Thinking of making a DIY water chiller...comments wanted

I DWC & Scrog together. As I read through many DWC posts, I notice that many say the biggest problem with DWC is Root Rot. Although I have never had a problem with this, I would still like to chill my water to keep the temps down. I always approach any DIY project by mimicking something i've seen before. The first question I asked is what in the regular world needs chilled water and can be adapted without much cost? My answer....an automobile. So at first I thought radiator and fan, but most radiators are copper (no good), don't want my nutrients running thru that. So with some research I finally decided on a transmission oil cooler (super duty type for a truck). Did some research today and I can get one made from aluminum with 5/8 fittings from auto-zone 42.00. Pump for 18.00 of course probably another 20 for assorted hoses and I already have a stationary fan to push air past the fins. So what do you guys think. I think on top I should get some decent movement in my res temps plus it will continuosly recirculate my res water thus continuously mixing the nutrients. Now I know that cars use anti-freeze in there water, but do you guys think that with just the movement of the water thru the coils and a constant fan blowing thru the fins I could still bring the temps down? Or if you don't think I would get much heat movement what about a closed system with a radiator and a coiled aluminum tube inside the reservoir with water and antifreeze recirculating inside the closed system. It would be coiled around inside the nute bucket and it would cool the outside nute water while still being in its own closed system recirculating from another bucket?

you do not, i repeat, do not want to use nutes in aluminum. stainless steel only. if the fan is blowing room temp air over the trans cooler it will only, possibly get it to room temp, and maybe warm it up because of the pump.

ok. what do you think about the closed system idea whereby i run another bucket and pump thru a radiator with a fan then outlet it to a coil in the dwc bucket which outlets it back to the original pump bucket with water and antifreeze. Sounds complicated but really it wouldnt be. The antifreeze/water would never mix with the nutrient water but it should theoretically cool the bucket i think

you would have no need for adding antifreeze if your just blowing room air across it, maybe if it was outside in winter. again though you will probably not get much if any cooling from it, and again it will probably warm it. you reallyneed some sort of cooling device, when i read your thread title i thought you might use an old soda machine(which i did for years with good success) or modify an old window ac to cool a res. i just see you not getting what you hope to get from it except a lighter wallet.

Yeah tru. I am thinking of going the mini fridge way now. Seems like I can modify it and run the lines thru the fridge and hopefully cool them that way. So if I don't use copper or aluminum lines I guess it will be stainless steel like you said. I have seen a couple of posts on sights where people are using titanium but that sounds expensive. I am doing okay right now I may wait til this run is done then I will have more cash to throw at it and I can do some experimenting. Only have 68 more days til the cutting begins. Thanks dude.

http://www.novatecproducts.com/more_about_iceprobe1.htm

Check this puppy out.

those ice probes are a joke. i had a friend send me one as a gift and had to get three to replace it. i still have one or two around somewhere.

Dude I tried it and it was a fail with the mini fridge, but if you can get a used dehumidifier off of craigs list this was the ticket. pop off the top and gently fold the part of the dehumidifier that gets cold into a plain water res. This res will get nice and cold 69 degrees. then use your heat exchanger your radiator or oil cooler, you can drop it in your res and pump the cold plain water through it. I added a little bleach and a fungus cleaner spray to the plain water res so it doesnt ever get funky. Working great cooling down 2, 15 gallon reservoirs.

If your in the north you can definately get away with just the radiator by putting it in the basement or attic in the winter and it will cool itself off.

Thanks fellas, gave me some interesting ideas i will keep ya posted.