Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Got a heap of solar water heaters i was thinking about using inmy system in winter they are a plastic thing shaped like a pair of rooftyles that have a copper ppipe running roung in a u loop one sige blacked for heat capture and the other side insulated with foam or sealed fiberglass what do these peoples of the forum think in regard to the copper aspect I would only use in winter and then duing the day perhaps i should just use them to heat the spa

Gee i need spell check or less rum

You could run them through aluminium (if you want) or stainless steel tubing... put the tubing in the tank... and just heat exchange....

our drinking water comes thru copper... wouldnt have thought it would be an issue.. could be wrong tho.

AP water will eat through the copper.

Stainless pipe heat exchange like RupertofOZ said.

Please dont start the discussion again Steve. Copper is bad to fish. Ap is a closed loop system, our water supply is not as acidic as ap.

Yea i see what you mean use a closed loop system of heated water to heat transfer into stainless or aluminium that sits in the fish tank rather than heating AP water directly through heating tubes. Rare moment or clarity Now where to scrounge the stainless

VERY compact and affordable stainless steel heat exchangers:
http://www.swep.net/index.php?lang=en
example:
http://www.swep.net/index.php?tpl=produ ... Pressure=S

been installing them for years, never had a problem
except: just make sure you connect them with stainless steel flexibles.
pipes expand and that is fatal
stands for easy cleaning too
I use caustic soda to clean them (in a well ventilated room,wear gloves ! and rinse well before mounting back)

frank

Another option along the lines of using a heat exchanger would be to hook the solar water heaters to an insulated container and pump or thermosiphon through the panels during the day and then run system water through a heat exchanger loop sitting in the insulated container at night. This would allow you to utilize the heat when you need it most, during a winter night.

Stainless steel exchangers (like the ones in Frank's link) are commonly used in brewing to cool... Wort make a range....

Also used by bio-diesel people.... Member "Tony from WA" actually makes them, and sell on eBay... http://cgi.ebay.com.au/30-Flat-Plate-He ... otohosting

Was going to attach some pics.. but thread wont allow... so posted the link instead....

Actually, that listing may not be Tony's listings.... but you get the idea... PM Tony for details if you're interested...

sorry, what listing?
completely lost here
quotes might help
frank

The one (eBay listing)...referred to in the post above it Frank... hence the

Put a prototype water heater together yesterday took all of half an hour. used three of the heater tiles will try it out on my spa when i refill it if its a goer will look at heat exchange, bigger unit more tiles question is will it thermosyphon or will it need a pump and where did the add attachment box go so i can post a pici