Supplemental cooling fans?

[Dave-T]

I have a new all glass tank, 72x28x28, with glass lids. I have 6 GHL Mitras lights mounted in a canopy over the tank. The canopy has hinged doors around the sides, and is open on the top. The tank is connected to a sump in my basement. Yesterday I brought up the lights for the first time (only at about 50%), and boy did they heat up the tank. The temperature went from 79 degrees when I brought up the lights at noon, to 85 degrees by the time the lights went off at 8:00. I plan on doing more than just adding cooling fans, but clearly I would benefit from some fans by the lights.

Does anyone have any specific suggestions for fans to add? I'm looking for something ultra quiet (the tank is next to our kitchen table), and also fans that could tolerate the moist salty environment. I could mount a bunch of them between the lights, if necessary (maybe up to 12 6 inch fans).

Thanks!

- Dave

 

[billwill]

That's a lot of light intensity inside a canopy, and glass lids are not going to allow fans to do much of anything to help cool the tank. Plenty of quiet 6" computer fan options out there, but they work best when you're able to draw air out of the space. Not sure how you'd do that with an open top canopy. Chiller sounds like it will be in your very near future, and I'd ditch the glass lids.

 

[Dave-T]

I know the fans won’t cool the tank, but I am thinking they would help somewhat to keep the lights from heating the tank. I want to keep the covers, to quiet the noise from the overflow, keep smell in, and keep fish in.

 

[Angrywalnut]

I use glass lids and my canopy is mostly open in the rear so natural convection thru the top occurs. I use an 8 inch clip on fan, on the sump. It cools the tank .7 degrees in about 45 minutes run time. Maybe try fanning the sump.
I did have a small 6 inch fan mounted in the canopy at one point it also worked but the evaporative cooler on the sump worked faster and is quieter. Your sump is in the basement so noise shouldn't be concern and the cooler basement air will aid in chilling the water.

 

[Dave-T]

Thanks. I am already trying a fan in the sump. The sump is in a small room in the basement, and it’s not cool at all - the equipment in there generates a lot of heat. But the sump fan does help.
In any case, I’m still looking for recommendations for canopy cooling fans. I would have thought that people had done some research on this, no?

 

[MNFish]

I have my reef near the dinning room as well and installed a ceiling fan. It it silent and works well for my requirements.

 

[MichaelP]

Computer fans are your best bet. They are dead silent compared to the ones they sell for aquariums and they still move a good amount of air. I have had them in canopies and directly mounted to the tank with no moisture issues

 

[HBtank]

I got some temperature controlled computer fans, using PCM to USB connectors (I got one that combined two into one USB) to power them. Looking around they seemed to have the longest hour ratings, and are cheap. Some of the aquarium specific stuff had ridiculously low hours, and of course, have them pushing outside air in to ensure they last a long time.

 

[BCSreef]

I have a near identical setup with 6 LX7206s. I use these not just keep water cool but also to keep the Mitras cool. I use these.


There are also extra quiet versions available.

Photo is back of my old 8" canopy. Just replaced it with a 12".

 

[Dave-T]

I have a near identical setup with 6 LX7206s. I use these not just keep water cool but also to keep the Mitras cool. I use these.


There are also extra quiet versions available.

Photo is back of my old 8" canopy. Just replaced it with a 12".

Thanks! So you have those fans mounted below the lights, in back, blowing towards the front? I was thinking of mounting fans between the lights, blowing up, but your way may be better…

 

[BCSreef]

Yes, but I have a closed top on canopy.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I'm in a closed 8" high canopy and I added dual 90mm fans that push air in to keep the T5's cool and it also does help a bit with display temps.

 

[minus9]

Noctua fans are awesome and if you have an apex (2016) you can hook them directly to the DC24 ports. You might have to use a step down converter 24v to 12v, but they work great. They have some that are IP67 rated, which are the ones you want. Also, if take off the glass lids and runs fans across the surface of the water when the lights are on, you'll keep it nice and cool. I would also mount the fans in a way that they are push and pull.

 

[Biglew11]

I have 4 4" dc fans. Hooked up to a 50watt12v meanwell power supply. And a dc to pwm converter.
https://www.jameco.com/z/WSI8004-Ve...h-Modulator-Kit-Control-DC-Motors_120539.html

I have the power supply turn on at
Fallback
Set off
If tmp >79.1

0 -10v output.
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Tmp > 79.1 Then 10
If Tmp > 79.2 Then 20
If Tmp > 79.3 Then 30
If Tmp > 79.4 Then 40
If Tmp > 79.5 Then 50
If Tmp > 79.6 Then 60
If Tmp > 79.7 Then 80
If Tmp > 79.8 Then 100

Fans are on back of canopy blowing air into canopy. I cut 3 vents on top of hood with wood heat register vents that match canopy wood. This slows the fans to turn on when called for and allows them to ramp up or down with temperature. So they are fairly quiet initially and turn up as needed. The 4 fans draw about 10 at low 10% setting and about 30 watts at full speed.