Do I need to be adding ventilation?

[Mombo]

Building a stand right now. It is enclosed on all sides though so other animals cant get into it.

I have the back wall of the stand pretty open and I could add some ventilation holes if I need to. I am using all led's so I am not sure if I need to.

Is passive ventilation fine or do I need to implement fans?

How are yall connecting those computer case fans up? They have tiny little DC plugs are yall converting them to AC with something and then plugging them in?

 

[Mombo]

Currently I am thinking two fans down towards the top of the sump pulling air in. Then 2 more holes up higher with no fans to passively let heat out.

My one fear is that I will likely have cat/dog hair getting pulled into the sump area via the fans all the time. Not sure what that will affect. So my other thought is to reverse that and have the fans pushing air out of the sump and have the passive holes let air in which will likely pull less air in.

Not sure....

 

[cmcoker]

Blowing air out from the sump will likely ruin the fans faster, as you are pulling humid air through them.
I'd blow air in from the outside.

For computer fans you just need the appropriate volt wall wart, attached pic of some I have used

If you post pics, you might get some better input so we can see what you are working with.

Could maybe open the rear wall up more, and block the sides of the tank up to the wall with some lumber or something to keep animals out.

 

[Mombo]

Ive decided to go with the 4 hole style I was originally thinking. I am going to do 2 with fans blowing air in over the sump and 2 passive exhausts.

I found these - I linked them in my other thread about wiring fans up as well. I think it will help keep everything looking clean.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MGG6SC/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2F13KK758WMXQ

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MYA3A4C/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1S9W9A986D3KF

 

[Mombo]

Alright I got a pic of my stand. My back section is divided into 3 sections. My sump will be on the left side of the stand and my ATO stuff will be on the right. I am thinking about putting the fans on the left and middle section and leaving the right side without. Let me know what you think. The lower holes will have the fans and be right at sump level and then the passive holes will be the higher up holes.

 

[cmcoker]

Putting them right over the sump is going to increase evaporation I would think.. which will also cool the tank, not sure your climate but if your up north you might reconsider, more southern it may work out better. It also may make your heater work more.

Also consider your electrical equipment. Where is the power outlet and how are you going to run those lines?

 

[Mombo]

Good point. I guess I can always put the fans on the higher ones and passive below. My current tank never gets down to 78 so maybe a bit of cooling would be good. I think I would rather the heater work a little bit and keep the tank at 77-77.5 then the heater stay off and have the tank fluctuate between 78.5-79.5

Guess I will just try it both ways haha.

 

[Mombo]

Maybe just having 4 holes drilled will give it enough ventilation to not need fans? What do yall think about that?

 

[cmcoker]

My stands have always had a good size opening so I'm not sure what the minimum requirement would be.
I guess I would install the fans, and see how it goes off vs on. You could even get fancy, and install a humidity controller to turn them on and off, there's an inkbird humidity controller on Amazon for like $35. Maybe overkill, or over thinking it, haha.

 

[Mombo]

Haha well if you’re gonna do it overkill is the best way.

I think I’ll set it up with the fans off and watch performance and then go from there. I should be able to get a pretty decent idea of how it’s going to be while it’s cycling.