Revision as of 19:50, 17 November 2016

Industry Standards

Hillbilly heater - 30 sf or 2 sq meters per 500' roll of 1/2" tubing if tubing has .7" OD - $62 - [1](note: special order, but 100' sections are in stock). OD is .712".

Compare to 3/4" tubing - $72 for 500' roll- [2], 1" OD. Based on surface area, the 3/4" option is about 20% cheaper, and less work to install. 3/4" should be used, as it saves 30% on installation length for the same power.

$250 cost for 4x8 foot finned collector with CPVC, which works comparably to finned aluminum collector - or $8/sf - [6]

Exchange Solar heat to aquarium water.

Heat transfer is limited by the thermal conductivity of the pipe (PEH ~0.5 W/m K good for plastics).

Is high-pressure system ideal or is a low-pressure gravity system possible using black gutter(s) etc.?

Can water be mixed directly or is thermal mixing a bigger problem?

Can temperature be managed by pump control?

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 =Industry Standards=
-*Hillbilly heater - 20 sf or 2 sq meters per 500' roll of 1/2" tubing - $62 - [https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/watering-irrigation/polypipe/1-2-100-psi-irrigation-pipe-yellow-label/p-1444431569240.htm](note: special order, but 100' sections are in stock). OD is .712".
+*Hillbilly heater - 30 sf or 2 sq meters per 500' roll of 1/2" tubing if tubing has .7" OD - $62 - [https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/watering-irrigation/polypipe/1-2-100-psi-irrigation-pipe-yellow-label/p-1444431569240.htm](note: special order, but 100' sections are in stock). OD is .712".
 :*Compare to 3/4" tubing - $72 for 500' roll- [https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/watering-irrigation/polypipe/3-4-100-psi-irrigation-pipe-yellow-label/p-1444431568981.htm], 1" OD. Based on surface area, the 3/4" option is about 20% cheaper, and less work to install. 3/4" should be used, as it saves 30% on installation length for the same power.
 *Amazon - 4 sf - $124 - [https://www.amazon.com/SW-38-Solar-Water-Heater-Panels/dp/B0041VM58E]