tank cooling

**fatboyjoe** · 05-27-2006, 06:55 PM

I just purchased a fan kit from a famous online auction. the kit has 3 x 3'' fans wired together and has a temp. sensor. it looks like the fans that come in light fixtures. I am going to mount them on my eggcrate which is like a sceen on top of my tank. right now I use a clip on fan but it's noisey and ugly.I'm hoping the lower profile fans will do the trick. anyone out there using something like this? and also, does the temp sensor really work?

**fat walrus** · 05-27-2006, 08:09 PM

yes, it does work. most of those fans have 3 preset speeds. put the sensor where it is hottest.

V · 05-27-2006, 08:36 PM

depending on how large your tank is, u could consider extending them electricly and evenly space over the tank!
do u have a hood on this tank?

**fatboyjoe** · 05-27-2006, 09:34 PM

no, just the eggcrate and the light right on top. I don't use the leggs that came with the light fixture. they shine right in your eyes with the leggs. The light covers all but a 3'' strip in the front and back. question: should i direct the fans flow into the tank or out?

**fat walrus** · 05-27-2006, 09:47 PM

i say out. end up with less dust in the tank and i think pulling heat up will be more efficient.

**fatboyjoe** · 05-28-2006, 12:19 PM

that makes scence, I'll try it that way. thanks walrus

***Rob*** · 05-28-2006, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by fat walrus

i say out. end up with less dust in the tank and i think pulling heat up will be more efficient.

i agree with this.
if it turns out you have MAJOR heat issues then flip them the other way, but this would be preferred

**fatboyjoe** · 05-28-2006, 09:39 PM

thanks rob

**m8298** · 05-29-2006, 09:51 AM

Anyone ever seen one of these DIY bong coolers? http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;...wer&sbid=lc01a

***Rob*** · 05-29-2006, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by m8298

Anyone ever seen one of these DIY bong coolers? http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;...wer&sbid=lc01a

wow.. now theres an interesting idea... although getting the flow rates right might be a bit challenging...

**m8298** · 05-29-2006, 10:53 AM

I had another web site where the guy used either a 3 or 4 inch DWV PVC WYE, a 4 inch dc muffin fan, and filled the wye with bio-balls. He had it in his sump, it was just short enough to fit in his stand. I can't find the link though.

I don't think the flow was really important, actually I think you need a slower flow. As I see it, the only draw backs are some dust getting in to the water because the fan needs to aim inward, and increased evaporation.

**m8298** · 05-29-2006, 11:40 AM

I just realized that was an RC thread I subscribed to. Tell me this isn't irony: I was literally looking for the site where I saw that, and I got an email saying that someone posted on an RC thread I subscribed to http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1

***Rob*** · 05-29-2006, 10:31 PM

cool link.. i will check that out further..

**m8298** · 05-30-2006, 08:37 PM

Alright, I'm open for ideas... What do you guys do to keep your tanks cool in the summer? I'm fight right now, my 90 is sitting at about 84°F right now. I have a frog spawn, toad stool and colt that are kinda suffering. Any suggestions?

**fat walrus** · 05-30-2006, 08:43 PM

a chiller would be the best answer. are you trying to avoid one?

**gwen_o_lyn** · 05-30-2006, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by m8298

Alright, I'm open for ideas... What do you guys do to keep your tanks cool in the summer? I'm fight right now, my 90 is sitting at about 84°F right now. I have a frog spawn, toad stool and colt that are kinda suffering. Any suggestions?

The AC is set at 74* just for my tanks. I also have fans blowing dust and all across the surface of my tanks.

**m8298** · 05-30-2006, 09:03 PM

I can't afford a chiller right now. We getting ready for central air, although we've only had a few hot days in a row. I'm debating on wether or not I think that bong cooler idea would work, of course even if it did, I don't think it would pull down more than a few degrees at best.

**fat walrus** · 05-30-2006, 09:10 PM

i installed some computer fans blowing against my return pumps. helps a couple degrees for me.

**CarmieJo** · 05-30-2006, 09:30 PM

You can try floating frozen bottles of water in your sump. You will have to figure out how much and not cool too much! Don't fill the bottles all the way before freezing or they will burst in the freezer.

**m8298** · 05-30-2006, 09:45 PM

Yeah, just getting ready to try that. I have a big juice bottle in the freezer, about 3/4 full.

**CarmieJo** · 05-30-2006, 09:56 PM

Ice is not a good solution if you are at work all day. BTW, in a pinch you can fill a wide mouth bottle with ice cubes and water.

V · 05-31-2006, 12:17 AM

just hook your step arobic fitness unit up to an air line, and u can get fit, and air cool your tank at the same time!

or hook a downdaft snorkle from the roof to the spray bar.

place mice in a wheel housing with a fan attached via a chain & cog!

build urself an experinmanetal dry ice reactor

place your toy hover craft on the surface with a trickle charge unit hooked into the battery housing. & let it loose bumper style

employ gylow the out of work hooker hit hard by healthy competion, to sit infront & fan your tank for $5 /hr

modify your $1000 fridge so your tank & beer cache reaps the benifts

just a few oldball suggestions...lol

***Rob*** · 05-31-2006, 02:17 AM

a good cheap way is using fans. get some fans blowing air over the water surface as gwen mentioned. it will increase your evap rate, but will help keep the tank cool.

V · 05-31-2006, 02:24 AM

yeah, definately the simplest straight forward approach

**CarmieJo** · 05-31-2006, 07:39 PM

John,

I was just thinking, do you have the glass tops on you tank? Removing them will increase evaporation and you won't trap heat between the lid and the water.