I just bought some new fans...they aren't quiet...anyone have any suggestions...?

[John Hartford]

I just ordered and received and installed in my canpoy, two Ice Cap fans that have a heat sensing probe that tells the fans how fast to spin. I bought them from Drs. Foster & Smith. Here is the fan link:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1
The fans are just as loud as the ones that I received originally from Hamilton Tech that came with my metal halide retrofit. I was extremely pleased howat first everything was running so quietly until I plugged these two fans on. Does anyone use or know of some fans that are actually quiet? I would appreciate any advice, such as what type of fans, where did you buy them, the cost, etc. I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thanks,
John

 

[TrojanScott]

That's disheartening to hear. I planned on getting those exact fans. I've always heard they were pretty quiet.

Anyone else have experience with the IceCap fans?

 

[iCam]

I have heard someone else say that their IceCap fans were quite loud as well.

You can purchase computer fans off of eBay for cheap. You can get some with blue LED lights also. A lot of people use those in their canopy, some blowing in, some sucking out.

 

[ASH]

From IceCap:
Our 120MM fans are extremely quiet. The only time they get loud is when the probe detects temperatures over 100F. A few questions:
Are the probes in the water? They shouldn't be.
Where is the probe end located? Ideally it would be near fluorescent lighting and away from MH heat sources. We also recommend both fans blowing in. The probe should also be away from the direct path of incoming room air.

These fans are top quality, made for a caustic environment and very quiet at average to slower speeds. Made to last 10 - 13 years of neglect the only servicing being a de-salting when it builds up. I use a water mister directed aimed at the fan's front while it's running. If your fans only run at maximum speed there's a problem. Please contact Dave in service, 800-742-3227.

I apologize for the inconvenience but I'm convinced there's a problem we should be able to correct.

Andy

 

[SDguy]

I have three different types of fans. The icecap are definitely the quitest. Not sure how "quite" you are looking for. It is a motor, after all.

 

[eckrynock]

My icecap fans were REALLY loud until I moved the probe away from the halides and closer to the VHOs.

 

[mystikdragon7]

I bought computer fans off of e-bay and they are super quiet. I don't even hear them when I am working with my lights in the canopy. The heat sensor is right over my MH's to.

 

[ASH]

From IceCap:
Our approach was to get a fan that will be working w/o rusting 10+ years from now. I started with RS fans myself and was disappointed as they got louder and slower over the 18 months they lasted. There are enough throw away products we buy for reef tanks without adding fans to the list.
The variable speed just makes sense for an application in a tank's hood.

Andy

 

[DarthBaiter]

Sunon makes some nice quite fans that move a lot of air. Do a search on ebay for sunon cpu fans. Also, Panaflo makes nice quite fans with high air flow.
You can also take a real fine sand paper and sand the blade edges, and that will make some fans quiter.

 

[gary faulkner]

Sorry you are having problems.
I have two of the fans and they are very quiet. Might try moving the probes away from the lights.

HTH

 

[John Hartford]

The probes are located near the VHO's. As soon as I turned the fans on they were loud. My lights were not even on yet. When I turned the lights on I expected the fans to be louder, they didn't they mantained the same speed.

 

[John Hartford]

to SDguy:

I am aware that there is a "motor " that runs the fans. Are you aware how to spell "quiet"?

 

[codybug]

Here is what I did: I purchased two regular computer fans from the local discount computer store. Then I purchased a "router variable speed control unit" from Harbor Frieght tools (online for $13). I plugged the fans into a power strip and then plugged the power strip into the speed control unit. Now I can munually control the speed of my fans. I can also control the noise. In the winter time I turn them down a little bit and summer I turn them up. Works great.