solar heater for fish tank - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T19:01:30Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/solar-heater-for-fish-tank?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A550342&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI wrote "I use that" but want…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-02-27:4778851:Comment:5505202014-02-27T07:36:13.400ZJohan Prinshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JohanPrins
<p>I wrote "I use that" but wanted to type "I use that for my work" (as a solar installer) as well as copper. The stainless pipe you need is mostly sold ($$) as insulated double pipe like this <a href="http://www.solfex.co.uk/Product/22-solar-pipe-work-systems/" target="_blank">http://www.solfex.co.uk/Product/22-solar-pipe-work-systems/</a></p>
<p>but you can get either cut-off's from an installer (the rolls are fixed lengths, and you always have at least 15ft left) or also as uninsulated…</p>
<p>I wrote "I use that" but wanted to type "I use that for my work" (as a solar installer) as well as copper. The stainless pipe you need is mostly sold ($$) as insulated double pipe like this <a href="http://www.solfex.co.uk/Product/22-solar-pipe-work-systems/" target="_blank">http://www.solfex.co.uk/Product/22-solar-pipe-work-systems/</a></p>
<p>but you can get either cut-off's from an installer (the rolls are fixed lengths, and you always have at least 15ft left) or also as uninsulated single pipe. A "crossed card" coil core from plastic plates with notches on the edges (or some notched tubes, more difficult to make) can space up the windings a bit. The thin, corrugated steelurface is a good heat exchange surface.</p>
<p>You need one set of connectors (split rings and "cap" nuts to make the connections, and there is a little trick to making the flanges either end.</p>
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<p>Now I ask myself: if I made such a system (I have old collectors lying around), would I use water in them or glycol.. probably water, and make it a self-draining system that can survive the winter without use of glycol. The small chance of having a glycol leak into the aquaponics is too much a risk.</p>
<p>Conclusion: a self-draining 1 inch PE-pipe direct collector (fish-water cycled at 35°C max collector temp) without glass is maybe the more primitive, but fail-safe and easy-to-build option to go for. (this is basically the pool-heater set-up, but I would use straight PE pipe rather than the corrugated version looking like electrical ducting, for the gunk-cleaning reason.</p>
<p>I have to move on on my IBC-based raft system and build the filter now.</p>
<p>Thanks for the breadbox idea.</p>
<p></p> Excellent tip,,Johan. Thanks.tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-02-26:4778851:Comment:5505062014-02-26T20:58:00.691ZPaul Trudeauhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PaulTrudeau
<p>Excellent tip,,Johan. Thanks.</p>
<p>Excellent tip,,Johan. Thanks.</p> you can get flexible corrugat…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-02-26:4778851:Comment:5501942014-02-26T19:24:16.307ZJohan Prinshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JohanPrins
<p>you can get flexible corrugated stainless pipes for solar water heater pipework (I use that, and should have thought of that first, not copper).the corrugated stainless comes in sizes of 1/2" 3/4" an 1" OD.</p>
<p><br></br> <br></br> <cite>Paul Trudeau said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/solar-heater-for-fish-tank?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A550342&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment550342"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Hi…</p>
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<p>you can get flexible corrugated stainless pipes for solar water heater pipework (I use that, and should have thought of that first, not copper).the corrugated stainless comes in sizes of 1/2" 3/4" an 1" OD.</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <cite>Paul Trudeau said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/solar-heater-for-fish-tank?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A550342&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment550342"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Hi Johan,</p>
<p>Yes, the design is indeed copied off "breadbox" design of decades ago.</p>
<p>Merci for the tip about cleaning with a sponge ball. Will have to look into it.</p>
<p>Copper is an absolute NO-NO - will harm fish. Stainless steel is a possibility. There are SS coils made for beer kegs. I tried one made of 1/4" (6.4 mm) diameter tubing: much too small, could not get sufficient water flow. I hear now that some beer coils are 3/8" (9.5 mm) diameter, which would be better (but I'm not sure if good enough). Another option would be to bend your own out of straight SS tubing of whatever diameter you thought would be appropriate.</p>
<p>PT</p>
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</blockquote> Hi Johan,
Yes, the design is…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-02-26:4778851:Comment:5503422014-02-26T16:10:05.251ZPaul Trudeauhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PaulTrudeau
<p>Hi Johan,</p>
<p>Yes, the design is indeed copied off "breadbox" design of decades ago.</p>
<p>Merci for the tip about cleaning with a sponge ball. Will have to look into it.</p>
<p>Copper is an absolute NO-NO - will harm fish. Stainless steel is a possibility. There are SS coils made for beer kegs. I tried one made of 1/4" (6.4 mm) diameter tubing: much too small, could not get sufficient water flow. I hear now that some beer coils are 3/8" (9.5 mm) diameter, which would be better…</p>
<p>Hi Johan,</p>
<p>Yes, the design is indeed copied off "breadbox" design of decades ago.</p>
<p>Merci for the tip about cleaning with a sponge ball. Will have to look into it.</p>
<p>Copper is an absolute NO-NO - will harm fish. Stainless steel is a possibility. There are SS coils made for beer kegs. I tried one made of 1/4" (6.4 mm) diameter tubing: much too small, could not get sufficient water flow. I hear now that some beer coils are 3/8" (9.5 mm) diameter, which would be better (but I'm not sure if good enough). Another option would be to bend your own out of straight SS tubing of whatever diameter you thought would be appropriate.</p>
<p>PT</p> Good idea this water heater -…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-02-26:4778851:Comment:5502692014-02-26T14:40:55.007ZJohan Prinshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JohanPrins
<p>Good idea this water heater - looks like one of my client's solar bread baking box from the early 80's - I was thinking about a basic solar collector with fish-water pumped right through it, quite like a solar pool-heater, using black PE-pipe on a wooden board, no high temperatures to expect, and the tube inside can be cleaned occasionally with a sponge ball pushed through it with a pressure pump (as seen on milking machine piping).</p>
<p>Of course the collector has to be on a diversion and…</p>
<p>Good idea this water heater - looks like one of my client's solar bread baking box from the early 80's - I was thinking about a basic solar collector with fish-water pumped right through it, quite like a solar pool-heater, using black PE-pipe on a wooden board, no high temperatures to expect, and the tube inside can be cleaned occasionally with a sponge ball pushed through it with a pressure pump (as seen on milking machine piping).</p>
<p>Of course the collector has to be on a diversion and it must be possible to let it drain when collector temperatures get too high or when no heating is needed.</p>
<p>But I actually had a question: would a exchanger coil made of copper pipe harm the fish? It has way better thermal conductivity, than PE, but I have also seen slightly acid water dissolve copper, and the result is a antiseptic solution - bad news for bacteria, I guess.</p>
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<p>Since my system is being set up outside in a rented place until I can set up a greenhouse on my own land, Tilapias are ruled out, and I'll have common Carp instead.</p>
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