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Old 02-03-2006, 05:51 PM
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Default Humidity Control?

How does everyone with 100+ gallon tanks control the humidity in their houses?

I know there are many options, and I need to choose one.

1. De-humidifier - expensive
2. De-humidifying bags - do they work well? I dont mind hanging bags in my fish room.
3. Fan - would need to create a vent to the outside, or hook into dryer hose which is FAR away
4. Other options?
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Old 02-03-2006, 06:02 PM
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4. Other options - HRV

I had way too much humidity in my house until I installed an HRV to remove the excess. I typically had over 60% humidity last year, now it is less than 40%. The HRV is more costly to install, but it is much more energy efficient than de-humidifiers or simple exhaust fans. Basically an HRV is an exhaust fan, but it uses a heat exchanger core to warm the incomming air with the heat from the exhaust air thus preventing a lot of wasted heat energy.
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50 gallon FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.
130 gallon reef, 20 gallon sump, 10 gallon refugium.
10 gallon quarantine.
60 gallon winter tank for pond fish.
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Old 02-03-2006, 06:43 PM
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My humidity is about 70% right now, and I am adding more tanks so I need to do something fast. I will check out the HRV, where did you get it from?
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Old 02-03-2006, 07:17 PM
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I run a dehumidifier but it's not enough -- on a cold night my windows will get serious condensation. I evaporate a solid 5g per day amongst all my current tanks so it's a serious issue for me.

I'm now having an HRV put in (just signed the papers this morning in fact). Myself (and a couple others from Calgary) had the work done by Air Pro Heating. I don't know if there's one in Edmonton but I must say I highly highly recommend these guys. Did a fabulous analysis and engineering approach to the amount of turnover required balanced against volume of evaporation, volume of my (eventual) tank room, volume of turnover for the rest of the house, etc.

Actually if you read the specs on HRV's -- I think I would consider getting one even if I didn't have fish tanks.
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Old 02-03-2006, 07:21 PM
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How/where are you venting to the outside of the house? My fish room is in the basement, I was thinking of renting a giant drill and going through the cement foundation at about the level of the basement windows.
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Old 02-03-2006, 07:29 PM
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Wouldn't it be easier to cut through the wood and siding just above the concrete? I think if I was doing it that's what I'd do.. I think the current vents in my house are all above the concrete. There's about a foot or two below the ceiling before the concrete foundation. I guess if your basement is really deep that wouldn't be an option but I'm thinking there is likely some wiggle room there.
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Old 02-03-2006, 09:22 PM
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HRV is the way to go. Whole house ventilation, unless one has lots of air leaks and the such.

www.lifebreath.com
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Old 02-03-2006, 09:30 PM
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Great link, thanks!
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Old 02-03-2006, 09:47 PM
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Humidex

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...hlight=humidex

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]
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