Fish/Sump room humidity + cooling advice

I am making a closet sized Sump room for my tank. Dimensions are 6'L by 3.5'W by 8'H. The room does not share air with house. There will be approx. 200g of water in the room (90g Sump, 60g fuge, 50g frag tank, 20g to 40g qt, 10g hosp)

I live in Los Angeles CA so it gets really hot in the summer time (100 or so). I imagine the room will get very hot in the summer especially with a 400w metal halide over the frag tank. I might get led setup to conserve energy if i can get similar results.

What is the most efficient way to address the Heat and Humidity in the room?

1) My original plan was to use a single wall AC and wire it so the fan comes on when humidity is over 45% or so. It will send moist air outside and exchange with dry air from outside. Also, wire it so it cools air when temp is over 78 or so. I can also setup a bathroom fan to exchange air when humidity is too high. Would this setup be sufficient and efficient? Better to use AC for both functions switching between air exchange (fan mode) and cool or Ac for cool and bathroom fan for air exchange?

2) Another idea was to just use a very large chiller to keep water temp around 78 and use a bathroom fan to exchange air when humidity is over 45% or so.

After reading about other setups that use AC units. It seems that an AC is more efficient.

Which setup do you think would be more efficient (energy cost)? Is an AC unit more efficient then a chiller in this situation? Do you think both setups are sufficient to keep humidity under 50%. I have electrical plugs, profilux expansion box etc... in the room that i don't want to get damaged over time.

 

cooling the whole room, would be the option I would choose
as that way, its going to be OK for you when your working in there

the chiller would keep tank temp down and thus help with ambient humidity
but with temps as you describe in an enclosed enviroment like that room
you would possibly have to air condition it anyway to make it bearable to spend any amount of time in there

Just my opinion

Steve

 

IMO, generally speaking you are in a very dry climate. You would probably RARELY have the need for heating that space or any space out there. You would do best with a ceiling mounted fan as it will most efficiently remove heat AND humidity together.
You would want something in the order of 40-60CFM (basic bathroom fans). Panasonic makes a series of bathroom fans that are energy star certified and are adjustable from 40 or so to over 100CFM. That would probably be your best bet - and just have it run constantly - this way you never build up the moisture or heat in the first place. I would size it based on whether you have the halide or LED. In that small of a space it will make ALL the difference on your cooling load. So if you have any doubt - better to upsize to a variable speed fan capable of about 100CFM. Some of these models are even standard with a light if you do not have light in your closet yet! ;D

Any other questions let me know!

Good luck!

 

I should also add that I would HIGHLY advise against getting a chiller for that room. You are really just making the chiller make more work for itself. That room is so small and the chiller will not be exchanging air that is cool enough for the unit to run well. It will not work or you would have so greatly oversize it that it would be again, counterproductive.

 

Very true,not to mention,the condenser from the chiller will also be adding even more heat to the allready hot and humid room.You could also simply use a through the wall exhuast fan pulling humidity and temp out.A 1 inch gap under your door would allow enough cooled return air from the house.Next best thing would be to use a window a/c through the wall to the outside,this would help greatly with dehumidification as well as temp,but it will also suck up water like a sponge,you'll need to allways have plenty of water on hand.

 

Thank you for your input. I think I will going with a small ac unit and a ceiling exhaust fan. The problem with running ceiling fan without AC is that on hot days it will not remove any heat from room as exterior temp will be just as hot as interior temp. The interior air will get exchanged by exterior air as this room has no way to get air from main house. It's entrance is from the outside.

So the plan is that on hot days the AC will keep temps down to 78 or so and hopefully keep humidity low as well so the ceiling fan does not have to turn on. If ceiling fan turns on because humidity is too high it will be pushing cold humid air outside in exchange for hot dry air which would be counterproductive. On cold days or night time the ac will never have to run and the ceiling fan will keep humidity down. I would rather have it only turn on to keep humidity at 45% or so. That way my heaters wont need to turn on as much when it is cold outside.

Also, I think i might just run the 400w halide when the DT halides are off and it is cool outside. The DT is 200g w/ 2 400w halides + actinics. Then i wont need many heaters. I do have a small 1/10hp jbj chiller from my old tank I might setup just in case i don't want to run the ac in my house when i'm not home. You are right putting the chiller in that room is pointless. I was going to put it in the pantry of my house where the air wont be as hot and humid so i can get some results from it. I used it on my 100g tank before i setup a large fan that turns on when tank gets too hot. The chiller was overkill for my 100g tank, i didn't like that it would drop temp of tank too fast. Then tank would heat up again. Then it would drop tank again by 2 in like 5 min. So temp would constantly fluctuate. This was also while my house temp was around 88.

 

Sounds like a well thought out plan