Computer Heatsink to cool tank

[reefsin]

Has anyone tried placing a computer heatsink against the glass tank to bring down the temperature? It's just a thought. Pretty much like the heat sink cooling our CPU in the computer. 1 definite advantage. No water evaporation. Anyone?

[bclee]

[quote:4729d61e92="reefsin"]Has anyone tried placing a computer heatsink against the glass tank to bring down the temperature? It's just a thought. Pretty much like the heat sink cooling our CPU in the computer. 1 definite advantage. No water evaporation. Anyone?[/quote:4729d61e92]

Not effective. There is not enough temperature gradient, ie temperature difference between the tank and the atmosphere is little.

When you use a fan too cool the water. Most of the cooling (maybe >95%)is due to water evaporation rather than convection. When you use a heatsink you are only relying on thermal convection which is only effective when there is a significant temperature gradient.

BC

[Aeon]

The effect should be near to zero. Passive cooling rely on a big thermal difference for it to work. Actually the atmosphere is warmer than the tank so passive is impossible unless in an air-con room. Also you will need one side full of high-surface-area copper heatsink to make it more effective. lol!