because you did not mind the clicking), the food will freeze when the power comes back on. For this reason I really recommend the full-cooling quiet setting to be used all the time.
Clean the air-filter on the chiller periodically, especially if the temperature does not get as cold as it used to.
Get a backup chiller. They are cheap, but not sturdy. I had one go out.
It has a bright blue LED that stays on constantly. If you don't like it, poke it or drill it out.
Power consumption is 60 watts.
Chill power: If you fill it with room temperature liquid food, it will be chilled to 35 degrees F (1.6 C) in about four hours if your room temp is 70 F (21 C).
One last note: The fan in the chiller is not the quietest in the world. It's probably similar to a loud computer fan. If you'll be using it in a quiet place, buy one and listen to it first, before deciding to use it as a chiller. If it's too loud, at least you'll be able to chill your next bottle of wine.
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=110 (http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=110) )
Here is a micro-sized electronic food chiller that is great for nano's:
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/WineCooler.jpg
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/WineChillerBox.jpg
It's only $19.99 USD from ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Electronic-Wine-Bottle-Chiller-Cooler-Ice-Bucket-/350242591478?pt=Refrigerators&hash=item518c15d2f6
...although some places would like to charge over $100:
http://www.vinotemp.com/View.aspx/3003/ ... ler-Warmer (http://www.vinotemp.com/View.aspx/3003/Single-Bottle-Wine-Chiller-Warmer)
Here is the PDF owner's manual;
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/ChillerManual.pdf
I've been using this chiller for about 2 years, and I have it setting on top of my 100 gal reef. It holds a bit under 16 ounces (460 ml) of liquid food. The inside is shaped like a wine bottle, of course, and it is metal; all you need to do when you get it is seal the bottom seam with silicone, and it becomes waterproof. Here's some things which may be of help:
All wine chillers will cool a bottle of wine, but this model is great because:
It will cool to freezing, if your room does not get above 70 degrees (21 C). Some other units will only cool to 25 or 30 degrees (F) below the room temp. If the chiller gets too cold, just leave the top uncovered, or set it near your lights.
It runs on 12V, and comes with the AC adapter. It's probably better than 120V being near the top of your tank. If you operate on 220 power, you can just get a cheap little power converter at any electronics, travel, department or home improvement store, or online at many places like this:
http://www.110220volts.com/7-ss100w.html
It continues to run if not touched. Many other models are designed to turn off after a few hours. This model stays on constantly.
This chiller has a thermostat, but the annoying thing about it is that it clicks every 30 seconds or so as it adjusts temperature. If it's in your basement, then it's no problem. But if it sits on the tank like mine does, or if it's in your bedroom, then you don't want this clicking. The way to eliminate it is to put the temperature selector on the coldest setting. This causes the thermostat to always stay "cooling". This stops the clicking. However the temperature can get very cold after a day or so if you seal the top of the chiller with a towel or something, and if your room is not warm. To prevent freezing the food, leave the top of the chiller open.
Leaving the top open has another use: You can stir it easily.
Power failures: If the power goes off and comes back on, some other chillers will not automatically come back on. This chiller will come back on, however it comes back in the full-cooling (no thermostat) mode. This is fine if you were previously running the full-cooling quiet mode, but if you had a temperature set (because you did not mind the clicking), the food will freeze when the power comes back on. For this reason I really recommend the full-cooling quiet setting to be used all the time.
Clean the air-filter on the chiller periodically, especially if the temperature does not get as cold as it used to.
Get a backup chiller. They are cheap, but not sturdy. I had one go out.
It has a bright blue LED that stays on constantly. If you don't like it, poke it or drill it out.
Power consumption is 60 watts.
Chill power: If you fill it with room temperature liquid food, it will be chilled to 35 degrees F (1.6 C) in about four hours if your room temp is 70 F (21 C).
One last note: The fan in the chiller is not the quietest in the world. It's probably similar to a loud computer fan. If you'll be using it in a quiet place, buy one and listen to it first, before deciding to use it as a chiller. If it's too loud, at least you'll be able to chill your next bottle of wine.