Grow Mediums Have you ever...

[Hu G WreQtion]

So I'm new to this growing game but quite an industrious person. I create and design for a living. I'm 3 weeks into my first grow,soil,and already regretting not going hydro. I have plans to convert after harvest.
As I read more threads, I notice keeping the water cool is of high importance. I keep my domain at about 76 degrees f, or about 24c year round which I understand might be too warm? What i wonder is, has anybody ever seen or thought about converting one of those portable plug in coolers into a dwc/aeroponic container? The type of cooler you take camping and can plug into your cigarette lighter is what I'm talking about. I think this would be better than a rubbermaid tote. Any thoughts?

 

[Doulovebeef]

Mid 70s is perfect. As for ur question, I never those coolers before, I'm assuming there well insulated. I wonder if they could run constantly for months, if they could that might be a good idea. I wonder tho if it does fail I wonder what kind of heat build up were looking at. If u have an ac vent near by u could start by placing ur pump in the air flow to cool the air a little. I have a mini fridge I plan on setting my pump in with a small air inlet and pic fan to mix the air.

 

[SkatterBrayne]

I have seen DIY tutorials for using the coils in an office cooler as a reservoir chiller. You can also buy chillers but they are.pretty expensive. The size of your chiller will be dependant on two variables.

1) The size of your reservoir
2) How many degrees you must lower the temps of the reservoir

You can also build the coils yourself inexpensively if you are particularly handy. Water temps will be significantly cooler than ambient room temps. The issue with water temperature it related to the correlation between increased water temperature, and decreased levels of dissolved oxygen within the water.

 

[Jackal]

All good info above. I have seen on other forums people converting the 5 gallon bucket style coolers into res. With your room at 76 and plants under their lights, I'd guess the water will be mid 70s which isn't good. I like to see my water temp between 68-70. I insulate my buckets with Reflectix insulation and run my grow room AC cooler, around 72.

If you could brew some tea,
https://www.autoflower.org/f61/how-...root-slime-cure-aka-heisenberg-tea-15586.html

That will help a lot at keeping the nasties out of the water, I have even heard you could run the temps a little warmer then 70 with no problems. I do the 3 step combo, AC,insulation and the tea.

 

[Hu G WreQtion]

All good info above. I have seen on other forums people converting the 5 gallon bucket style coolers into res. With your room at 76 and plants under their lights, I'd guess the water will be mid 70s which isn't good. I like to see my water temp between 68-70. I insulate my buckets with Reflectix insulation and run my grow room AC cooler, around 72.

If you could brew some tea,
https://www.autoflower.org/f61/how-...root-slime-cure-aka-heisenberg-tea-15586.html

That will help a lot at keeping the nasties out of the water, I have even heard you could run the temps a little warmer then 70 with no problems. I do the 3 step combo, AC,insulation and the tea.

Great advice there jackal. Whatever I do it sounds like the tea is some good stuff! Bookmark added.