Aquarium Fans

**beetlejuice403** · 14th May 2009, 18:08

Hi all,

really unlucky day - both my Aquarium Fans for 2 tanks broke down on the same day [One was a 1st-hand Dymax W4; the other was a 2nd-hand Sunon]...

Also don't know what is spoilt being a electrical nerd also...(No smoke or burning smell detected - just stopped suddenly...)

Just like to check with the rest roughly the lifespan of these products? I'm using them 24/7, can't remember if got longer than 1 year... Anyone with similar experiences?

Do you think it's possible to 'repair' or troubleshoot the problems? If not, only can go down to get new ones this weekends (have to throw in ice cubes in the meanwhile to cool down the tanks' temperature...

). Anyone knows of the place to get these fans at the best prices please share with me?

Thanks in advance for reading.

Regards.

PS: My fauna & flora are now feeling very hot & 'sweating' profusely in my tanks as their fans are down...

**carlfsk** · 14th May 2009, 20:03

I have been using fan for quite a few years and non have given me problem. Only one is the Sunon which fails to turn when I on it. But when I spin the blade, it works again...it just need a helping hand to kick start.

**MADMichael** · 14th May 2009, 21:23

Nature Aquarium @ Thomson (opp Thomson Med Hosp) sells fans at very reasonable prices.
But please note, fans are not meant for 24/7 operation. Submersible pumps can because they are bath in a natural coolant and lubricator, water. Fans aren't. So they do need a break once a while. Did U consider hooking ur fan and lights together with a timer. When the light's ON(source of heat) , fan is ON.
Even with this operation, my fans still do breakdown sometimes, nothing is perfect.
Unless you are getting high reliability computer server fans (cost a bomb!!!), now that's some else.

**Shadow** · 14th May 2009, 21:36

is it AC or DC fan? If it is DC, check whether the adaptor still working. One of the possibility is the wire inside the fan rusted/oxidise. Hapen to all my DIY fan. After a while it just stop and when opened the wire break. I can see the trace of oxidation.

**beetlejuice403** · 15th May 2009, 00:16

Originally Posted by carlfsk

I have been using fan for quite a few years and non have given me problem. Only one is the Sunon which fails to turn when I on it. But when I spin the blade, it works again...it just need a helping hand to kick start.

Thanks carlfsk, looks like the Sunon one a bit unstable hor (based on my personal interpretation only...)... Had tried to give it a good spin with power on, but still unable to work leh... Maybe next time I'll give it a harder "KICK-start" to spin again...

Originally Posted by MADMichael

Nature Aquarium @ Thomson (opp Thomson Med Hosp) sells fans at very reasonable prices.
But please note, fans are not meant for 24/7 operation. Submersible pumps can because they are bath in a natural coolant and lubricator, water. Fans aren't. So they do need a break once a while. Did U consider hooking ur fan and lights together with a timer. When the light's ON(source of heat) , fan is ON.
Even with this operation, my fans still do breakdown sometimes, nothing is perfect.
Unless you are getting high reliability computer server fans (cost a bomb!!!), now that's some else.

Thanks Michael, was thinking of visiting Thomson (either NA or Colourful on this weekends also if worse comes to worse after all the spin & kickstarts still fail...). Ok, looks like I may have 'overworked' my fans then... Will take your advice to hook it up to a timer with my lights the next time... DIY-ed fans are not within my limited knowledge and skills...

Originally Posted by Shadow

is it AC or DC fan? If it is DC, check whether the adaptor still working. One of the possibility is the wire inside the fan rusted/oxidise. Hapen to all my DIY fan. After a while it just stop and when opened the wire break. I can see the trace of oxidation.

Thanks Shadow, good question on AC/ DC... Let me answer your question in my layman, electrical-nerd terms: The Sunon one is the one that just have a 2-pin plug direct into the power socket; The Dymax W4 one states DC 12V, but it has those connectors & also a very bulky (which I suspect is a transformer - hope I get the term correct...) 2-pin that can be plugged into the power socket... Phew! So much for just saying if it's AC/DC...

Had tried to open up the fans, but the furthest I'd gone is to wipe & remove the dirts on the blades, covers etc... As for the wires, looks all the same to me...

As mentioned above, DIY-ed fans are not within my knowledge ability & unless I want to cause an electrical short-circuit fire in my house, think I'll prefer to pay a bit more bu buying those off-the-rack commercial aquarium fans...

**unclerobin** · 15th May 2009, 00:35

Originally Posted by beetlejuice403

Hi all,

really unlucky day - both my Aquarium Fans for 2 tanks broke down on the same day [One was a 1st-hand Dymax W4; the other was a 2nd-hand Sunon]...

Also don't know what is spoilt being a electrical nerd also...(No smoke or burning smell detected - just stopped suddenly...)

Just like to check with the rest roughly the lifespan of these products? I'm using them 24/7, can't remember if got longer than 1 year... Anyone with similar experiences?

Do you think it's possible to 'repair' or troubleshoot the problems? If not, only can go down to get new ones this weekends (have to throw in ice cubes in the meanwhile to cool down the tanks' temperature...

). Anyone knows of the place to get these fans at the best prices please share with me?

Thanks in advance for reading.

Regards.

PS: My fauna & flora are now feeling very hot & 'sweating' profusely in my tanks as their fans are down...

bro,
been long time you not posting
i got 2 unit of fan in my storeroom . used but good condition, foc for you

**Jimmy** · 15th May 2009, 08:48

Originally Posted by MADMichael

Nature Aquarium @ Thomson (opp Thomson Med Hosp) sells fans at very reasonable prices.
But please note, fans are not meant for 24/7 operation. Submersible pumps can because they are bath in a natural coolant and lubricator, water. Fans aren't. So they do need a break once a while. Did U consider hooking ur fan and lights together with a timer. When the light's ON(source of heat) , fan is ON.
Even with this operation, my fans still do breakdown sometimes, nothing is perfect.
Unless you are getting high reliability computer server fans (cost a bomb!!!), now that's some else.

Hi, why hook up fan with light with timer? Won't the water temperature goes up if the fan is off?

**Shadow** · 15th May 2009, 08:55

agree, typically you turn on your fan 24 hours because unlike chiller, it take a while for fan to cool down the water.

**es88k** · 15th May 2009, 10:07

Originally Posted by beetlejuice403

(have to throw in ice cubes in the meanwhile to cool down the tanks' temperature...

).

Try not to do so, I would suggest that before you get your fan up and working, clean a 300ml or 500ml bottle with cap and make ice with it. Once ice is form, put in the whole bottle (can recycle as well). Try not to put ice direcly into your tank, the ice that you make from the tap water contain clorine (not condition) that may harm your live stocks in your tank if you keep on adding ice.

Unless your water source is free from what ever chemical, like DI water.

EK

**BFG** · 15th May 2009, 15:24

If you want to use ice, make a PYKRETE. Google it, last longer than a typical ice.

**beetlejuice403** · 16th May 2009, 14:52

Originally Posted by BFG

If you want to use ice, make a PYKRETE. Google it, last longer than a typical ice.

Thanks BFG, will google for it... Wow, looks like some kind of "Nuclear" project...

Originally Posted by es88k

Try not to do so, I would suggest that before you get your fan up and working, clean a 300ml or 500ml bottle with cap and make ice with it. Once ice is form, put in the whole bottle (can recycle as well). Try not to put ice direcly into your tank, the ice that you make from the tap water contain clorine (not condition) that may harm your live stocks in your tank if you keep on adding ice.

Unless your water source is free from what ever chemical, like DI water.

EK

Thanks EK, will do so as advised...

But will need those small bottles as mine are those 1 feet & smaller tanks...

Originally Posted by Shadow

agree, typically you turn on your fan 24 hours because unlike chiller, it take a while for fan to cool down the water.

Originally Posted by Jimmy

Hi, why hook up fan with light with timer? Won't the water temperature goes up if the fan is off?

Thanks Shadow & Jimmy, maybe will try to see results of temperature range & fluctuation if I don't on 24/7 when I get my new fans...

Originally Posted by unclerobin

bro,
been long time you not posting
i got 2 unit of fan in my storeroom . used but good condition, foc for you

Hi Robin, yup, long time since I came in here... Busy like hell lately... How are you & your tanks? Stock-take, how many tanks are you having in your house now?!? LOL!!!

Thanks for your kindness & great offer, but do you still have any need for the 2 of the fan units? I'm looking for those smaller or more compact ones as for my 1 feet & smaller tanks... Let me know if you really have no need for them & I'll arrange to collect from you one of this days at a token sum that you deem fit. Don't want to let you be at a disadvantage.... Thanks a million.

**unclerobin** · 17th May 2009, 20:55

hi francis

deeply poison, so far got a 3 footer, 2.5 footer and a 1.5 footer in my hall

and another 9 1footer in my balcony..

btw those fan are in my store for quite some time which include those smaller type for your 1ft tank
just give me a call when can you collect them

**Nic73** · 17th May 2009, 22:17

Originally Posted by MADMichael

Nature Aquarium @ Thomson (opp Thomson Med Hosp) sells fans at very reasonable prices.
But please note, fans are not meant for 24/7 operation. Submersible pumps can because they are bath in a natural coolant and lubricator, water. Fans aren't. So they do need a break once a while. Did U consider hooking ur fan and lights together with a timer. When the light's ON(source of heat) , fan is ON.
Even with this operation, my fans still do breakdown sometimes, nothing is perfect.
Unless you are getting high reliability computer server fans (cost a bomb!!!), now that's some else.

Agree....NA is good place for planted stuffs....as for fishes and shrimps, Colourful (2 shops away) seems to be better choice