Aquarium Fans

[SinkyShippy]

I have an aquarium fan that I've been running for 10 hours a day. I'm losing way too much water from evaporation. Does anyone use a fan schedule? What do you guys use? 30 on/30 off?

 

[Hitman]

I have mine temp based. Any time canopy temp is above 79 fan is on.

 

[BoSalman]

What are you using fans for? Lighting temp control or just temp control in general?

Normally you would let the only run when your temp climbs up and closes when your desired temp is reached.

 

[russell13]

Mine was hooked up to my apex. I had one that would vent the sump(cheap Wallmart fan with a clip) and another blowing across the top of the tank(cheap eBay aquarium fan). Set them to a temp and it worked great. Just another reason to use a controller, great investment worth its weight in gold

 

[Hitman]

I just have a cheap temp controller from amazon running mine in my canopy. 3 Fans and variable speed temp controller I think was $50 shipped off amazon

 

[SinkyShippy]

What are you using fans for? Lighting temp control or just temp control in general?

Normally you would let the only run when your temp climbs up and closes when your desired temp is reached.

My light bakes my tank

 

[SinkyShippy]

Mine was hooked up to my apex. I had one that would vent the sump(cheap Wallmart fan with a clip) and another blowing across the top of the tank(cheap eBay aquarium fan). Set them to a temp and it worked great. Just another reason to use a controller, great investment worth its weight in gold

I don't have a temperature controlled fan

 

[russell13]

I don't have a temperature controlled fan

You could also run the fan on a timer if there are times of the day that the tank gets hot. This would be a less reliable but more inexpensive solution

 

[SinkyShippy]

You could also run the fan on a timer if there are times of the day that the tank gets hot. This would be a less reliable but more inexpensive solution

I have a timer. I posted to try and figure out how to time it. I just set it tp 30 on/ 30 off but I don't know if this will work.

 

[russell13]

I have a timer. I posted to try and figure out how to time it. I just set it tp 30 on/ 30 off but I don't know if this will work.

I would try to figure out when the tank reaches it highest temps and have it turn on then. Maybe in the middle of the day or when the lights are on. Have it off in the middle of the night and early in the morning. This would help to keep your temp more stable and save a lot of evaporation

 

[SinkyShippy]

I would try to figure out when the tank reaches it highest temps and have it turn on then. Maybe in the middle of the day or when the lights are on. Have it off in the middle of the night and early in the morning. This would help to keep your temp more stable and save a lot of evaporation

I had it turn on at 9am and turn off at 7pm but it was evaporating too much. Now I have it turning on at 11:00am and turning on and off every 30 minutes until 6:30.

 

[rkpetersen]

An alternative to cutting down the fan time might be to invest in an ATO.

 

[Hitman]

This will take care of your issue. Just set the temp you want it to stay under and plug your fans in.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZV591B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_wPg7Cb3SCBK97

 

[Taxus812]

This will take care of your issue. Just set the temp you want it to stay under and plug your fans in.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZV591B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_wPg7Cb3SCBK97

How good is the temp probe in the saltwater? I have. USB clippon fan but I have to manually turn it on and off. Like the op I was burning through my ATO but my temps were great. I dunked it in the tank today and ruined it so I was looking to replace. I thought about a controller.

 

[Hitman]

The sensor doesn’t go in the water. It’s used for air temp in a canopy. Mine has been mounted in the top of my canopy for 4 years and still looks new.

 

[Aquavaj]

Depending on the size of your fan it could be causing your heater to come on more than necessary too cause they'll be "fighting" each other. I once forgot and left my 20" box fan on and dropped my tank to 75. The heaters were on but actual failed to keep up.

 

[fattiremike]

Before I got an Apex I just set mine to come on an hour after the lights did with an appliance timer.