Stand Ventilation

Tyler Bullock · Mar 27, 2019

I built a stand a few months ago and just got my 90g going. The stand is pretty much fully enclosed with a small hole in the back for cords. Working on the hood as we speak. I have had this tank up and running for 3 days and it is rather warm and humid in the stand. I am looking to purchase some CPU fans to install on the sides of the stand. Some say to have one pull in and the other pull out. Is this what you would do?

Thanks!!

Daniel Waters · Mar 27, 2019

Using small CPU fans, I'd have all fans blowing air in from various locations. Have a couple of separate vents to allow air to vent out. Honestly, though, unless the heat is causing a temperature spike, I'm not sure this is an issue unless you have electronic equipment you're concerned about keeping cooler. You probably need some ventilation / vents to allow humidity to escape, though. I guess it may depend on what issue you are trying to address (heat vs. humidity).

There were a couple of historical threads on this sort of issue if you do a search. I know a couple of people did some extensive testing on in / out flow on fans and reported their anecdotal findings (which I think they concluded that fans all blowing cooler air in worked best for cooling purposes...humidity control may be different)

Tyler Bullock · Mar 27, 2019

Daniel Waters said:
Using small CPU fans, I'd have all fans blowing air in from various locations. Have a couple of separate vents to allow air to vent out. Honestly, though, unless the heat is causing a temperature spike, I'm not sure this is an issue unless you have electronic equipment you're concerned about keeping cooler. You probably need some ventilation / vents to allow humidity to escape, though. I guess it may depend on what issue you are trying to address (heat vs. humidity).

There were a couple of historical threads on this sort of issue if you do a search. I know a couple of people did some extensive testing on in / out flow on fans and reported their anecdotal findings (which I think they concluded that fans all blowing cooler air in worked best for cooling purposes...humidity control may be different)

I dont know if there is an issue "Yet". I am trying to prevent mold pretty much. I do have a 2 inch hole out the back, but I dont think that is doing much. I am fine with putting in fans. There is no way I can cut more holes in the back of the stand for a vent.

Tyler Bullock · Mar 27, 2019

I guess I can put a fan on one end then on the other end cut a hole to vent out the air.

George Lopez · Mar 28, 2019

I personally have an enclosed 90 as well and I have two computer games blowing into the stands for the fact that I don't want salt creep all over my walls behind the stand ( my fans are on the back of the stand). Haven't had and heat issues in a year

George Lopez · Mar 28, 2019

Mjrenz · Mar 28, 2019

My thought would be to have two fans blowing in at one end and have a vent at the other end. I would suspect that a computer fan that is pulling humidity out would be exposed to a lot of moisture and salt and more likely to fail than a fan drawing in dry air from outside the stand

Daniel Waters · Mar 28, 2019

Tyler Bullock said:
I dont know if there is an issue "Yet". I am trying to prevent mold pretty much. I do have a 2 inch hole out the back, but I dont think that is doing much. I am fine with putting in fans. There is no way I can cut more holes in the back of the stand for a vent.

If you're concerned about moisture, then I think you need some holes to allow air to escape. However, I'm not certain that there is that much moisture underneath in a stand. Most of your evaporation I suspect would be in your display tank, as I suspect you have more surface area and agitation there. If you don't want to be cutting into your stand, you could see how things go for a few weeks or months. You might not really have an issue. Simply opening your stand doors from time to time may be adequate to displace any moist air. If you're really concerned, covering your sump with some type of covering for each compartment might greatly reduce any evaporation you have in the stand from your sump. Polycarbonate works well as a covering for this and you can make cut outs for cords, tubes, skimmer and such.

Tyler Bullock · Mar 29, 2019

Thank you all for the tips!

jtl · Mar 30, 2019

When I built my stand a couple of years ago I was concerned. I even bought a couple of fans (usb). Turned out to be a non issue the fans are still in the boxes.

theatrus · Mar 30, 2019

Mjrenz said:
My thought would be to have two fans blowing in at one end and have a vent at the other end. I would suspect that a computer fan that is pulling humidity out would be exposed to a lot of moisture and salt and more likely to fail than a fan drawing in dry air from outside the stand

This would be my recommendation. Keep the fans pulling in air from the outside, not hot humid air inside the stand. Vent as appropriate.