Cooling techniques for tank

[smeagol]

Hi guys, I've been exploring some methods to cool the tank that I currently have. My current set-up is a 1 feet tank with a normal 3w fan running to cool the tank.

The good about this set-up is its really quite hassle free and saves me alot of money, in the sense that the fan is cheap and set-up is quiet.

However, one month into running this set-up, I feel that I might want to explore other options, and my reasons are as follows.

1) the amount of water I need to top about everyday, its about 400~500ml, which is actually quite alot. Although my fishes are not affected by the amount of new water which I introduce everyday, I felt that the rate of evaporation is indeed abit too much for my liking.

2) The temperature at which the water is maintained is not very consistent. So far, I have not gotten anywhere above 28 degrees. However, temperature varies quite abit, sometimes to 26.6, sometimes 27.5 degrees. Is this normal? The fluctuation isn't very big, but of course i think it will be good to maintain it at a consistent level.

I have been considering some options, which include buying a chiller as I might want to keep some CRS, or when I upgrade my tank to a bigger one I may transfer the chiller over too. However, from the research I have done so far, problems with a chiller include the high electricity consumption, the need for a good filter to drive it, as well as the space it occupies and noisier operation.

Has anyone used any DIY set-ups which I happened to see some peeps posted? Any advice as to how do I go about doing the DIY? Would appreciate any help! Thanks!

[Joseph*]

firstly when using a fan, the temperature you get is dependent on the ambient temperature around the tank. So as the room temperature fluctuates, so does the water temperature. so it is normal. i think there are some threads on DIY chiller in this forum. you can do a search with "DIY Chiller". if getting CRS, I do think you are right in getting chiller. And the reasons I'm not getting chiller are the same as your concerns ie space and noise. Basically for cost concern, I'm more hesitant because of the initial cost rather than the month bill.

[smeagol]

Yes I just happened to see the DIY chiller thread just now, very cool! Though my mini fridge is still being used in my hall and I won't want to do anything to it as yet.

Seriously contemplating about getting the dolphin 788 mini chiller which I saw at C328 this morning. Then again, I'm just worried about achieving normal temperature of around 27-28 degree (which is what I'm also getting with my fan now). The other plus is the top-up of water which I don't have to do, which can be quite a hassle especially when I leave the tank in my room over the weekend.

[Joseph*]

In the end, chiller is still the best option for cooling water. only 'simple' thing you have to do is to fork out money.

[davescube]

has anyone tried stwitch on the fan for 24hours? Just thinking whether it is safe to switch on them for 2 weeks?

[z_z]

Well i switch on my ista cooling fan 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. Everything is a-ok. Don't know about the electricity bill though

[smeagol]

My fan is currently on 24/7 too. But the evaporation rate is really quite high. Its only a small fan, I can only imagine fixing one more fan or a bigger one.

[Joseph*]

My fan is currently on 24/7 too. But the evaporation rate is really quite high. Its only a small fan, I can only imagine fixing one more fan or a bigger one.

i heard that even putting more fans doesn't significantly lower the temperature more. So I will not put more than 1.

[smeagol]

i heard that even putting more fans doesn't significantly lower the temperature more. So I will not put more than 1.

yea I also understand that it does not mean more fans equals cooler water. But more fans definitely mean higher evaporation rate which means topping up water more frequently!

[GER]

In the end, chiller is still the best option for cooling water. only 'simple' thing you have to do is to fork out money.

Agree with joseph.
Bro, in the end chiller is still the best option if you do not want to top up your water constantly and want constant low temperature.
In short,
chiller = low, constant temperature and no need to top up water but electricity bill to go up.
Fan= top up water constantly, save on electricity bill but water temperature will only be lower than your room temperature by 2-3 degrees.

There will always be pros n cons on chiller, fan or DIY. Main concern is we must enjoy our hobby and not let it make us ---->

[cairocks]

Agree with joseph.
.
Fan= top up water constantly, save on electricity bill but water temperature will only be lower than your room temperature by 2-3 degrees.

I could not even maintain the tank temperature lower than room temperature by 2-3 degrees last time when I use fans. Can only pull it down to room temperature because the heat from the lights actually push the temperature up.

Without fan temperature rises to around 31C, with fan, around 28 or 29C. Water keeps evapourating and messing up the parameters of the tank and got bad cases of bba everywhere. Since I switch to chiller, the tank conditions are much better controlled, plants grow better and fishes live much longer.

[k3nlim]

well, this is a cheap way i think

I use my house fan to blow across the water surface area thus cooling it down and at the same time everyone got to use the fan!

It will be better to position your tank into a spot in your house that don't get direct expose to sunlight,that will certainly helps.

[blue33]

I could not even maintain the tank temperature lower than room temperature by 2-3 degrees last time when I use fans. Can only pull it down to room temperature because the heat from the lights actually push the temperature up.

Without fan temperature rises to around 31C, with fan, around 28 or 29C. Water keeps evapourating and messing up the parameters of the tank and got bad cases of bba everywhere. Since I switch to chiller, the tank conditions are much better controlled, plants grow better and fishes live much longer.

Another method is get a fan blow the light and another fan blow the tank, that would solve your problem.

[cairocks]

Another method is get a fan blow the light and another fan blow the tank, that would solve your problem.

Ya, that time I was so crazy that I even stuck a unused computer heatsink onto the lights casing. Was even brainstorming how should I cut the casing to attach the heatsink directly to the ballast. Cannot remember did I attached a CPU fan to it though.

[luncheonMeat]

I don like the idea of the Fan, don have the budget to buy a chiller. so all i did was to add a few pieces of ice to the tank. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Tempreture kept at 28-29 deg most of the time. Well don't know if its bad or good idea but i do that anyways. Good thing i have a auto ice maker in the freezer.

[leechaorui]

Yup, I also add ice in the afternoon when it is the hotest. Comes evening, when I feel the water, I find it quite warm.

[Aquaculture]

You can't keep the temperature constant by adding ice. Your fauna is like living in Melbourne, may be cool in the morning and increase of 8 degree in a matter if hours.

[luncheonMeat]

but lowering it by less then 1 deg each time wouldn't be that bad right? i mean im not sure but considering the amount of water compared to the no. of ice cubes. im not that worried now yet because i only have otos, saes and 50 shrimps which i cant even see(don't know where they hide, buying 50 shrimps like buying 10) in my tank.
Got other ways other then using fan and chiller?

[beetlejuice403]

but lowering it by less then 1 deg each time wouldn't be that bad right? i mean im not sure but considering the amount of water compared to the no. of ice cubes. im not that worried now yet because i only have otos, saes and 50 shrimps which i cant even see(don't know where they hide, buying 50 shrimps like buying 10) in my tank.
Got other ways other then using fan and chiller?

Hi LuncheonMeat,

I'm also using fans for most of my tanks - in fact, most of it were nano ones (1-feet cubes), so no point investing in a chiller yet. However, if I were to updrage in the near future, will consider getting a chiller for better control & less fluctuations of temperature though...

Agree fully that fans are only able to cool a few degrees down & alot depends on the surrounding room temperature where the tank is placed. Evaporation rate is damn high especially on HOT days like these few days... To me, fan is good as it helps to 'disturb' my tank's water surface & hence less chance of mosquitoes breeding in the tank...

As for the 'ice cubes' method to cool tank, not really that encourageable as imagine the faunas living inside the tank: Subjected to low temperature for a few hours (with ice), then resubjected to higher temperature (without ice) & the process repeats itself again... Just like if we human suddenly exposed to HOT then COLD climate also more likely to get sick...

However the choice is yours... What I did before (until I realise I may be putting my faunas to temperature variations & shock) was to freeze bottles of ice in those Ice Mountain bottles, then take it out to place in the tank to cool down the temp... U may prepare a few bottles in advance to last till the temp reach what u desire. Like this, you can 'recycle' the ice water in the bottles (refreeze again after each use), & you also dun have to worry about the cool water getting into the tank...

Just sharing my own experiences, hope it helps...

Cheers!

[luncheonMeat]

Hey beetlejuice,

Thanks for your advise. i think i will avoid doing that when i have more faunas. i guess eventually got to save money for a small chiller. thats the best way to control temp. Just have to make SP Services richer!