Exhaust vent or dehumidifier

[Frey]

Good evening everyone,

I have about 550 gallons between display tanks, sump, fuge, and quarantine in basement now. 400 ish gallons in a 12x8 dedicated fish room. The quarantine system is now 12 feet away along a side wall and i am about to get two 4x4 frag tanks, so that will add another 130-150 gallons. My question is in the warmer months even with a window open and a fan blowing out trying to blow the humidity out of the house, its just not working.
What would be the most effective method along with most cost effective method for removing all the moisture?
I find in the winter its not much of an issue. It actually helps when i am burning wood and the dryer air outside seems to bring the humidity in the house down.
I really need to find a solution to this before my wife either makes me get rid of my tanks or gets rid of me.

 

[joseserrano]

Ventilation in and out would be the best. A dehumidifier sucks up a lot of electricity in comparison

 

[Brian_68]

I crack a window on the first and second flour to get some flow up and out.

 

[Frey]

Yeah, when we first moved here i had one running. I vaguely remember it putting a decent dent in the electric bill.

Is there a general guideline for how much or what to use? I live in Pa so having a lot of air coming in in the winter is counter productive to heating the house

 

[Frey]

When its not over 80 we have almost all windows open and i have a fan blowing out. Doesn't seem to help much. It has also been very rainy and higher humidity outside than normal past two years

 

[Ken logan]

Dehumidifiers can suck energy. But beats mold all over the house.

 

[Frey]

Does anyone run dehumidifier? Does it increase evaporation from the tanks? When i had 1 tank that was smaller not so much an issue. The main system is using about 5 gallons a day right now

 

[Ken logan]

Yes but bring down water in the air. Risk to reward go dehumidifier

 

[thewackyreefer]

I have about 350g running in a basement currently and keep my dehumidifier at 50%. Evap is what would be expected with humidity at 50%. Definitely worth running one, especially if you're in a hot and humid climate.

 

[Frey]

Thanks everyone. Guess this spring i will have to purchase a humidifier, i am sure the newer ones are more energy efficient than the one i originally had. I think it came from 70's. Lol

 

[thewackyreefer]

They're not that expensive to run. Just make sure it's large enough (or larger) for your space so it doesn't have to run 24/7.

 

[flagg37]

Does your home’s HVAC circulate your basement? If the problem is in the summer the AC will decrease the humidity in your house. Again maybe not the most energy efficient but if you make sure there’s a large return air duct and vent in that room. It may help out quite a bit. It will remove moisture and cool the room so that not as much evaporation occurring to begin with.

 

[Frey]

I have ductless split units on the house. There are no air ducts or vents. Just the holes i cut in the floor and put vent covers over to allow the heat to naturally come upstairs from the wood stove.

 

[Hemmdog]

I run a dehumidifier 24/7. It’s not that bad on the power bill, maybe an extra $50 a month.

 

[Frey]

Yeah i guess another 50$ is worth being able to keep my tanks and prevent items from being damaged by moisture and mold.

 

[Hemmdog]

Yeah i guess another 50$ is worth being able to keep my tanks and prevent items from being damaged by moisture and mold.

That’s my thoughts too. It might be less for you, I’m in PG&E country and they really bend us over when it comes to electricity costs.

 

[Frey]

PP&L isnt much better. My electric bill is usually 380-500 a month in winter and 200-250 in summer (mostly my own fault) reef tanks, koi pond, freshwater tanks....lol.

 

[ca1ore]

Depends a lot on where you live. Here in CT, basement humidity is only really a problem in the Summer months. I use a dehumidifier from early June through about mid September. I do also have the ability to ventilate the sump room when outside weather allows. This helps with low pH issues as well.

 

[DSEKULA]

Hi @Frey I'm also in pa, run a basement sump and have a lot of water in the house
In the summer if I run a dehumidifier the temp in my basement runs up to about 100 degrees so that's a no go. The basement gets ventilated via exhaust fans. In the winter (now) the dehumidifier runs, the basement gets closed up and I pump air into the sump with a small compressor. On the upside I've found the dehumidifier keeps the basement warm enough 65+- through the winter that with no heat down there it auctually makes a difference in the heating bill. Win some lose some. I do keep my tanks shut tight (lids) in the winter to keep the humidity in since I pump in air anyway.

 

[OceanDiver]

Did you an have exhaust fan? My tank is located in my finished basement. I am thinking about adding an exhaust fan to pull the air from that room and out of the house. vice adding a whole house dehumidifier.

I do have a small dehumidifier we use now in the room but neither the wife or I like have the unit in the room.