Cooling fans in Hood

[atnixon]

Hello all...Am just about finished the construction of my new hood and i was wondering what peoples thoughts were as to where the cooling fans should be located...

I am going to be using 4 80mm computer fans..2 at one sucking in, 2 at the opposite end blowing out..

My question is...Should they be above the halide lights, or below them?

Niko

 

[mr_X]

i am thinking even with the bulbs or below them between the bulbs and the water.

 

[atnixon]

Hey there X...Cheers fot the reply..

Am i right in thinking that if the fans are below the lights ( between light and water ) is there going to be a bigish increase in evap? or have i got that wrong??

Also thinking that if they are above the lights, heat rises and then would be sorted by the fans?

What are your thoughts mate?

Niko

 

[mr_X]

i don't think above the bulbs will give you enough cooling, but i'm no authority on this. yes, evap will happen, but i noticed a tremendous drop in evap since the weather got colder here. i keep the room alittle colder now and THAT is what altered the evaporation, i never moved the fan. you might ask someone more experienced than me bro.

 

[atnixon]

No mate, i trust your judgement after your "science projects", you've far more experience than me mate....Thanks for your input here X

Niko

 

[Anonymous]

the fans blowing on the water will increase evaporation.

If you have 2 fans on the other end sucking out air, it will be moist salty air.

They'll wear out a lot quicker than the ones blowing in.

If you canopy isn't fully closed (like it has an open back) put all 4 fans blowing in. The air will vent where it can.

B

 

[mr_X]

my fan blows directly on the bulbs from one side of the tank to the other. it's not aimed at the water, but the bulbs. of course, the air does hit the water when it pans out some.
i have the 125 and a 75 sump, both are topless, as you know. i get 3 gallons a day now. (in the summer i get about 8 8O ). my cooling fan consists of a plain old 12 inch table top fan. very cheap to replace :wink:
the idea of all fans blowing inward sounds pretty logical. saltwater is pretty corrosive.

 

[bleedingthought]

I wouldn't have the fans directly on the bulbs. If it were me, I would do all four blowing in (like Bingo said) because air will escape the hood (if you have openings) and they would all be between the lights and the water. All the heat that the bulbs are creating will usually sit between the bulbs and the water. If you had openings on the top of the hood, that means that all of the hood would be ventilated and new air would constantly be brought in.

I had a fan blowing salt air through it and it went out after 4 months. Something to think about.

 

[spaulr]

Why not make 3 openings in the back of the canopy? 2 for fans to blow in fresh cool air and 1 for the hot air to exhaust out of. You could put screen door material over the "out" port to block most of the light. I did this on my canopy and all is good. I forked out and bougth 2 ice cap fans. I got tired of replacing computer fans.

 

[spaulr]

Didn't read the entire post about you wanting to use 4 fans. Sorry. I wouldn't have any blow air out. The fans will get trashed FAST. I put the 2 fans I have on the back side. That way the side of the canopy is clean. How big is your canopy? Post a pic of your light setup inside the canopy so we can get a better idea of what you're thinking.

 

[atnixon]

Cheers for all the comments...giving me lots of ideas and ifferent ways...

spaulr - here is a picture of the hood i have just built...Pic aint very good as i taken it on my camera..Also, the front of the hood is lifted off so you can see the inside of it...

Niko

 

[atnixon]

Ok then...here is a thought..Shall i put two at each end of the hood, blowing in...in the gap between the lights and water...its an open top hood, so all hot air should rise out through there? Whats people's thoughts on that idea...????

Niko

 

[bleedingthought]

Ok then...here is a thought..Shall i put two at each end of the hood, blowing in...in the gap between the lights and water...its an open top hood, so all hot air should rise out through there? Whats people's thoughts on that idea...????

Niko

Perfect!

 

[atnixon]

fantastico...sounds like a plan to me...Cheers matey..

Niko

 

[Anonymous]

I have 2 3 in fans. One blowing in and the other out. I also have a 6 in clip on fan blowing across the water surface to help cool the tank.

 

[MajorJoey]

Liike The Real Madrid Jersey Over the tank t00 !