Any one have experice with Humidex Ventilation System?

[nightOwl]

I am in the process of trying to finish a fish room for my new tank that will be somewhere around 320 gallons. Since its a fish room there will be the mandatory frag tanks and huge amounts of water storage...lol. The room is roughly 13 x 9 and in an unfinished part of the basement. I have noticed the basement seems to be humid with my temp set up (150 gallons or so) cramed into a unfinished bathroom. I am looking for suggestions on if the Humidex Ventilation System is useful or should I should just drill a hole in the wall to vent to the outside. I am attaching a few pictures to give an idea of the room layout. The white PVC is where the tank will be in the wall. Any suggestions would be very appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[benihana]

I have roughly the same size of tank that I am currently in the process of doing, but in a smaller space. I put a 110cfm Panasonic bath fan in the room and will be controlling it with a humidistat. You may want to look at 2 of them...but That should be all you need

 

[dave.m]

It will depend a great deal on your summer high temperatures and your winter lows. If it doesn't get too cold in your area you may get away with just a fan as benihana has suggested. If it gets too hot you may want to look at an AC split unit that also has a humidistat control. That would give you the best of both. Either way, you need to get rid of that moisture before mold and mildew start to grow.

Dave.M

 

[karsco]

This is what I am going with on my 8' x 14' fish room. My total volume of water is going to be around 450 gallons. This will be wired to a humidistat to power on automatically, should work well.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-FV-..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452132643&sr=8-1&keywords=Erv

 

[dt204]

I think your humidity issues can depend on many factors. Here is a interesting read on some ventilation systems.

http://www.energyvanguard.com/blog-...-These-3-Expensive-Ventilation-System-Ripoffs

Where do you live? The area you reside in will have a lot to do with it.

I live in Manitoba. Freezing cold winters and hot muggy summers. Personally, I've had success with a whole home HRV. When I moved into my house, I had issues with moisture on basement windows. Ever since I installed it, no more issues. I have a intake ran into my fish room as well, and the humidity has never been an issue. In winter the HRV brings in dry cold air (mixing with warm in the core). And the summer my central a/c unit supplies the dry cold air. The HRV rarely turns on in the summer.
I think a simple exhaust fan attached to a humidistat is a decent option for cost and reward. Just make sure to insulate well the pipe going outside.
I see a dehumidifier in the room. It may help, but be careful as it might just increase your topoff routine to something unmanageable if it pulls enough.
Good luck!

 

[nightOwl]

benihana - Thanks I may look into this fan for the bathroom that is in the basement.

I have roughly the same size of tank that I am currently in the process of doing, but in a smaller space. I put a 110cfm Panasonic bath fan in the room and will be controlling it with a humidistat. You may want to look at 2 of them...but That should be all you need

dave.m - Not too sure how the weather will be here we just moved back in May to MD so I am hoping it will be similar to when I was in VA. I am hoping a dedicated room will help and its in the basement which is usually cooler than rest of the house.

It will depend a great deal on your summer high temperatures and your winter lows. If it doesn't get too cold in your area you may get away with just a fan as benihana has suggested. If it gets too hot you may want to look at an AC split unit that also has a humidistat control. That would give you the best of both. Either way, you need to get rid of that moisture before mold and mildew start to grow.

Dave.M

karsco - I looked into this and was wondering if you are going with two holes or the one hole option? Did you have a brand of humidistat you are planning on using? When I read a little bit about the unit its rated for continuous use so wondering if the on and off will be a problem?

This is what I am going with on my 8' x 14' fish room. My total volume of water is going to be around 450 gallons. This will be wired to a humidistat to power on automatically, should work well.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-FV-..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452132643&sr=8-1&keywords=Erv

Thanks again for the responses. Anyone have a particular brand of humidistat they are using or are they all pretty much the same?

 

[SPotter]

are there any of the hvac units that will be in the fish room? You might remember that my last set up back in NJ was in the basement and the fish room had the hot water heater and boiler in the same room. I was running LED's and T5's and the temps and humidity were a constant battle for me and the temps in NJ arent that much different than the temps in MD. I would start with a couple of bathroom fans and see how it goes but if temps and humidity become and issue I would look into a mini split system. It will do an amazing job with temps and humidity. I tried every possible option before breaking down and investing in one for my garage and while its an extra expense every month, I never have to worry about the temps in my fish room thats out in my garage ever again.

 

[karsco]

NightOwl, I will probably go with something simple like this for the Humidistat:

http://www.amazon.com/Air-King-DH55...TF8&qid=1452269481&sr=8-8&keywords=humidistat

My fish room is in the basement and has concrete poured walls on three (3) sides and just the viewing wall (front of aquarium) will be framed and I will be using FRP Panels for the interior of this wall for easy clean up and to cut down any mold issues. Since my room has access to exterior walls (between the floor joists) I will run two (2) lines (two holes) on my ERV one to pull fresh air and the other to exhaust. Since this room is independent and isolated from my Mechanical Room I also plan to put in a room to room fan, to pull conditioned air into the fish room which I will need in the summer months. I will also install an accoustical noise baffle box (framed into the fan wall) to cut any fish room noise for the air being pulled in by this fan. Hope this all makes sense?

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-FV-...84&sr=8-1&keywords=room+to+room+fan+panasonic

 

[nightOwl]

Got a little behind and just catching up...

karsco - Thanks for sharing your apporach. Your fish room is very similar to mine. The area where the fish room is the bump out from our morning room. I framed it in as I divided the space in the unfinished part of the basement. Do you plan on keeping your fish room door closed or open most of the time? My basement is partially finished so before getting to the area where the fish room is there is door that will close off the whole back area including the walk up bar, mechanical room, and fish room. I am kinda torn on the two vent option since I already have bathroom vent out back. I will have to check again and see if 3 or more vents is going to be too weird looking. I will check into the noise baffle option. That may be a good idea with the fan in the wall.

NightOwl, I will probably go with something simple like this for the Humidistat:

http://www.amazon.com/Air-King-DH55...TF8&qid=1452269481&sr=8-8&keywords=humidistat

My fish room is in the basement and has concrete poured walls on three (3) sides and just the viewing wall (front of aquarium) will be framed and I will be using FRP Panels for the interior of this wall for easy clean up and to cut down any mold issues. Since my room has access to exterior walls (between the floor joists) I will run two (2) lines (two holes) on my ERV one to pull fresh air and the other to exhaust. Since this room is independent and isolated from my Mechanical Room I also plan to put in a room to room fan, to pull conditioned air into the fish room which I will need in the summer months. I will also install an accoustical noise baffle box (framed into the fan wall) to cut any fish room noise for the air being pulled in by this fan. Hope this all makes sense?

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-FV-...84&sr=8-1&keywords=room+to+room+fan+panasonic

Steve -There are no utilities in the fish room. The hot water heater and hvac unit will be in a separate section. I think initially i will just use the double fan an as i get more equipment I hope the temp does not become an issue.

are there any of the hvac units that will be in the fish room? You might remember that my last set up back in NJ was in the basement and the fish room had the hot water heater and boiler in the same room. I was running LED's and T5's and the temps and humidity were a constant battle for me and the temps in NJ arent that much different than the temps in MD. I would start with a couple of bathroom fans and see how it goes but if temps and humidity become and issue I would look into a mini split system. It will do an amazing job with temps and humidity. I tried every possible option before breaking down and investing in one for my garage and while its an extra expense every month, I never have to worry about the temps in my fish room thats out in my garage ever again.

 

[karsco]

Yes the plan is keep the door closed most of the time and let the fan draw air into the rooms and keep the smells & humidity contained in the fish room.

 

[Bob Nell]

I live in western Pa. I would recommend consulting with an hvac expert. You will want to consider the amount of evaporation attributed to tank.

I have about 1,000 square feet of finished lower level with a total water volume of 900 gallons. I had to install a separate hvac and dehumidifier. Before doing this, there was noticeable moisture in the attic.