fan placement / fixture placement question

2779 Views 21 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Brian317, Feb 13, 2012

Brian317

Discussion Starter · Feb 3, 2012

Hey all !

So here is my dilemma,

I want to lower the temp on the top of my tank (55 gallon). I have a zoomed HOT5 fixture with 2 non-HO 6500k lights (overall cooler than the HO's) and the top of my tank hits around low 80's, while the bottom is around mid 70's.

Now there is about an inch, inch and 1/2 between the fixture and glass top. Now with the zoomed fixture, it mounts to the lip of the tank and it is as high as I can get it. My first idea is to get a busted tank, take the top molding off and install that on my tank somehow so it can be raised off more. I'm really brain-farting with this one, maybe some other ways to do this? This seems like the better option, but I need it to look clean, as this is in my living room.

Other option, cpu fans. I'm not a electrician, but seems simple enough. I am looking at possibly 2 40mm cpu fans.

This:
Delta 40mm 5VDC Fan AFB0405LD-R00-The Electronic Goldmine

With this power:
12VDC 1200mA Adapter-The Electronic Goldmine
or
Heavy Duty Adapter - 12VDC 800mA-The Electronic Goldmine

But now the issue, where to place them? I was either thinking one on each end blowing over the top...or both in the middle, blowing outward. How long should they stay on?

My tank in question:

Note: That is not a real frog in the last 2 photos

I've been bouncing ideas around, but I've been lacking my creative abilities lately, so if you have any ideas, please let me know. I just want to be prepared.

I appreciate you looking and reading. Thanks
-Brian

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Brian317

Discussion Starter · #2 · Feb 4, 2012

Hmm, maybe on my own I suppose.

Well after pondering, I think I will build a wood frame to sit the light fixture on. Get a few lumber boards ( 1/2" X 1" or 2") and make something a bit higher, but only 3 sides (back and left/right sides) so I can still get in easy to feed/ect. I'll have to take some measurements when I get home, but what would be best height wise to reduce heat? should I increase height by 1 or 2 inches? What temp difference can I expect per inch?

Johno2090

· #3 · Feb 4, 2012 (Edited)

Just off the top of my head I know you can buy cooling fans that clip on the side for aquariums. They would be great to cool the heat produced by the bulbs and ballasts. Will see if I can find a quick link to some.

http://www.firststopaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/Azoo_Fans.html this is an example of what I mean, sure it would be useful and looks ok too!

Brian317

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 4, 2012

Hmm, those look interesting. I could just mount to the back of the tank and point them towards the bulbs/ballasts. That could work ! I just need to find them here in the US though

Thanks for the post

DemonicalEnvy

· #5 · Feb 4, 2012

Other option, cpu fans. I'm not a electrician, but seems simple enough. I am looking at possibly 2 40mm cpu fans.

i would think without cooling the lights first would only make it worse if you did use internal CPU fans because they will only move the air around inside the tank and possible heating the WHOLE tank to 80 degrees. I know you can find little fans at Menards, homedepot, Walgreens, Walmart and place them behind the light and blow air under the bulbs. I think the one from Walgreens would be better. Like i said the inside CPU fans dont make sense if the lights are still going to heat up the top of the viv and then just circulate the hot air around the viv and possible make the whole tank heat up

Walmart: Walmart.com: Atlantic 6'' Personal Clip-On Fan in Light Gray: Heating, Cooling, & Air Quality

Walgreens: Sylvania High-Velocity Fan 4 inch | Walgreens

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Brian317

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 4, 2012

I did not plan to use the cpu fans for inside, was going to use them on the actual fixture. I have been looking at those actually...just not sure if one would do the trick or if I should get 2 (one for each side of the 55g).

Nobody has fans in stock this time of year (trust me I have looked, all carry heaters now) but if I could find a small personal fan that would drop to top temp a few degrees, I'd be a happy camper.

Do you think raising the fixture an inch or two would have an significant impact on the heat transfer to the tank? Still pondering that idea...

james67

· #7 · Feb 4, 2012

using the fan you linked, with the power supply you linked will almost certainly cause a fire or catastrophic failure of the fan.

james

james67

· #8 · Feb 4, 2012

these are available for less than $10 at target. hook it up to your light timer and face it down so that it pushes air between the lamp and tank

james

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Brian317

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 4, 2012

james67 said:
using the fan you linked, with the power supply you linked will almost certainly cause a fire or catastrophic failure of the fan.

james

...awesome...this is why I ask alot of questions hah

james67 said:
these are available for less than $10 at target. hook it up to your light timer and face it down so that it pushes air between the lamp and tank

james

I'm sure I can order one online, all my local stores dont sell fans till spring rolls around. Looks perfect. 2 quick questions

Would you think just one of these fans will do the job or should I use two due to the size of the fixture/tank?

and

I have a plastic divider (splash guard if you will) on the fixture, should I take this off so the air reaches the lamps? Kinda a dumb question, but just wanna cover it all.

Thank you very much all for the assistance

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flyingSquirrel

· #10 · Feb 4, 2012

Others with more experience could confirm or deny some of the more unsure points here:
Raising the lights will result in light fall off. If you have plants at the lower portions of the tank you should consider that.
Cooling a light fixture with fans is recommended in some cases. I would mount one fAn at the end of the fixture blowing in,and one on other side blowing out that will get some real exchange going. There's a good video by user: james67 on these forums with excellent instructions. On laymans fan assemblies. It helped me. If you also do fans inside the tank there are plenty of other drawbacks. Search around a bit on the forums for fans air circulation etc. btw for a tank you size you'd need larger fans. The 2 40mm just won't cut it
amazon.com has lots of supplies

james67

· #11 · Feb 4, 2012

Brian317 said:
Would you think just one of these fans will do the job or should I use two due to the size of the fixture/tank?

and

I have a plastic divider (splash guard if you will) on the fixture, should I take this off so the air reaches the lamps? Kinda a dumb question, but just wanna cover it all.

Thank you very much all for the assistance

one should be fine. think of it this way. your simply trying to move air between the light and tank so that instead of the air heating up and the glass top getting warm, your replacing it with cool fresh air constantly. this should knock temps down a few degrees.

flyingSquirrel said:
There's a good video by user: james67 on these forums with excellent instructions. The 2 40mm just won't cut it

funny, i remember james67 showing 40mm fans in that video....

it depends on the fan your using. the 40mms i use push 24cfm at max power. 2 of those might be overkill for a 55. and now delta has come out with a new line (louder and unavailable yet) which push 27cfm out of a 40mm (18K rpm!)

james

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Brian317

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 4, 2012

Sounds great and that is what I need. I'll look today when I get off work.....and sleep that is. I'll check out Amazon too, they usually have some good priced items.

Thanks for the help !

flyingSquirrel

· #13 · Feb 5, 2012

james67 said:
funny, i remember james67 showing 40mm fans in that video....
it depends on the fan your using. the 40mms i use push 24cfm at max power. 2 of those might be overkill for a 55. and now delta has come out with a new line (louder and unavailable yet) which push 27cfm out of a 40mm (18K rpm!)
james

Ah yes, sorry. I didn't know what I was saying...Note to self: don't take a sleeping pill and then try to give advice on a forum. Apologies to everybody here for that slip up

And btw, wow, those are some crazy 40mm fans! Damn, I can't believe the cfms on those tiny fans. Apparently I made a mistake when I bought 2x 40mm that are only 5cfms..

james67

· #14 · Feb 5, 2012

no need to be sorry. its all good.

james

crittermom

· #15 · Feb 6, 2012

I just recently built a small 18 gallon tank, and am using 4 18 inch t5ho bulbs over it and was dealing with the same issue. I built a "hood" with 3 sides, like you mentioned and my light sits on some "risers" just inside the frame. Since I had lights already in a fixture, I couldn't use them inside a true hood, so this was the only thing I could think of to make it look nice. I then use computer fans to blow acrross the glass to cool it. It looks really clean, and it has to to be in our living room (according to hubby) and I actually really like that it blocks the light from coming out the front and blinding you when you look at it. Then, I have to lift the light fixture off to work on the tank, but the hood stays in place and the glass can lift up with it on. I'm definately no carpenter, but it was really simple, and I plan on making one for my pentagon tank as well. I'll try to post a pic when I get home tonight.

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Rusty_Shackleford

· #16 · Feb 6, 2012

Hey Brian, if it were me I would try to build a frame or something along those lines first. If you design it right you may have the option of lowering the lights in winter and raising them in the summer. If you're still looking for fans here is a site I bought some from last year. I bought some AZOO fans, which I don't see listed on this page. Hope this helps.

Petstore - Search Results for Cooling Fans&modaf=

Brian317

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 6, 2012

crittermom said:
I just recently built a small 18 gallon tank, and am using 4 18 inch t5ho bulbs over it and was dealing with the same issue. I built a "hood" with 3 sides, like you mentioned and my light sits on some "risers" just inside the frame. Since I had lights already in a fixture, I couldn't use them inside a true hood, so this was the only thing I could think of to make it look nice. I then use computer fans to blow acrross the glass to cool it. It looks really clean, and it has to to be in our living room (according to hubby) and I actually really like that it blocks the light from coming out the front and blinding you when you look at it. Then, I have to lift the light fixture off to work on the tank, but the hood stays in place and the glass can lift up with it on. I'm definately no carpenter, but it was really simple, and I plan on making one for my pentagon tank as well. I'll try to post a pic when I get home tonight.

That is exactly what I was planning to do, and may still try even if I get fans. If you have the time to post up a few pics, I would be thankful !

Rusty_Shackleford said:
Hey Brian, if it were me I would try to build a frame or something along those lines first. If you design it right you may have the option of lowering the lights in winter and raising them in the summer. If you're still looking for fans here is a site I bought some from last year. I bought some AZOO fans, which I don't see listed on this page. Hope this helps.

Petstore - Search Results for Cooling Fans&modaf=

Yo !

I'm going to see what all I'd need to build one, as I may still try to build something along with getting fans as well. Just a few pieces of lumber, should not be TOO bad....I think hah.

I was looking at AZOO fans. I'm bidding on one now, hopefully I get it and try it out. Seems like a safer way to do it.

Rusty_Shackleford

· #18 · Feb 6, 2012

Brian317 said:
I was looking at AZOO fans. I'm bidding on one now, hopefully I get it and try it out. Seems like a safer way to do it.

I like my AZOO fans. They work nice. I wish they would make them reversible though, at the flick of a switch I mean. I hope you pay less for yours than I did for mine.

crittermom

· #19 · Feb 6, 2012

Here's the front view of my hood/fixture stand. I'll take some pics tomorrow of how the inside is built.

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crittermom

· #20 · Feb 6, 2012

Here is the inside of the hood. The light fixture actually just sits on the little inside "risers". It fits perfectly, and can't fall in, then since they are thin enough, I can still raise the glass door. You could make the risers any height, and next time, I'll probably use wider wood for the trim part so that the light actually looks hidden inside. This way is not adjustable at all, but so far it works for me! Good luck, and please post pictures of however you decide to do it!

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