How do you set up your computer fans for your canopy?

[CyberGuy]

I have a 120 gallon tank (4' x 2' x 2') with a canopy and will put 3 computer Noctua fans in the back of the canopy to cool my 4 Kessil 360X lights.

So my question is: What is the best configuration to set up my 3 fans?

1. Should it be 2 adjacent fans blow into the canopy and 1 fan suck air out?

2. All 3 fans blow into the canopy?

3. One fan blow into the canopy and 2 adjacent fans suck air out?

4. Two outside fans blow air into the canopy and the middle fan suck air out?

5. Two outside fans suck air out and the middle fan blow air into the canopy?

6. All 3 fans suck air out of the canopy?

Please advice on the best configuration to minimize heat inside the canopy with 4 Kessil 360X. Thanks.

 

[Old Fritz]

Can I get a picture of your canopy I'm unfamiliar with how it looks/functions.

Thought I was getting into a pc thread. Noctua fans are awesome but by god I wish they wouldn't make their fans so ugly.

 

[CyberGuy]

Any suggestions?

 

[happysalt]

I just tried to find a photo and i have one on my phone. This is a photo from when I was building it. I left the ends of the canopy open and just ran four fans across the canopy. It served the purpose of sucking in fresh air and blowing air across the lights. Runn

ing T5 with two LED bars and 2 hydra 26s and 2 primes in the middle.

 

[crusso1993]

Any chance you can bump your fan count to 4 and place two on each side of the canopy with the left side sucking in and the right side blowing out or vice versa? This design will give you a much better cooling flow for the canopy.

 

[CyberGuy]

Any chance you can bump your fan count to 4 and place two on each side of the canopy with the left side sucking in and the right side blowing out or vice versa? This design will give you a much better cooling flow for the canopy.

Yes, I can use 4 fans. I guess I have to order one more
Noctua fan

But what would be the best configuration of the 4 fans to maximize cooling inside the canopy?

 

[P-Dub]

I have a 120 gallon tank (4' x 2' x 2') with a canopy and will put 3 computer Noctua fans in the back of the canopy to cool my 4 Kessil 360X lights.

So my question is: What is the best configuration to set up my 3 fans?

1. Should it be 2 adjacent fans blow into the canopy and 1 fan suck air out?

2. All 3 fans blow into the canopy?

3. One fan blow into the canopy and 2 adjacent fans suck air out?

4. Two outside fans blow air into the canopy and the middle fan suck air out?

5. Two outside fans suck air out and the middle fan blow air into the canopy?

6. All 3 fans suck air out of the canopy?

Please advice on the best configuration to minimize heat inside the canopy with 4 Kessil 360X. Thanks.

I used these. Best money ever spent for canopy cooling IMHO.
Thoughts on canopy cooling with these...

 

[Backreefing]

Place all fans to blow into the canopy. This keeps moisture down to a min on the fans

 

[PatW]

I run my fans in the sump. I use cheap clip on fans.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Always set fans to blow in, and have an opening for the air to passively leave the canopy. The reason, as stated above, is that if they blow out, that moist, salt laden air, now passing over the fan, could shorten the life of the fan.

Now the fans in and fans out setup....think about it. If I set one fan to blow in, and one fan to blow out, I might as well just use one fan. I will get the same turnover of one fan in (with a passive escape) as the one in/one out scenario.

 

[CyberGuy]

I used these. Best money ever spent for canopy cooling IMHO.
Thoughts on canopy cooling with these...

Thank you for suggesting this unit. I think I will order the 3-fans version and will set them with my 3 Noctua fans and compare the two to see which one is quieter and push more air.

 

[CyberGuy]

Always set fans to blow in, and have an opening for the air to passively leave the canopy. The reason, as stated above, is that if they blow out, that moist, salt laden air, now passing over the fan, could shorten the life of the fan.

Now the fans in and fans out setup....think about it. If I set one fan to blow in, and one fan to blow out, I might as well just use one fan. I will get the same turnover of one fan in (with a passive escape) as the one in/one out scenario.

Ok, I will take your advice and set up all my 6 fans to push air into the canopy.

I will mount all 6 fans on the back of my canopy because I do not want to drill big holes on the sides or on the top of my canopy.

 

[P-Dub]

Thank you for suggesting this unit. I think I will order the 3-fans version and will set them with my 3 Noctua fans and compare the two to see which one is quieter and push more air.

I can almost assuredly say the CFM should be clearly labeled somewhere on your Noctua Fans. You can see the CFM of the Airplate fans. I can say they are quiet. The overall aesthetics of installing the Airplate fans in a canopy AND thermostatically controllable were the selling point for me. Like I said in my post, after over a year of constant use, I am super pleased with them.
Some food for thought as well...