How to Build Aquarium Chillers

Many aquarium owners find it difficult to keep their aquarium cool enough during hot summer months. An aquarium cooler helps keep the water at a temperature that will maintain an ideal environment for delicate fish, which cannot obtain a high enough dissolved-oxygen rate in warmer water. Making a chiller is a challenge, but can save hundreds of dollars compared with store-bought models.

Things You'll Need

  • Acrylic sheet
  • Old air conditioner
  • Epoxy
  • Waterproof sealant (acrylic latex)
  • Drill
  • Water pump and hose
  • pliers
  • Screw driver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the frame of the air-conditioner with screw driver to expose the evaporator coils.

    • 2

      Remove the aluminum fins on the bottom with pliers to expose the copper pipes. These are the components where the heat sinks to the lower section.

    • 3

      Sand pipes and apply several coats of epoxy resin.

    • 4

      Measure the length of the coils and cut acrylic sheets to box around the evaporator coils.

    • 5

      Measure and drill a hole on two sheets of acrylic the diameter of the pump hose (front and top sheets).

    • 6

      Slide an acrylic side on the bottom. This one should have no holes.

    • 7

      Slide the back and side acrylic sheets in place and seal with acrylic latex sealer.

    • 8

      Slide the front with the hole on the bottom right to pump cooled water back into tank. Seal tube in place with latex sealer.

    • 9

      Seal the top of the box in place with latex sealer. Place pump tube taking water from the tank in the hole and seal with latex sealer.

    • 10

      Allow to dry thoroughly.

    • 11

      Turn on and pump water through the system.