Chris inspired me...

After seeing Chris's cold tank, I was inspired to try to come up with a way to do one myself. My idea seems a little less labor intensive and is a combination of Chris's project, and a suggestion from Cordelia Head of J and L Orchids. Ms. Head suggested that she had heard of people using old florist fridges to grow cool temperature Pleuros, etc. I don't have the room or money for a florist fridge, but I thought this might be similar:

It hit me that maybe I could use a thermoelectric wine chiller to keep my temps down. Depending on the model, these keep temps anywhere between the upper 60s to the mid 40s. I could do this by manually changing the temp depending on the time of day or by setting the unit on a timer to kick on when the lights go out.

I'd light it by mounting high powered LEDs like Chris has used because they are very powerful and put out very little heat.

What I don't know is how the chiller unit would hold up to the humidity/ water for misting for these plants and also if air is circulated by the unit. Also, would the unit be affected by the timer turning it on and off each day? (Would it be better just always plugged in?) I'm just in the thinking/ research stage at this point. I'd love to hear everyone's input on this both positive or negative.

 

This is really helpful. I didn't realize the LEDs created so much heat. I have some over a small salt water reef that aren't hot at all. They must have a heat sink inside the bulb they're mounted to to dissipate the heat. I had originally planned on mounting the lights to the outside of the glass door somehow, so that may be the best option now that I know about the heat.

I was thinking of something similar to this one:http://www.walmart.com/ip/Danby-12-Bottle-Thermoelectric-Wine-Cooler/10098031

The puddle for condensation/ misting was something I wasn't sure about solving. Maybe I could silicone a small piece of plexiglass to create a shallow basin to catch the water. This part may need some more thought.

Nothing huge, at least for now...

Jon, I'd love to convert one of those fridges. I just don't have the space or money for one at the moment and I need it small enough that I can transport it in a car to take home for Christmas break/ summer.

Hopefully this clears up my ideas a little bit. This has been a big help already, so keep asking questions and responding!

Anyone have any thoughts on running the unit on a timer?

 

I've found a beverage chiller on craigslist that looks like one of those fridges you'd find at a grocery store with soft drinks inside. I contacted the seller to get some more details. Would something like this work better?

 

Could I mount the lighting to the outside of the door since it's clear glass?

 

Chris, it's not tinted from what I can see. That's one of the things I asked the seller. I can't find the product online because the product description only says Sunbeam beverage cooler.

 

Mr.B all of the wine chillers I've seen have thermostats. I'm not sure about the beverage cooler I'm looking at. I had originally thought of the on/off cycle because it would give me a bigger temp drop. I'd love to see the freezer idea if you had that planned out. Unfortunately, I have to keep it small for now because it would have to be easily movable.

 

Found a small version of one of these this morning: http://www.webstaurantstore.com/beverage-air-bev-air-lv23-lumavue-refrigerated-glass-door-merchandiser-23-cu-ft/185LV231.html

It's like the fridges in grocery stores by the cash registers selling soft drinks.

 

If you could find it, that'd be awesome!!