Yes, a fish tank can function as a reservoir.
Yes, a fish tank can function as a reservoir.
Hello.
I was curious about whether there is a logical maximum size for your radiator.
I’m planning to construct an oak desk with two cabinets—one on the left and one on the right—and I’m considering placing the resistor in the upper half of the left cabinet and my components in the lower half of the right cabinet.
I wondered if it would be possible to fill the cabinet entirely with a radiator.
My intention is to make my desk or computer look more appealing.
Could a very large radiator affect heat dissipation?
I believe it might actually assist, as the cold water would sit at the bottom of the tank and flow naturally downward, while the hot water rises.
Or will the radiator handle this task completely?
Hello.
I was curious about whether there is a logical boundary to the size of your radiator.
I’m planning to construct an oak desk, with two cabinets—one on the left and one on the right.
I thought placing the resistor at the top half of the left cabinet and my components in the lower half of the right cabinet would be ideal.
But I’m wondering if it’s possible to fill the cabinet entirely with a single radiator.
My intention is simply to make my desk or computer look more appealing.
Could a very large radiator affect heat dissipation?
I believe it might actually assist, since the cold water would sit at the bottom of the tank and flow naturally downward, while the hot water rises.
Or will the radiator handle this task completely?
Also, I’ll be adding holes for tubing and fittings.
This will provide you with additional time before your loop stabilizes. The bigger the reservoir, the more time you gain. You should definitely look into 4ryan6's sub-ambient loop—it relies on this concept of a very large reservoir and uses frozen water bottles to lower the temperature. You might find some of these approaches useful—take a look. Is this your first water cooling project? Have you tried the WC sticky?
A big reservoir will extend your waiting time before the loop stabilizes. The bigger the reservoir, the more time you gain. You should definitely look into 4ryan6's sub-ambient loop—it uses a very large reservoir and employs frozen water bottles to lower the temperature. You might find some of these concepts useful; check it out. Is this your first water cooling project? Have you tried the WC sticky?
It is possible, though you need to make sure the res stays completely sealed from the fishtank's water. Poo in your blocks wouldn't be enjoyable. You should also consider what fish species you're planning for—some would thrive in both cold and warm water, but proper heat control with fans and rads is essential. I'm not suggesting you try it, but it seems very impractical and demands a lot of careful planning. I wouldn't attempt it myself, though I'd be curious to hear about any results from Ryan's thread.
The fish tank reservoir is one of those concepts that occasionally comes up, and as Moto suggested, you might think about adding a heat exchanger if that becomes your decision, along with another radiator to keep the water temperatures stable for the inhabitants. This could be the main challenge you face—how will the fish feel when their environment gets warmed up occasionally and then cools down again? Don't assume the tank can naturally release the heat; you'll need a system to expel it outside.
This idea is novel and interesting, yet practical and simple to maintain... though I'm not entirely confident about it.
Usually, most fish tanks include heaters to keep the water warm. This is especially important for species like Angel Fish that need water around 90 degrees. Using your computer's heat source to warm the tank could be a clever solution.
That is achievable, though you'd need to make sure the res was completely sealed from the fishtank's water, having poo in your blocks wouldn't be enjoyable. You should also consider the fish species you're planning for—they would need to tolerate both cold and warm water, even with sufficient radiators and fans to control heat. I'm not suggesting you skip it, but it sounds like a very complex project requiring careful thought and preparation. I wouldn't attempt it myself (and I'm qualified), though I'd be keen to hear any outcomes from Ryan's thread.
Moto
I was considering placing the resv. tank, sealed, inside the fish tank, but I'm uncertain about its temperature rise. I'm okay with purchasing multiple radiators, but algae growth and constant filtration could be issues. Instead, I thought about getting turtles—just feed them, install UV lights, and arrange my desk so they can dry off. It would help to finalize my desk plans before proceeding, as the turtles wouldn't mix with the resv. water.
P.S.: My friend has a few turtles, so she could give me some advice.
DarkOutlaw :
Most standard fish tanks come with heaters to prevent the water from getting too cold. For species like Angel Fish, which need around 90f water, it could be a good idea to use your CPU as a heater... a bit of creative thinking!
I was also considering Goldfish or Betta fish that can thrive at about 28 degrees Celsius, but I think they'd make the cabinets look like tanks for turtles.
Why? Because I'm that cool.
Why?
The best options are the T-Virus line, like Moto, since that’s what looks best.
How will you maintain cleanliness?
You’ll need to remove it before refilling or topping it up.
I’m sure with tubing routing you won’t bother cutting the tubing into the aquarium wall, so the res will be a low point and you’ll have to drop it from the top of the tank—normally the highest point for filling, otherwise you risk draining everything.
Personally, it’s an idea but not ideal.
Kinda on the line of not being the best choice.
No offense! Ryan