How do you control in home / tank heat/humidity?

[Hocky]

I am contemplating moving from my 220g up to a 540g (665g system). This tank would be on my first floor and completely open to the living area. As it is, my 220g puts so much heat/humidity into the room that it is difficult for the A/C in the house to keep up and it has to be pretty damn cold out to need heat. I am concerned that if I move up to the bigger water volume that I will have major heat and humidity problems in the house. How is everyone fighting this? I was thinking about a sealed hood that is vented to the outside, but I was concerned that this would cause problems with tank temperature in the summer when outside air temps are near 100 degrees and 80% humidity.

The tank would most likely be half reef with 3-5 250w halides over it and have with just a handful of flourescents.

Thoughts?

 

[LivingRoomOcean]

Go with LED's and get a Air To Air Exchanger ...

do you run a chiller ? also is your sump under your stand -

Best set up is a basement sump - helps with noise and cooling

 

[reefer96]

Heat Recovery Ventilation system. HRV

 

[reefer96]

Although they're only an answer for the colder months.

Additional AC for summer months, A single phase split, AC unit may be in order

 

[jc16]

hrv unit definitly the way to go!!

 

[oscar.millan]

+1 on HRV. LED will absolutely lower the heat in your tank. A reef buddy has the AI LED on his canopy and he doesn't even run the fans or the chiller on his tank anymore.

 

[Hocky]

Just based on a quick search about HRV, I don't think that helps me at all. I am not concerned about the winter, just the summer temps.

 

[kmu]

Im setting a 240g in my office and the room that the tank is gonna be is small and Im afraid of heat and humidity issues. I had in mind to set up a bathroom exhaust fan in the sealing directly on top of the tank and just vet it outside, the canopy will be an open top and will have around 5 " of space in between it and the ceiling.

I will be tagging along this thread for help on this same issue.

 

[Hocky]

Im setting a 240g in my office and the room that the tank is gonna be is small and Im afraid of heat and humidity issues. I had in mind to set up a bathroom exhaust fan in the sealing directly on top of the tank and just vet it outside, the canopy will be an open top and will have around 5 " of space in between it and the ceiling.

I was kind of thinking this same thing, but am afraid that constantly blowing air outside will make it impossible for the AC to keep up. One thing that came to mind was to run an "intake" vent from a window or in-room type AC and an exhaust vent to push the air outside. Not too sure how well that would really work, though, and I know I don't want to listen to an AC unit in there.

 

[dave.m]

You haven't said where you're located, nor what the temperature and humidity ranges are that you are considering dealing with. You say you are not concerned with winter, so that suggests you are someplace warm. What about humidity?

The only way to really deal with the tank climate as I understand it is to isolate the tank's environment from the room it is in as much as possible and give it its own environmental controls. But I don't see how people here can give you better information unless you delineate the parameters more clearly.

Dave.M

 

[Hocky]

You haven't said where you're located, nor what the temperature and humidity ranges are that you are considering dealing with. You say you are not concerned with winter, so that suggests you are someplace warm. What about humidity?

The only way to really deal with the tank climate as I understand it is to isolate the tank's environment from the room it is in as much as possible and give it its own environmental controls. But I don't see how people here can give you better information unless you delineate the parameters more clearly.

Dave.M

I am in Indiana. 4 seasons. 10 degree winters and 95 degree humid summers. Winter doesn't concern me because I know that I can just vent it outside without a problem. I do not have any issue heat my house. It is just the heat of the summer that concerns me.

 

[reefer96]

when you bring that much water volume in your house your going to have humidity issues, im in st louis with a 150g stock tank and already have humidity of 70% in a 4 year old house. I am piecing together my 450g display build (650g total) and my very first purchase is the HRV, i really think you need to protect the house, Even with humidity @ 55% you can begin growing mold on walls, windows etc.

just think about your all that water being around 78 degrees and your house temp being 70 or so, obviously i dont know your comfort zone. JMHO
Good luck

 

[Hocky]

I don't see how an HRV is going to control humidity indoors with an appreciable results, especially on days with high outside humidity.

 

[Steve175]

Great thread. Same issues here w/ large build. I am planning remote sump temp controlled, chillers on close loop of tank, and dehumidifier in display room, but open for better ideas. Thanks for thread.

 

[t5Nitro]

Good idea to plan it out. We have high humidity in the house and have had mold in areas for some time now (on the windows specifically - black). Not sure if it is due to wood windows or the humidity coming from the tank.

Are there any good stand alone units to control this instead of installing some system in the house (or room)?

 

[reefer96]

I don't see how an HRV is going to control humidity indoors with an appreciable results, especially on days with high outside humidity.

In the winter months only, is where the HRV will exhaust interior humidity and pull in Dry outside air.

http://www.comfortgurus.com/product_info.php/products_id/1876

In summer time, with Outside high heat and humidity the use of an additional Ductless MINI Ac unit will pull that humidity out of air in the house.

http://www.acwholesalers.com/Mitsubishi_Mr_Slim_mitsubishi_air_conditioner_p/12986.htm

I've seen them both used in the St louis area with large systems from 600 to 1200 gallons.

This is something i think you'll eventually have to address eventually as every house will eventually reach its saturation point.

The links are just examples for you to look into if you'd like.

 

[reefer96]

Dang it, my thoughts get ahead of my typing, sorry guys

This is something i think you'll eventually have to address, as every house will eventually reach its saturation point.

 

[Hocky]

In the winter months only, is where the HRV will exhaust interior humidity and pull in Dry outside air.

http://www.comfortgurus.com/product_info.php/products_id/1876

In summer time, with Outside high heat and humidity the use of an additional Ductless MINI Ac unit will pull that humidity out of air in the house.

http://www.acwholesalers.com/Mitsubishi_Mr_Slim_mitsubishi_air_conditioner_p/12986.htm

I've seen them both used in the St louis area with large systems from 600 to 1200 gallons.

This is something i think you'll eventually have to address eventually as every house will eventually reach its saturation point.

The links are just examples for you to look into if you'd like.

Thank you, I appreciate the links.

 

[reefer96]

Hocky, your Welcome, I hope your able to figure something out. Look forward seeing more of your build.

 

[Kurt03]

With these AC units where does the condensation go? Is it dripped outside?

In the winter months only, is where the HRV will exhaust interior humidity and pull in Dry outside air.

http://www.comfortgurus.com/product_info.php/products_id/1876

In summer time, with Outside high heat and humidity the use of an additional Ductless MINI Ac unit will pull that humidity out of air in the house.

http://www.acwholesalers.com/Mitsubishi_Mr_Slim_mitsubishi_air_conditioner_p/12986.htm

I've seen them both used in the St louis area with large systems from 600 to 1200 gallons.

This is something i think you'll eventually have to address eventually as every house will eventually reach its saturation point.

The links are just examples for you to look into if you'd like.