New Fans

jules77 · 06-15-2005, 10:00 AM

Well trying to improve my cooling abilities without dropping cash on a chiller I bought some new CPU fans yesterday to replace my standard ones from an old computer I had laying around. I bought vantec Tornados which are 92mm and 119CFM. Only problem is they are extremely loud. I think I might be overpowering the one I installed last night so I will be playing around with the wiring of them to try to quiet them down some. I am thinking of putting both on one side blowing air over the water and then a standard fan to suck air out the other side. Any opinions on this?

I bought them at Universal Nano systems on University...

AnemicOak · 06-15-2005, 10:22 AM

They are rated as 56.4 decible fans, so fairly noisy. If you get them to quiet down let us know. I'm in the process for looking for fans right now. The CFM on these is nice, but so far I've avoided them because of their dBA rating.

Irenicus · 06-15-2005, 10:30 AM

Does it usually stand true the higher the CFM the louder or higher the dBA rating is?

jonnosteams · 06-15-2005, 10:33 AM

not always, it's more like cost to dBA rating. It mainly depends on prop and housing design.

jules77 · 06-15-2005, 11:13 AM

anyone have the icecap fans? they have a high cfm rating also and db rating is similar to the vantec although I dont completely understand the ratings
http://www.icecapinc.com/pdf/120mmfan.pdf
I will tell you that the vantec pushes a ton of air but I dont think I can live with noise unless I can figure something out. I am using a universal ratshack powersupply at 12v. The package says 1 amp per fan, and the supply says 13 amps. I am wondering if I am overpowering the fan? I can turn the voltage down to 9 or 7.5 but the output is a lot less at those levels.

David Grigor · 06-15-2005, 11:22 AM

I have an icecap that was given to me when someone tore down a tank. Not a bad fan but certainly not worth the price tag for just a fans. You can get variable speed ones much cheaper but I don't know if you can with that high of CFM rating.

If you have a temp controller, you can still use these as a high temp safety feature and use you regular fans for the lower temps. I'm using a DA reefkeeper and the one nice thing about is that you can set different devices to come on at different temps so in this example could have your normal fans up to say 82-84 then have the loud ones kick in at say 84. So they aren't on very long and only during the higher temps.

Other things to do besides just fans. If haven't done already, change your light cycle to start later so not on during the heat of the day and can take advantage of the lower night temps here in MN. For example: 5pm-5am.
Can also reduce you daylight light cycle by an hour or two for the peak months then put it back come september or so......

jules77 · 06-15-2005, 11:32 AM

I am doing all the things above, I never thought of running 2 circuits for different fans settings. I can switch my sump pump to a standard socket since I have it running all the time anyway. I have my lights on a 5 hour cycle starting at 3pm and off at 8:00pm. I have thought about going even further and running the lights at night instead which is my main viewing time anyway. Not currently having serious heat issues but trying to prevent issues later this summer. David would you say it is more beneficial to have fans sucking out the heat or blowing into the canopy? I need to cut a second hole so only have 1 right now...

laja9801 · 06-15-2005, 11:33 AM

If I understand this correctly and you are talking DC fans and a DC power supply. The current isn't going to change because that is based off of the resistance and the voltage in dealing with DC.

edit: So I don't think you could be over driving these fans.

jules77 · 06-15-2005, 11:49 AM

So what you are saying is that the fan will only draw what it needs?

laja9801 · 06-15-2005, 11:52 AM

That is correct
Sorry I guess I could have been a little clearer. I have a tendency to babble alot.

Twins Guy · 06-15-2005, 12:54 PM

jules-not sure of the cfm rating but i have used a couple "silenx" fans and they are friggin quiet! also-i have one of the 4" icecap variable speed fans that i would be willing to part with...if you want to try one out. i still wouldn't mind getting some chaeto from you but i never heard back last time i called.
tg

unfortunately i have to work tonight and won't be at the meeting but we live so close together i'm sure we could figure something out.

Dwayne · 06-15-2005, 01:06 PM

I used the AC powered fans from Radio Shack. Had them in place for maybe 4 yrs before one failed. Have both fans push air into the hood. This limits the amount of salty air going through the fan and increase the life of the fan.

the_colonel · 06-15-2005, 01:14 PM

I am using the same fans as Dwayne, the AC's from Radio Shack. Not sure how quiet they are as the rest of my tank sounds like an industrial water plant.

David Grigor · 06-15-2005, 01:17 PM

typically, pushing air into do a better job if more of a canopy setup. Pulling air works well when it is more airtight such as a fixture where it would draw air from one end and out the other, but on canopy types you can't really control as well so pushing air is better. Also, as Dwayne mentioned salt creep can riun them quicker it pulling air out vs. in.

Loverotties · 06-15-2005, 01:18 PM

I hear the RS are loud!