How do you control humidity?

[Lance]

Oddly enough we don't have a problem with humidity. With over 350 gallons of water in the family room I fully expected to have to put in some kind of de-humidifier, but as of yet there is no problem. Air is comfortable, no sweating windows. We have air conditioning on in the summer and the unit has a dehumidifier built-in, so I wasn't worried about the summer months, but why there is no humidity in the winter I have no idea.

[mark]

Not much of a problem for humidity in the winter even with about 200g but have a switch (may be Code) that turns on the bathroom fan and furnace, which draws in dry outside air via the fresh air intake if wanted. I also have a exhaust fan in the fish room that have planned to put on a humidistat but never bothered. Both obviously not that energy efficient so have considered a HRV (here's a good link, (and at the booklet at the end good as well)) but then again haven't bothered as humidity okay.

For summer find the central AC keeps things in check.

[digital-audiophile]

I wish I had more humidity. Even with the tank, a humidifier on the furnace and two tower humidifiers in the house I struggle to keep it above 35%.

[Doug]

Not sure how humidity is not a concern on the prairie? Thats where its the most concern, as we have cold winters. Unless ones house leaks like a sieve. Yes, its dry air outside but its needs to be brought in to the house and exchanged with the humid house air that needs venting.

At least this has always been my experience and most other well built houses I have seen, with or without aquariums. And an HRV is the way to go, bar none. A Humidex may be fine but I will ask again, for the 100th time, , how does it differ from an exaust fan for humidity and opening a window for replacement air.

De-humidifiers are not cost effective and dont work well in the winter in the cold. Now for Keri that lives on the west coast, I dont know for sure how an HRV will do, as it relies on dry outside air in the winter. Thats why they are not much more than an air exchanger in the summer and actually should not be run if central air, which is the best summer humidity fixer upper, is being ran.

Perhaps an exchanger like the Humidex may work well on the coast? Or just one of the fancy exaust systems many run on their tanks out there already.

But when winter is winter and your house is sealed up like they should be now, HRV is the best. As a matter of fact I thought they were going to be code in all new places now. I do know most new homes have them installed in cold climates. They just cannot breath without them and thus it affects us. And this is in homes with normal humidity concerns.

Another good option for winter, is a good wood stove. That really moves moisture out and drys the air. But not feasable in most applications.

Or do as I have now. {my last several homes all had hrv,s installed}. I have a central exaust system which works well and make up air comes in via the furnaace freash air intake. Now not very efficient but does ok. However it was not enough for my larger tanks, so I now run a 20 or 30g size. If I had ordered a new place instead of the display we had purchased, I would have had an hrv installed at the factory.

Anywho, thats some of my views and experience. Take it FWIW.

[Keri]

Lance: Boo on you, I don't even like you! (Kidding - I'm jealous of your dehumidity lol)

Johnny: what is taking the doorsill away?

Mark: thank you for the link, I will read it!
edit: reading now, Wow, that article is very informative!

digital: See my response to Lance

Doug: thank you for all the info! Have you ever installed an HRV yourself, and if so, how big of a project are we looking at? I suppose I could get someone in to do it but living in Sechelt it's always difficult to get ppl to come up to do stuff, and Drew is quite handy.

[mark]

Originally Posted by Doug

Not sure how humidity is not a concern on the prairie? Thats where its the most concern, as we have cold winters. Unless ones house leaks like a sieve. Yes, its dry air outside but its needs to be brought in to the house and exchanged with the humid house air that needs venting.

My case is new house and have the furnace humidifier turned off, house stays around 30%.

[Discustopia]

My A/C unit is oversized for my house - the drain pump attached to my furnace extracts moisture from the air year round.

[mark]

Originally Posted by Discustopia

My A/C unit is oversized for my house - the drain pump attached to my furnace extracts moisture from the air year round.

Can you explain?

With my central AC, moisture is removed from condensation on the Evaporator coil. With the unit not running in winter, no moisture removed via the AC. I will get condensate from my hi-efficiency furnace but that's from water vapour in the exhaust (not room air).

[bauder1986]

Wow, glad I read this thread. So far there is about 200g of tanks in this house and much more to come (inbetween the roommates and I). So far I'm doing good on the humidity. Also helps that I live on edge of the prariies to! Guess I'll have to keep an eye out on that!

[Atomikk]

Controlling your humidity is a must for all tank owners! And do not cover your tank with glass or acrylic. Your tank needs to get rid of CO2 gas, and by closing it off, you can suffocate everything!

As for my setup... here are my pictures:






Two fans, vented outside, on two dehumidistats.

And the write up:
http://blog.fragd.it/2008/11/28/a-re...-continuation/