My fish need help
Last Post 05 Mar 2017 01:10 PM by docjenser. 5 Replies.
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AquamanUser is Offline
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28 Feb 2017 09:15 PM
Hi; I’m hoping for some very general help trying to keep my fish cool. I am installing an Aquaponics system where, simply put, I have a large fish tank (330 gallons) that puts nutrients into water and then I pump the water over the roots of vegetable plants that purify the water for the fish. I feed the fish, the fish feed the plants, and then the fish and the plants feed me. The problem is that I need to try and stabilize the temperature that the fish live in and I’m hoping that I can do that by piping the water underground. I think I would like to do a horizontal loop field. Is there some layman’s software or website I can play with different variables to test impact? Variables as I understand them, starting temp of water, length of pipe, width of pipe, type of pipe, and flow rate. My type of soil and temp of the ground are the only things out of my control; but this is a back yard inner city project so there is a limit to how much piping I can bury. Oh, and I guess another limit is how deep my wallet is too, so drilling down is very unlikely.  And if there isn’t such a tool that I would understand; then can someone please help me with a ball park estimate with my worst case scenario? If the water temp at source is 90 degrees, and I run the water through a 500 ft; ¾ pvc tube with a flow rate of a gallon a minute through ground temp that is 65 degrees (and soils is dry and sandy). What temp would the water be coming out the other end (ball park)? If it is 65, what can I increase the flow rate to before it starts creeping up? Thank you very much in advance, I am really struggling to find this out.
robinncUser is Offline
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01 Mar 2017 01:40 AM
You need to go here:


http://www.bing.com/search?q=fish+forums&qs=AS&pq=fish+forum&sc=8-10&cvid=36AB684972114859A5595A9A9273A1F1&FORM=QBLH&sp=1
jonrUser is Offline
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04 Mar 2017 09:02 AM
While your ground temperature may start at 65F, it will increase as you put heat into it. So it's not a simple steady-state calculation.
AquamanUser is Offline
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04 Mar 2017 12:15 PM
Thanks for the replies. Is this different from what heat pump installers need to figure out to calculate how big of loop fields are needed to be installed? I thought this forum would be a good place to try and understand this. Thanks again for reading this post.
jonrUser is Offline
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05 Mar 2017 08:58 AM
You can try software such as "Ground Loop Design". But it's probably much easier to insulate the tank and then use an electric heat pump. Add solar panels if power cost is the concern.
docjenserUser is Offline
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05 Mar 2017 01:10 PM
You need a refrigerant circuit to reliable condition your water. Essentially a heat pump. They exist for pools (air source) and can heat and cool your water. Or a chiller....same concept.
www.buffalogeothermalheating.com
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