Water beading up on my tank hood

Either way, fans are definitely better than no fans.. I'm sure either way would work. They only thing I'm debating is what would be more efficient. A part of me says a steady stream running lenthwise across the whole lid would be more beneficial and another part says the way your wanting to do it would be more beneficial since heat rises anyways. (as far as cooling) but as far as humidity I think either way would work since your moving air. The only reason I keep mentioning cooling is because once your light fixture is putting out heat, each power head, return pump, skimmer pump, reactor pump( if you use one) all adds heat.. I have to keep my house at 71 to keep my tank at 78.9 and that is with me not running a canopy, just an open top.

 

One fan will do it – all you need to do is vent the area under the lid to match that air with the ambient room levels. I don’t suggest glass lids albeit a viable solution to your current challenge. Solid lids will prohibit your tank from air to water contact for much needed gas exchange (unless you have a large open sump – then go for the lids as fans do add to room noise levels)

I suspect with your current set up and no fan you are not achieving good gas exchange since the co2 is building up under the hood. I wonder, what is your PH ?

CO2 build up pushes PH down, having good air to water “exchanges” that CO2 (removing it). This is the same principle as to why we breath, our bodies need to degas. Example, hold your breath until you can’t any longer you know flat out that its time to breath, but rather than exhale and breath hard – just start to exhale slowly and you will see that you don’t need that breath as rapidly as you thought. As you exhale the CO2 is leaving your lungs (blood stream) and your feeling better – same with the tank. Air is vital.

 

My sump dumps the water about 6" before the water level and has bio balls, from there it goes over a baffle before returning to the tank. My overflow level is about 6" lower than the tank level so i think there is sufficient air exchange. The PH is sitting at 8.2 right now.

I have 2 spare computer fans, anyone know how to safely wire them up to the 4pin connectors?

 

Cool - just checking ask about condensation and get CO2 and PH ... it's how my noodle works ! lol can't really help you wire the fan - but I am sure others here can help you out. good luck with the install !

 

Thanks!

 

Any idea what size fans?

 

I'd suggest 4"