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by **Indigo Blue Fish** » 2006-07-04 20:11

I'm interested in finding out how people have customised computer fans into aquarium coolers - any info is great, including adaption of power supply.

Desperately need to look into this, as Spyyk is getting hot and grumpy.

by **Kev** » 2006-07-04 20:48

Computer fan and a Mutlivolt Adapter is all you need. You just simply solder them together, the speed of the fan can be altered by changing the voltage of the adapter ^_^

by **Indigo Blue Fish** » 2006-07-04 21:15

Multivolt adapter?
All I can find under that is one for the GBA...

D'ya mean a variable adapter?
I can get one of those.

<a href='http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MULTI-MAINS-ADAPTER_W0QQitemZ180001668718QQihZ008QQcategoryZ294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem' target='_blank'>Adapter</a>
Like that?

by **Kev** » 2006-07-05 06:42

Thats what I meant

by **-Rambler-** » 2006-07-06 01:42

I was going to use computer fans, because of thier size, to put in the canopy so they would be hidden. The only trouble was by the time you got the fans, a converter, and did all the wiring it was alot of money, almost not worth it to make. Then I was walking through one of my favorite discount department stores. I noticed some smokeless ashtrays on clearance (they use battery powered fans and a small A.C. micron filter to draw smoke into the ashtray) and some table top air filters that where plug in. They had perfect size fans, anywhere from 2"-5" depending on the brand. I disassembled the air filters casings (it was easy, flimsy plastic) and utilized the fans. They where very inexpensivebut effective. Now they have clip-on fans that are about 6". I just rig up something to clip them to behind the tank and direct them at the bulbs. They where only about $5US per.

by **el'TJ** » 2007-01-23 23:04

I came across this type of cooling system for PC's...

It is called a 'passive' system as there are no mechanical or electrical parts acting to cool the water/fluid that runs through it. The only problem i can see is that it is made of aluminium, and i know you dont want any of that in your tank water! would the action of the water passing through it draw significant amounts of this into the tank system?

I had major over heating issues with my planted tank last summer as the 4 tubes over the tank are only 20-30mm from the waters surface....i would love for this idea to work as it relatively cheap and free to run.

by **Indigo Blue Fish** » 2007-01-23 23:32

I set up a cooling fan with a PC fan - take it to maplin, you can get them to do it, and it'll not cost a ton.

Hmm. I like the idea TJ - but yes, that would be difficult to do. Unless you put it inside a water filled container, sealed off, then dropped the container into the main tank?
The container would have liquid contacting to pass in heat see...

How does it work in the PC itself?

I'm very interested.

by **Indigo Blue Fish** » 2007-01-23 23:34

Flipping heck - ?55 for a small one?!
It's cheaper to buy a Coralife Peltier system set...

If I understood the concept better - perhaps we could modify and make our own?

by **el'TJ** » 2007-01-23 23:52

The unit would'nt be submerged, the tank water would flow through the 'heat-sinks'. All that would be required would be to plumb it in to the return of an external canister filter much in the way i have installed my hydor in-line heater, the unit could be sited anywhere outside the tank, although somewhere with a little air movement across it would be best i think, I would mount mine under my tank in a cupboard that backs onto an internal rendered brick wall which is always cool to the touch. I would'nt mind spending that much on something that was free to run, I would install it in line with my heater, but with some by-pass/cutoff valve so that in the winter the returning water would not flow through it but through my heater. it would also make it easy to remove and clean the internal parts. How much is the Coralife system?

by **Indigo Blue Fish** » 2007-01-24 10:25

Sorry, not Coralife - Azoo.

Brand mixup lol!

From aquariumsuperstore online you can pick up a duo unit peltier fan for just ?18.99.
Believe you me - you can barely build one for that amount, and this system's actually far more effective than a conventional fan.
My homebuilt mashup lowers the water temp by three degrees ish - I haven't had the chance to play with Azoos - but I hear good things about them.
Might invest if the summer's too hot this year.

by **el'TJ** » 2007-01-24 21:48

do you mean this...
<a href='http://www.aquariumsuperstore.co.uk/mall/azoodoublefanset.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.aquariumsuperstore.co.uk/mall/a...oublefanset.asp</a> ...it does'nt mention any peltier arangement, seems like just fans to me? correct me if i am wrong. I would like to see the passive system to work, just need to know what the aluminium would do the water chemistry...

by **gm333** » 2007-01-25 04:50

My reef tank runs off 4 computer fans hooked up to some box that came out of a computer. Unfortunatly I could not tell you how it works as it came with the tank when I purchased it. So it is possible to do this, it is also temp controlled and has warning beeps if the temp gets too high under my canopy.

by **ga85** » 2007-07-22 20:42

i know that they use aluminium for the cooling system because of its heat exchange properties, they are starting t use it in your combi boilers becase it has a good heat exchange, just it is working in reverse from how it would in a boiler, lol

gaz...

by **valemont** » 2018-05-10 10:02

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