Tilting a DIY fan at an angle on a 5-Plan tank

**valice** · 4th Jul 2006, 13:55

Anyone has a picture of how to DIY a stand for a fan so that it could be tilted at an angle and yet be used on a FivePlan tank?

The problem lies with the black plastic bracing around the tank which prevents normal clamps to be used... Placing the fan face down does not generate the optimal cooling effect as that of a tilted fan...

Any ideas to share?

**AquaObsession** · 4th Jul 2006, 20:42

Placing the fan face down does not generate the optimal cooling effect as that of a tilted fan...

I would not say so. Look at NA tanks being cooled in this way. Now in my tank, it put it face down completely. So, in my personal views, it does not matter that much.

Face down is even better as it is less noticeable than at an angle.

**tawauboy** · 4th Jul 2006, 21:59

placing the fan face down can cool the tank well. however, water surface turbulence may be greater. why not give it a try.

**MIZU** · 4th Jul 2006, 22:20

i am facing this problem also as mine also a fiveplan tank

**valice** · 5th Jul 2006, 00:43

Originally Posted by tawauboy

placing the fan face down can cool the tank well. however, water surface turbulence may be greater. why not give it a try.

but the fan blocks off quite abit of light if I intend to change the fan to a 120mm one instead of my current 80mm fan... My tank temperature currently has a temp of about 28deg using the 80mm... My other tank (2x1ftx1.5ft), using a 120mm fan, tilted at an angle has a temp of about 26.5...

So intend to change the fan to a 120mm one... Suggestions?

**xtrekker** · 5th Jul 2006, 00:46

something like this ? 120mm x 120mm fan rated at 12VDC , 0.8A . Its mounted on a hinge to allow atriculation of the fan to the desired angle.

**valice** · 5th Jul 2006, 00:48

Hmm... can show the other side?
I see a bracing... will be interesting if you clip below the bracing instead of above the bracing...

**xtrekker** · 5th Jul 2006, 01:12

Here's the side view....

**valice** · 5th Jul 2006, 09:04

xtrekker, how wide is the aluminium bracket you used as the base? I think I need at least a gap of about 1 inch so that it could be fixed onto a 5-Plan tank...

**xtrekker** · 5th Jul 2006, 13:03

In another version , i have it clipped on to the bracing. I did a fan clip for my friend using U-Channel Aluminium profile to be secured onto his 12mm glass.

Btw , i did not see any 1" U-channel profiles in neighbourhood hardware shops.

**tawauboy** · 8th Jul 2006, 21:19

Originally Posted by xtrekker

something like this ? 120mm x 120mm fan rated at 12VDC , 0.8A . Its mounted on a hinge to allow atriculation of the fan to the desired angle.

i believe the fan noise will be loud. correct me if i am wrong.

**valice** · 8th Jul 2006, 22:19

Nope... It is pretty quiet for mine...

**tawauboy** · 8th Jul 2006, 22:32

that's surprising.
a smaller 80x80mm 12v 0.3a is noisy enough to drive one nuts.

**xtrekker** · 9th Jul 2006, 02:18

Originally Posted by tawauboy

i believe the fan noise will be loud. correct me if i am wrong.

Very loud ! can heard it when before i enter my house .....hahha... anyway doesnot make a difference to me .. cause i am staying beside the expressway. Traffic noise would cover up the noise from the fan

cheers

**valice** · 9th Jul 2006, 11:27

Maybe because I have a high ceiling, so the noise is not reflected all over the place... But really, I can only hear the fan when I go near the tank...

Hmmm... Then again, I think it is my sponge filter in another tank that is masking all the noise with the bubbling noise created...

But I still prefer the 12x12cm fan over the 8x8cm ones... Nice waves created on the surface...

**diki** · 10th Jul 2006, 16:51

I use cloth pegs to secure them on the edge of the tank. However, you cannot achieve more than 30 degrees (around there) with this solution. This is what I have now with 80mm single fans.