VERY Quiet fans: suggestions please

Orion makes quiet fans. The Icecap variable speed fans are nice too as they scale down. Only noisy when on high and even then not so bad.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13568256#post13568256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AZDesertRat
120 mm Vantec Stealths. 53CFM at 28dBa
Click to expand...


I use 3 of these on my canopy over my 240.
 
My 60" x 16"H x 18"D canopy is only about 10 cubic feet so two fans both blowing in and equal sized exit holes on top provide over 10 complete air changes per minute, thats plenty. My chiller never runs even this past summer and thats with 2x250MH and 2x140 VHO in a totally enclosed canopy. The key is proper placement and no restrictions to flow.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13568505#post13568505 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AZDesertRat
My 60" x 16"H x 18"D canopy is only about 10 cubic feet so two fans both blowing in and equal sized exit holes on top provide over 10 complete air changes per minute, thats plenty. My chiller never runs even this past summer and thats with 2x250MH and 2x140 VHO in a totally enclosed canopy. The key is proper placement and no restrictions to flow.
Click to expand...

This used tank i bought, and am setting up, has 48" x 24" x 9" high canopy open in back. 2 x 250W MH, with 4 x 110 VHO. I would really like to avoid chiller. Where are these openings in the top.?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13568504#post13568504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ostrow
Seems like little movement if running halides. But that's just me.
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I justg looked up orion fans:

120mm with 2300rpm= 60 cfm with 27db
120mm with 2900 rpm=81cfm with 33db

vs

Vantec 120mm, 53 cfm= 28db

both sound quiet with similar output.

The ones I have = 3050 rpm, 107cfm, 50 db

and other options??
 
I used a 4" hole saw from Harbor Freight Tools (the large kit is only about $5 and goes from 2.5 to 5" and I've drilled probably 10 canopies believe it or not) and cut a 4" hole in each end about centered between the water surface and the reflectors. Next I drilled the same 4" holes in the very top of the canopy lid directly over the reflectors so hot air escapes but light does not. The top holes arecloser to the center so hot air has to travel from each side all the way to the center and up so all air is exhausted.
One added advantage of the holes in top is natural convection, even when the fans are not on hot humid air rises out the top and cooler dry air flows in through the sides.
I power the fans with a variable voltage AC/DC power converter again from Harbor Freight so I can vary fan speed with the turn of a dial. At 12v they are almost dead silent and at 9 or 10.5v they are silent. In summer I run them at 12v on a timer with the MH lights and in winter I slow them back to 9 or 10.5v when I don't need as much cooling.
 
CFM VS noise is tough. I've tried many fans in both building quiet PCs and with aquarium use. If is very difficult to get quiet, high airflow fans. Very easy to get quiet low flow fans. Bigger is better. If at all possible, use 120mm Vs 92 or 80mm fans. Silent PC Review http://www.silentpcreview.com does a lot of fan testing. Take a look there at the ratings. On that site's recommendation, http://www.silentpcreview.com/article832-page3.html#SS-M I recently got some 120mm SCYTHE SLIP STREAM SY1225SL12M fans for my canopy. They are quiet even @ 12v and move a decent amount of air.

Specs:
SY1225SL12M
Power Rating 0.26A
Airflow Rating 68.54 CFM
RPM Rating 1,200 RPM
Noise Rating 24 dBA

There are other models such as the
SY1225SL12H
Power Rating 0.41A
Airflow Rating 88.11 CFM
RPM Rating 1,600 RPM
Noise Rating 33 dBA

Lots of air, but 33 dbA would be on the loud side.
 
Thanks for the info A.J. Last time i bout a hole saw (1 size) it cost me $32 and it was too small. Thats a nice kit. I did not fin the ac/dc converter in harbor freight though.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13568820#post13568820 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
CFM VS noise is tough. I've tried many fans in both building quiet PCs and with aquarium use. If is very difficult to get quiet, high airflow fans. Very easy to get quiet low flow fans. Bigger is better. If at all possible, use 120mm Vs 92 or 80mm fans. Silent PC Review http://www.silentpcreview.com does a lot of fan testing. Take a look there at the ratings. On that site's recommendation, http://www.silentpcreview.com/article832-page3.html#SS-M I recently got some 120mm SCYTHE SLIP STREAM SY1225SL12M fans for my canopy. They are quiet even @ 12v and move a decent amount of air.

Specs:
SY1225SL12M
Power Rating 0.26A
Airflow Rating 68.54 CFM
RPM Rating 1,200 RPM
Noise Rating 24 dBA

There are other models such as the
SY1225SL12H
Power Rating 0.41A
Airflow Rating 88.11 CFM
RPM Rating 1,600 RPM
Noise Rating 33 dBA

Lots of air, but 33 dbA would be on the loud side.
Click to expand...

Good info!!

How do you power 12v fans on an aquarium?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13568847#post13568847 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by g stone
i love my ice cap fans.. and they have a heat probe.. as the heat goes up, so does the cfm..
Click to expand...

No doubt ice cap fans sound like a great option, and ive not ruled out. my concern is $50 each. :eek2:
 
Ice Cap fans are not quiet unless run at the lowest speed. They are 50 - 120 CFM, and are 48db @ the high airflow rating.

BTW, the fans I got were $8 each. As AZD posted, powering the fans is easy. You just need a 12VDC wall transformer. Its good to have one that is adjustable. You can lower the voltage to run the fan @ a lower speed.
 
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13568892#post13568892 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Ice Cap fans are not quiet unless run at the lowest speed. They are 50 - 120 CFM, and are 48db @ the high airflow rating.

BTW, the fans I got were $8 each. As A>j> posted, powering the fans is easy. You just need a 12VDC wall transformer. Its good to have one that is adjustable. You can lower the voltage to run the fan @ a lower speed.
Click to expand...

Sounds good, but where do i get a adjustable AC/DC power converter, is there a size, different plugs etc??
 
I got mine @ WalMart. Radio shack, or whatever would have them too. You will have to adapt the plug yourself. Its only 2 wires. Not hard at all.
 
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