Fans in a canopy

[steveoutlaw]

I'm building a canopy for my tank and I'm going to have 2 fans on it.......one blowing in and one blowing out. Would it be more effective cooling to have them on the top (one blowing down at the water on one side, and one pulling air out on the other side) or to side mount them blowing in, across the MH and blowing out the other side?

 

TIA

[ErikS]

a) Fan sucking out = short life span

 

b) unless completely sealed air pushed in = air out

 

Sides in -> out back or top.............but as long as the air flow is directed it will work.

[steveoutlaw]

Why will the fan sucking out have a shorter lifespan? They are both the same CFM and the canopy isn't sealed.

[ErikS]

Why will the fan sucking out have a shorter lifespan? They are both the same CFM and the canopy isn't sealed.

Moist salt air, not good for fans (DAMHIKT )

[Brian]

I would think you would one one fan on the sides to pull in cooler air and a fan on the top to pull the hot air out. Just put the fans on opposite sides.

[jnguyen4007]

I would think you would one one fan on the sides to pull in cooler air and a fan on the top to pull the hot air out. Just put the fans on opposite sides.

 

 

That's usually how it works in the computer.

 

Moist salt air, not good for fans (DAMHIKT )

 

I'm not sure if I agree with this one. Unless you have salt water splashing and getting on the fan, then as the water evaporates, it leaves salt behind. I can see why salt accumulation would be bad. Other wise, it's just the water that gets evaporated and not the salt, so I don't understand about the fan that's pulling the evaporation would have a shorter lifespan that the fan to brings cool outside air in.

[lanman]

I'm building a canopy for my tank and I'm going to have 2 fans on it.......one blowing in and one blowing out. Would it be more effective cooling to have them on the top (one blowing down at the water on one side, and one pulling air out on the other side) or to side mount them blowing in, across the MH and blowing out the other side?

 

TIA

 

I put two fans on one end - blowing over the tank, with the other end of the canopy open. Cools things off VERY well, as long as I remember to leave the front of the canopy closed.

 

bob

[tygger]

I'd go for two fans blowing in = more cool air in, the hot air will find its way out (unless you have a enclosed canopy like a computer case in which case I would do 1 in and 1 out). In addition, you're less likely to get salt in the fans (salt manages to find its way onto everything!). Just IMO.

[ErikS]

That's usually how it works in the computer.

I'm not sure if I agree with this one. Unless you have salt water splashing and getting on the fan, then as the water evaporates, it leaves salt behind. I can see why salt accumulation would be bad. Other wise, it's just the water that gets evaporated and not the salt, so I don't understand about the fan that's pulling the evaporation would have a shorter lifespan that the fan to brings cool outside air in.

Salt goes everywhere, check the lights & most everything in a canopy (or even hanging lights). Go to the beach & park your car - bet the windows have a film everywhere. Same for a tank, the salt "spray" (even with minimal surface movement) gets everywhere = fans are short lived. Mine lasted a few months (I didn't listen to those who warned me either ) each, 3 fans in a year = sucking out is bad. Both fans in = they lasted 3+ years.

 

I'd go for two fans blowing in = more cool air in, the hot air will find its way out (unless you have a enclosed canopy like a computer case in which case I would do 1 in and 1 out). In addition, you're less likely to get salt in the fans (salt manages to find its way onto everything!). Just IMO.

Exactly, a computer case is fairly sealed up, canopies not so much. Even computer cases will allow air flow without push/pull fans. Experiment - suck more air out of your comp than you put in.......wait a few months & you'll find dust in every nook & cranny. Reverse the situation (more out) & you'll find the case much cleaner after a few months.

[Carl]

Don't mean to hijack the thread...but I have a similar question...

 

I have a canopy over a 75 gallon with 4 96w PC's. The canopy is already drilled one on both sides for a 3 inch fan. I don't want to put an opening in the top...as I usually put stuff on top of the canopy, and don't want to see light leakage coming onto the wall and ceiling.

 

So, what do you suggest in my situation? One in and one out? or both in?

 

-Carl

[ErikS]

Don't mean to hijack the thread...but I have a similar question...

 

I have a canopy over a 75 gallon with 4 96w PC's. The canopy is already drilled one on both sides for a 3 inch fan. I don't want to put an opening in the top...as I usually put stuff on top of the canopy, and don't want to see light leakage coming onto the wall and ceiling.

 

So, what do you suggest in my situation? One in and one out? or both in?

 

-Carl

Any holes in the canopy? Even small ones for overflows etc? Both in - ain't likely a canopy will hold much pressure.

[YBeNormal]

Two fans in would be much more flow and more turbulent flow than one in and one out. I would point the fans in rather than out since (1) the fans will be exposed to lower humidity than if they were sucking air out of the canopy and (2) I think this is more effective for cooling purposes.

 

Try this, turn on a room fan and stand in front of it. Now walk to the other side and stand behind the fan. Where do you feel cooler?

[wreck]

I'm also finishing a canopy and I'm going to put two fans blowing in. Do you just get computer fans at the store? Any recommendations on fans and power supplies for them?

Wreck

[Carl]

The entire back of my canopy is open.

 

My only experience with fan cooling...is an attic whole house fan. And to keep your house cool, the idea is to vent OUT, with the windows open.

 

But as I sit here and ponder my fish tank, I don't think the bulbs would be as cool with both fans venting OUT, as they would be with air flowing directly on them, pushing air INTO the canopy.

 

And if the life of the fan didn't matter to me...what would cool the canopy better...one in/one out, or two in?

 

And Bob...does turbulent flow cool better? (two in) or does constant flow in one direction cool better? (one in/one out)

Edited March 21, 2008 by Carl

[tygger]

I'd still go with 2 facing in for the very reason that it's not a completly sealed enclosure.

[ErikS]

I'm also finishing a canopy and I'm going to put two fans blowing in. Do you just get computer fans at the store? Any recommendations on fans and power supplies for them?

Wreck

Once could do an entire paper on fans.....................but really it depends on your needs. You can get DC 12v fans at the store, or even 120v ones at the Rat Shack (they're loud).

 

Over the years I've found Panaflo fans to be superb - they move a lot of air for the noise. You can get them at most any computer supply place online. There are also super quiet fans like the Vantec Stealth but they are abysmal at moving air (don't make their ratings & even tiny amounts of pressure reduce the performance even further). You can (or at least one could when CompUsa was around) find Evercool fans locally, not a bad compromise.

 

Top

 

- Panaflo

- NMB

- Zalman

- Orion

 

As for power, see if you have any 12v chargers around - lots of devices use a 12v power supply. Last one I used was from an old inkjet printer. You can also get them @ Rat Shack.

[Carl]

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~Sea...ns~vendor~.html

 

How about the IceCap fan? Is it quiet? overpriced?

[wreck]

Thanks, I'll have to dig around and find a power supply around the house, I'll go to Micro Center (which replace CompUSA in Rockville) and see what fans I can find.

Wreck

 

Once could do an entire paper on fans.....................but really it depends on your needs. You can get DC 12v fans at the store, or even 120v ones at the Rat Shack (they're loud).

 

Over the years I've found Panaflo fans to be superb - they move a lot of air for the noise. You can get them at most any computer supply place online. There are also super quiet fans like the Vantec Stealth but they are abysmal at moving air (don't make their ratings & even tiny amounts of pressure reduce the performance even further). You can (or at least one could when CompUsa was around) find Evercool fans locally, not a bad compromise.

 

Top

 

- Panaflo

- NMB

- Zalman

- Orion

 

As for power, see if you have any 12v chargers around - lots of devices use a 12v power supply. Last one I used was from an old inkjet printer. You can also get them @ Rat Shack.