New Cooling Fans

[GaryP]

I'm so happy.

I started closely monitoring my tank temp a few months ago and was distraught to find my temp was getting up in the 86 degree range. I've had to cut back on my MH lighting to keep my temp under 85. I resorted to a poor boy chiller (3 liter bottle of ice) to help some. I also switched from two submersible (Rio) return pumps to an external pump (Blueline). I got no detectable temp. advantage from the external pump, much to my chagrin.

Well, today I finally got around to upgrading my cooling fans. I went from four old (and probably worn out) 30 cfm fans to four new 100 cfm fans. Within 1 hour my temp had dropped almost 1 degree with the MH's on. I have never seen the temp. drop with MH's on so I am very happy. Tomorrow will be the big test with a full day of heating and cooling. I'm hoping this will at least hold off the necessity for the next upgrade, that being a chiller.

I know my evaporation rate is going to go up so I'll be getting new cartridges for my RO unit next payday. It just never ends does it? With the humidity going down the way it has today that should help with the cooling but will also increase evaporation.

Gary

[dan]

where did you get the fans from? are they clip ons or computor fans?

[GaryP]

Dan,

Here are the fans I installed today. Someone here turned me on to them.

http://www.inreef.com/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=16174&cat=274&page=1

Gary

[GaryP]

My temp was at 77.8 this AM when I got up. That's the first time I have had it under 80 in a while. I'm sure that the cool weather and low humidity last night helped. I had a window next to the tank open last night.

Gary

[::pete::]

Gary
They are the same fans I use and with the ambient temp @ 78/80 and with 2 250W MH and 2 140W VHO my tank never goes above 82 and you know how humid it gets in NC. I have 2 fans on the 100gal (60") and evaporation is @ 3 gallons a day.
Not sure if you are aware, but they are loud :)

[GaryP]

Pete,

Yes, the loudness is the one issue I am not happy about. However, they are in the same room with two parrots and you usually can't hear yourself think anyway. I figure its one of those things that I will eventually get used to and will fade into background noise eventually. I don't know that there is such a thing as a quiet 100 cfm fan.

I came home for lunch and it looks like they have at least doubled my evaporation rate. Of course that may have something to do with the low humidity we are experiencing right now.
The humidity was 30% yestreday. That's more like winter weather than what we normally get this time of year.

Gary