DIY cooling solutions?? with fans

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by WALLY89, Oct 28, 2008.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. WALLY89

    WALLY89 Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2008
    Messages:
    60
    Location:
    Omro, WI
    has anyone made a way to cool the water with fans? if so how many fans pics and how you set the fans up
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. {Nano}Reefer

    {Nano}Reefer Dragon Wrasse

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2008
    Messages:
    2,196
    wheres Omro at?? never heard of it...
     
  4. unclejed

    unclejed Whip-Lash Squid

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,964
    Location:
    Clinton Township, Michigan
    Hello Wally, explain your situation a bit. Lights can heat the water etc. I don't believe fans will cool the water to any degree. Fans for lights eliminate the heat from the light helping to keep water temp down. What is happening?
     
  5. WALLY89

    WALLY89 Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2008
    Messages:
    60
    Location:
    Omro, WI
    well my water temp is a bit high alot of ppl say get some fans and have them blowing on the water. so i was just wondering what kind of fans to get to blow on the water below the lights to help it stay more consistent. and omro is about 10 miles west of oshkosh
     
  6. reefman1132

    reefman1132 Skunk Shrimp

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2008
    Messages:
    251
    Location:
    Central PA
    I just saw a pic on some post like 2 days ago and I can't explain it but he had a cool design. Some thing with acrylic and a couple of fans. Sorry I can remember much else but hopefully he looks at this post. I'll try and find the post too.
     
  7. Iraf

    Iraf Snowflake Eel

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2008
    Messages:
    2,389
    Location:
    Tulsa, Ok
    I use a cheap clip on fan attached to the back of my sump on the 58 gallon to cool the water, the idea is that it increases the cool air hitting the surface while it's being disturbed and gives better gas exchange

    No pics atm I'm at my office and my 58g is at my wife's office

    My 90 gallon I'm not sure what I'll do yet, gotta see what kind of temps I'm getting with the 8 bulb t5 array
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. gazog

    gazog Kole Tang

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2007
    Messages:
    1,785
    A fan blowing on the water will cool it down considerably, my 55 seahorse tank is a good example. With out fans it ran an average of about 78 to 80 which is far to warm for Seahorses. I added two fans that blow on the water when the lights are on and the temp is now a steady 75 degrees.

    Keep in mind you will have a considerable amount of evaporation with the fans, and topping off nightly is a must.

    If you want cheap go on ebay and get a computer cooling fan with 12 volt power supply but those you have to make your own bracket which is what I did. If you want to spend a little money these from Aquatech will work well
     
  10. sostoudt

    sostoudt Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2008
    Messages:
    5,958
    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    the fan i used when i first started before i got a chiller was a 8 dollar clip on fan from walmart. but be ready for the increased evaporation
     
  11. Poseidon

    Poseidon Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2008
    Messages:
    67
    Location:
    Michigan
    For as much as I hate to reference that Algae Scrubber thread that is on EVERY fish board, you could use a portion of that idea for a "Cooling Tower". If you use a plastic screen material, and pump water up to the top, then let it fall down the screen, like a waterfall, and blow air from a fan into that, you will get a LOT of cooling.

    I DO NOT endorse Algae Turf Scrubbers in any way, but a cooling tower is effective.
     
  12. WALLY89

    WALLY89 Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2008
    Messages:
    60
    Location:
    Omro, WI
    it really makes evap. that much more ?