My new found love for simple clip on fan

[Tank14]

I have been having some trouble keeping my tank between 79-82 degree range. I have tried moving my halides up but it did not help too much. My tank would be 80 at night or with just the PC actinics on, and then would sky rocket to 86 once the halides kicked in. I was worried that I would have to buy a chiller :twitch: for $$$.

I had read somewhere to try a clip on fan and have it blow over the surface of the water. I was skeptical because I could not understand how that would keep the aquarium cooler, but since I was out of options I bought a $6 fan from walmart and put it on yesterday. I cannot believe the difference it makes!!! My tank is now hovering at 80 degrees even with the halides on.

Its a great feeling to tell my wife that I don't have to spend $$$ for a chiller. Now I may be able to spend $-$$ on some more corals

Well that is my story. None of my other friends appreciated this story so I figured I could turn to my friends here.:wave:

 

[toddmh]

I've seen those on lots of peoples systems,I never thought they would make any difference either..Good to know

 

[Dave VG]

I have one blowing over my sump. Tank stays around 80. Allot cheaper than a chiller.

 

[redrider911]

Just watch out for more evaporation.

 

[Raimond42]

I have a $40 fan blowing on my $500 chiller, tanks stays at a perfect 78*!
Seriously, a fan works really well in helping to keep temps in check. Here in the desert a chiller is needed all the time. No heater needed.

 

[Tank14]

Just watch out for more evaporation.

Good call... forgot about that

 

[EllieSuz]

I share your amazement that this simple solution really works. I have the exact same fan on my sump and controlled by the Reefkeeper Lite. It's a great comfort to know that the fan will kick on even if I'm away from home.

 

[Dave VG]

redrider911 good point i had to bump up my top off from a 2 gallon to 5 gallons

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

The evaporation process is what cools the tank. Its like putting a damp cloth on your neck when you're feeling hot; the energy used in evaporation takes heat out of the water keeping the cloth cooler than the ambient temperature.

 

[solRNY]

way cool, thanks for sharing, maybe I too don't have to buy a chiller

 

[Tank14]

way cool, thanks for sharing, maybe I too don't have to buy a chiller

No problem...I have learned so much from this group of people. I wanted to try and hopefully share some information and give a little back.

 

[tmz]

The evaporation process is what cools the tank. Its like putting a damp cloth on your neck when you're feeling hot; the energy used in evaporation takes heat out of the water keeping the cloth cooler than the ambient temperature.[/QUOTE

Exactly, Evaporative cooling works great but as redrider noted watch your top off.

 

[superkat]

i also have a simple little plastic clip on fan over my sump for the 120g. Tank was going to 81 (lost my moonsnail when this happened)...with the fan...78.

 

[SoBe CowFish]

I also bought the same fan from walmart (its the green one) Works GREAT! ! !:fun2:

 

[Raimond42]

I took the covers off my DT and now keep the lids closed on my top, it has a fan drawing air in and on the other end a fan expelling the air. With a fan over the sump my chiller does not run as much. As for evaporation, I have a ATO so I don't know how much it increased but I am sure it went up some.
It is so cool when a simple adjustment does so much for a problem.

 

[Raimond42]

I took the covers off my DT and now keep the lids closed on my top, it has a fan drawing air in and on the other end a fan expelling the air. With a fan over the sump my chiller does not run as much. As for evaporation, I have a ATO so I don't know how much it increased but I am sure it went up some.
It is so cool when a simple adjustment does so much for a problem. :thumbsup:

Sorry for the double post, not sure what happened!

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

You get around 8,000 BTUs of cooling by evaporating one gallon of water. That's a large amount of cooling. If adding the fan and keeping it on for an 8 hour photoperiod gets you 2 gallons/day more evaporation, that's 2,000BTU/hour. That's probably about what you'd get from a 1/3hp chiller running on a 50% duty cycle.

The fan costs $10 and might use 10 - 15w. The chiller probably costs ~$700 - $900 and uses ~800w.

So, hundreds of bucks upfront savings, and a few bucks a month in your pocket instead of spent on electricity. Of course there's a point of diminishing return, where adding more fans doesn't result in a linear increase in evaporation. And, you have to deal with all that evap - but to me, it seems like a no-brainer to at least try a few fans before you assume you'll need a chiller.

 

[josie]

I have air conditioning in my room. Cools me and the tank

 

[naprestsleep]

I have the opposite issue. My tank is in the lowest room, ie coolest. So when the AC runs, I have the heaters kick on.

 

[Maraschiello]

i have air conditioning in my room. Cools me and the tank

+1