air conditioner

[150 split]

What are your thoughts on adding a ac unit to my top part of my tank where my lights are? I will have an enclosed hood with 4 mh lights so i want to get a wall unit and mount it in there to keep it cool. Are there any cons on doing this or has anyone tried this before. I dont want to buy a chiller and I want to keep a steady temp so i was thinking about doing this when i set up my 240. Thanks

[missionsix66]

You'd be surprised what a couple of simple fans will do.

[Otty]

For the money you are going to spend putting that AC unit on top and the heat that will come off the condenser you would be better off getting a chiller to do the same thing. You have to remember the atmosphere that you have around the tank will corrode the AC unit pretty fast.

[150 split]

i can get a small ac unit for 50-100 bucks compared to a chiller at 500-1000 bucks i dont think the heat from the condenser will mater if the condenser is on the out side of the hood and the inside of the hood will be some what sealed.

[150 split]

also fans work good but how do you keep a steady temp the fans will sometimes cool enough or on hot days not cool enough. what would your low cost solution be?

[tazzy695]

ok i know a way that would work for you but runing the ac unit at a remote location

take some 6" flexible ducting and duct tape it to the ac unit output and run it to your tank canopy with screen over the opening to prevent fish or other things from getting in

this would probly be a lot safer and less anoying looking than using the ac unit actualy on the tank canopy just rember any air that is pumped in has to get back out

[150 split]

You Are A Genus, Thanks I Will Look Into Doing Something Like That I Wanted To Put The Ac Unit On The Top So You Would Not See It And Maybe Some Fans On The Sides To Pull The Extra Air Out. I Do Not Know What I Am Going To Do But Just Wanted To Make Sure The Ac Unit Would Be Ok. Any Experience Or Info Is Much Appreciated. Thanks

[tazzy695]

i just wouldn't put it on top as the ac unit will produce condensate water and you dont want that in your tank as it could contain copper or other metals or dust and contaminates that just arent good in a reef tank

[150 split]

Thanks I apreicate the help. what do you run on your setup to keep a constant temp?

[tazzy695]

personaly i dont run anything right now as i usualy keep my house at about 65 70 max so temp isn't much of an issue tank swings from 78 to 84 daily