How to install Fans under canopy

[MarkW]

I have a 125 gallon tank with Compact Flourescent light underneath the
canopy. I have purchased a couple small fans, maybe 3 inches diameter
or so. I plan to plug them into a timer and run them during the day
when the lights are on. My question, what is the best way to mount
these?
I assume one towards each end but do you want them blowing into the
canopy or out of it or one one way, one the other?
Most of all, hwo do you physically mount these under a canopy? I know
I'd mount them towards the back but they are a square with just black
plastic and a screw towards each corner holding the front onto the
fan. I just can't figure out if I need a bracket or what to use.
Thanks for any help.

[Splitskull]

IMO the best way is to suck the hot air out. All of them. How to mount them?
Really depends on how much space you have. I screw them inside the canopy.
No brackets nothing. I'm just curious....from where do you take the current
for the fans?


"MarkW" <markwco*remove to > wrote in message
...
> I have a 125 gallon tank with Compact Flourescent light underneath the
> canopy. I have purchased a couple small fans, maybe 3 inches diameter
> or so. I plan to plug them into a timer and run them during the day
> when the lights are on. My question, what is the best way to mount
> these?
> I assume one towards each end but do you want them blowing into the
> canopy or out of it or one one way, one the other?
> Most of all, hwo do you physically mount these under a canopy? I know
> I'd mount them towards the back but they are a square with just black
> plastic and a screw towards each corner holding the front onto the
> fan. I just can't figure out if I need a bracket or what to use.
> Thanks for any help.

[PaulB]

I would mount them blowing in. The reason is that they can blow directly
onto the surface of the water, and they will last longer, being subjected to
less humidity and salt water mist.

On my new 180 I plan on mounting them one each end of the canopy , blowing
in horizontally (2 Icecap variable speed fans).

If my canopy was constructed differently, I would put them in the top,
blowing down onto the surface of the water.




"MarkW" <markwco*remove to > wrote in message
...
> I have a 125 gallon tank with Compact Flourescent light underneath the
> canopy. I have purchased a couple small fans, maybe 3 inches diameter
> or so. I plan to plug them into a timer and run them during the day
> when the lights are on. My question, what is the best way to mount
> these?
> I assume one towards each end but do you want them blowing into the
> canopy or out of it or one one way, one the other?
> Most of all, hwo do you physically mount these under a canopy? I know
> I'd mount them towards the back but they are a square with just black
> plastic and a screw towards each corner holding the front onto the
> fan. I just can't figure out if I need a bracket or what to use.
> Thanks for any help.
>

[Splitskull]

Paul... depending on your temp in da room you will heat your aquarium quite
a bit.

"PaulB" > wrote in message
. ..
> I would mount them blowing in. The reason is that they can blow directly
> onto the surface of the water, and they will last longer, being subjected
to
> less humidity and salt water mist.
>
> On my new 180 I plan on mounting them one each end of the canopy , blowing
> in horizontally (2 Icecap variable speed fans).
>
> If my canopy was constructed differently, I would put them in the top,
> blowing down onto the surface of the water.
>
>
>
>
> "MarkW" <markwco*remove to > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have a 125 gallon tank with Compact Flourescent light underneath the
> > canopy. I have purchased a couple small fans, maybe 3 inches diameter
> > or so. I plan to plug them into a timer and run them during the day
> > when the lights are on. My question, what is the best way to mount
> > these?
> > I assume one towards each end but do you want them blowing into the
> > canopy or out of it or one one way, one the other?
> > Most of all, hwo do you physically mount these under a canopy? I know
> > I'd mount them towards the back but they are a square with just black
> > plastic and a screw towards each corner holding the front onto the
> > fan. I just can't figure out if I need a bracket or what to use.
> > Thanks for any help.
> >
>
>

[Simon O'Keeffe]

Cooling is increased many times with evaporative cooling.
So have the air blowing in and aim it at the fasted moving surface water
in your tank.
Some 5" ducting and a flange (that suits most fans) and you can have the
fan where ever you like and still hav ethe air blowing on the water.
This works very well and has saved me heaps on chilling costs over the
years.
A single 5" fan and some ducting keeps my enclosed 4x2x2 tanks with over
1000w of MH in each under 30 degrees C when air temps are in the 40s, so
that's a 10 degree drop in temp (not including the extra heat from the
large wattage lights (one bulb is 1000w and only 6 inches above the water)).
The humidity here gets quite high too (which inhibits the evaporative
cooling effect) so if your area is less humid you could probably count
on even more cooling than 10 degrees.
Good luck.
Simon

Splitskull wrote:

>Paul... depending on your temp in da room you will heat your aquarium quite
>a bit.
>
>"PaulB" > wrote in message
. ..
>
>
>>I would mount them blowing in. The reason is that they can blow directly
>>onto the surface of the water, and they will last longer, being subjected
>>
>>
>to
>
>
>>less humidity and salt water mist.
>>
>>On my new 180 I plan on mounting them one each end of the canopy , blowing
>>in horizontally (2 Icecap variable speed fans).
>>
>>If my canopy was constructed differently, I would put them in the top,
>>blowing down onto the surface of the water.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>"MarkW" <markwco*remove to > wrote in message
...
>>
>>
>>>I have a 125 gallon tank with Compact Flourescent light underneath the
>>>canopy. I have purchased a couple small fans, maybe 3 inches diameter
>>>or so. I plan to plug them into a timer and run them during the day
>>>when the lights are on. My question, what is the best way to mount
>>>these?
>>>I assume one towards each end but do you want them blowing into the
>>>canopy or out of it or one one way, one the other?
>>>Most of all, hwo do you physically mount these under a canopy? I know
>>>I'd mount them towards the back but they are a square with just black
>>>plastic and a screw towards each corner holding the front onto the
>>>fan. I just can't figure out if I need a bracket or what to use.
>>>Thanks for any help.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

[MarkW]

I actually have two sets of fans I bought, one is 3" which I was going
to use, the other 4 1/2". I think I'll probably install one fan on
each side of the canopy. The 4 1/2" fans will be a little harder to
install as well as be louder so if I can get by with 3" I'd like it.

Once again, this is a 125 gallon tank. Should I go with the 4 1/2" or
is 3" enough? I know I could try 3" and then later make the holes
larger but I'd rather do this only once.

As well, I know the evaporation is important to cooling but how much
will installing these fans increase evaporation? I tend to add around
5 gallons of water to my fishtank weekly.

Also, I have looked at some pictures and it appears I simply need to
drill a hole where the fan will be installed, 3 to 4 1/2 inches. What
type of tool does this best?

Thanks again for your help.

[MarkW]

I forgot to add this as well but I plan to only run the fans when I
use the lights, probably more so when I use the regular daylight
lights, not the actinics. Is this what most people do?

[Simon O'Keeffe]

Some section or another of my tank is lighted 24/7 so during the summer
I run either 1 or 2 fans 24/7 depending on the ambient air temp.
Once we are in real summer 30 degrees C + then both fans stay on a for
months.
Simon

MarkW wrote:

>I forgot to add this as well but I plan to only run the fans when I
>use the lights, probably more so when I use the regular daylight
>lights, not the actinics. Is this what most people do?
>
>