Sump cooling fan

Fathog02 · Oct 1, 2018

Hi all! I’m looking for recommendations for a cooling fan in my sump area.. I need to cool my water temperature 3 degrees.

Thanks!

Chef Tommy · Oct 1, 2018

The clip on fan from Walmart helped me out a ton. It hooked up to my temperature on apex

Dr. Reef · Oct 1, 2018

small desk fan will work too. usually $5-10

jda · Oct 1, 2018

Anything that you can fit is fine. If you can put a fan over the top of the tank, this will evap more and cool better. I use Vornado fans.

phlibbyreefer · Oct 1, 2018

I have 2 4inch computer fans in my canopy that run from 11am to 11pm mostly to keep my hydra52's from overheating. Then I also have a desktop fan mounted directly over my refugium in my sump that kicks on at 78 degrees. Tank temp doesn't get over 78.6 degrees in south florida.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 1, 2018

Well NOT most any fan as many listed above are NOT designed to handle or distribute moisture and can lead to a shock/fire hazard.

The key will be air space. If the stand is all closed it, you will literally move the moisture around the tank base. If you have open concept or large opening, you can clamp fan onto sump directed outside or away from tank. The marine versions work well and Tunze came out with a nice one, BUT they are Not cheap but are warrantied for worksmanship in aquatic conditions.

ReeferBud · Dec 6, 2018

I’m also looking to implement evaporative cooling by having fans over my sump.

I currently have two 8” clip-on desk fans in my canopy but they create a lot of noise and would like to move them to the sump in my fish room.

Has anyone done this?

Dr. Reef · Dec 6, 2018

having fans blow across the top of the sump will cool most tanks upto 4-5 degrees.

ReeferBud · Dec 6, 2018

Do you just use the regular clip-ons?

My sump has a glass trim around the top, so not sure how I would safely attach the fans.

Dr. Reef · Dec 6, 2018

run a piece of wood across and afix the fans on the wood.

phlibbyreefer · Dec 6, 2018

ReeferBud · Dec 6, 2018

Nice fan. Where did you get that one?

phlibbyreefer said:

ReeferBud · Dec 6, 2018

Dr. Reef said:
run a piece of wood across and afix the fans on the wood.

Good idea. I’ll need to build a kind of bridge over the sump and attach the fans to that

Gregg @ ADP · Dec 6, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
Well NOT most any fan as many listed above are NOT designed to handle or distribute moisture and can lead to a shock/fire hazard.

The key will be air space. If the stand is all closed it, you will literally move the moisture around the tank base. If you have open concept or large opening, you can clamp fan onto sump directed outside or away from tank. The marine versions work well and Tunze came out with a nice one, BUT they are Not cheap but are warrantied for worksmanship in aquatic conditions.

My tactical countermove to your concerns is to drill a couple (or more) 4” diameter holes into the cabinet where they can’t be seen and mount a 4” fan blowing in and a 4” fan blowing out. Eliminates the moisture issue (for the most part) inside the cabinet and helps cool the water.

Chef Tommy · Dec 7, 2018

I have 2 fans on my APEX, one over sump and another on the cabinet. When the temp gets too high, both come on and keep the tank under 79.

I had to run a wood strip like another suggested in order to mount the clip on fan. It’s from Walmart for under $10.