Help! My planted tank is hovering around 28.8 to 29C and I can lower it with my Vista Fan (Profantec fan) to around 28C but I can only do it at night. The fan is so freakin' noisy, it drives me nuts if I turn in on during my waking hours. I've already done whatever I could, not to impede airflow, including removing the grill. Seems to reduce the noise somewhat. Heard from some people I should leave my fan on 24-7 if I want a significant drop in temperatures...Oh, BTW, the airstone comes on at the same time the fan comes on (ie. when I go to sleep). Anything else I can do? I'm a doofus when it comes to wiring so I'm not sure how to even step down the electrical energy to the fan... any other practical suggestions?

Ruslan, dunno if this is true or not, I heard a couple of small fans doesn't quite work as well as one humongous fan.

I think mine is pretty noisy too, but I don't really mind.. since it's outside in the driveway. If it's espescially noisy.. check the clamp and see if anything is loose and causing unnescessary vibrations..

In this case, I think better any type of fan rather than no fan at all... especially for times like the beginning of this week when it was really hot!

Wiring up your own cooling fan is dead easy. It's a matter of whether you want to do it or if you don't mind buying expensive ready-made aquarium fans. It took me less than 10 mins to do wire up my own cooling fan using a 12v adapter and a computer fan. You can add as many fans as you want/ need to the one adapter as long as the total amps is lower than the max indicated on the adapter.

Alternatively, you can use the power supply from a computer (approx RM35) and wire up the fans to that. That is what I used before Dom showed me how he did his with a 12v adapter. The adapter is less than RM15 and the computer fans cost around RM5 each.

You may already have a 12 amp adapter left over from a blown modem at home. The modem may be blown but there is a good chance the adapter is still working. That would make it even cheaper since you wouldn't have to buy one.

I don't have a digital camera at the moment but when I can, I'll take some pics and post the process in the forum. The price of cooling fans is outrageous when you consider the cost of the materials involved. Mmmm, maybe I should make some to sell..........

Incidentally, you don't need to use an airstone at night if you have regular filtration already in the tank. The airstone only adds unnecessary oxygen to your water and causes oxidation and in the longer term, algae. The oxygen produced by plants in the light hours should be more than enough to sustain the fish and plants overnight when the tank is dark.

Can you please elaborate how oxidation leads in the long term to algae?

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So many aquascapes, so little time...http://www.my-mac.net/forum/

Fan sometime won't help if your room temp is high.

We do need to provide oxygen at night when your tank is kind of new which just setup like example a week or two. (Good to prevent the BGA if you dose with KNO3 and K2SO4 by running air stone at night)

Aquatic plants running photosynthesis when photoperiod and providing the O2 to fishes. But then, they will need more O2 when photoperiod is off. And more CO2 will providing. As well as the bacteria which is inside your tank n filter.

Gus-gus, looking forward to your photos. Really wished I could find some DIY-for-dummies on fan wiring. The fan really did cost a bomb and I did post to ask why. On a positive note, the fan is definately much better at airflow than the typical computer fans. On the airstone, it's there temporarily to revitalise my beneficial bacterial (my water is somewhat cloudy even though I underfeed my fishes and I do weekly WC). Doesn't Amano use airstones after dark on all his tanks? Hmmm...

Amano's display tank using Lily pipes. If you know the function of lily pipe and you will know why.

They will pull lily pipe a bit up to water surface when photoperiod is off. So the water coming out from the lily pipe will produce lot of O2 for plants n fishes. (lfs will not telling you this. But ADA sites, Aqua Journal and those who know how to use lily pipe will tell.)

Incidentally, you don't need to use an airstone at night if you have regular filtration already in the tank. The airstone only adds unnecessary oxygen to your water and causes oxidation and in the longer term, algae. The oxygen produced by plants in the light hours should be more than enough to sustain the fish and plants overnight when the tank is dark.[/quote]

Agreed with Standoyo and Dom!

Plant behaviour
Daytime - Photolysis - Consume CO2, released O2 (inject CO2)
Nightime - Respiration - Consume O2, Release CO2 (inject O2)

Nightime aeration imporove bacteria activities and reduce the algea growth in the tank. You will find your plants more healthy then before..... pls try it.

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Munchy