setting up 180g with 120sump need help

[kvmn]

hi everyone i am in process setting up 180g tank in living room and 120 in basement i have couple question please
1- should i be worry about moister in the house over years? also in basement too??
2- do i need to install an air exchanger for the whole house?
3- any i advice ? we never open door in winter and summer very few day,,i don't want to smell sea water or moister in the house .
thank for any help and advice thank again kvmn

[coralreefer]

Moisture can definately be a real problem. I've never had a tank this big and my 100gal total system doesn't seem to be a problem. You can get an humidity/temperature sensor for under 20 bucks (probably closer to 10). I think they still sell them at walmart, etc. I would try that and contact a contractor and ask them what levels could be problematic.

[mtfatwork]

hi everyone i am in process setting up 180g tank in living room and 120 in basement i have couple question please
1- should i be worry about moister in the house over years? also in basement too??
2- do i need to install an air exchanger for the whole house?
3- any i advice ? we never open door in winter and summer very few day,,i don't want to smell sea water or moister in the house .
thank for any help and advice thank again kvmn



1- YES
2- There are alot of options, but ideally, YES
3- I have more water volume than you in my house, but I have strategically placed bathroom ehaust fans, and dehumidifiers. We will see how well it works come winter time, because these problems usually dont truely surface until the house is locked up tight long term. Watch for the condensation on the windows and check your attic often. If you have icicles in your attic, whatever you are doing is not working.

[David Grigor]

Best to do it right and not have to worry about it.

Humidity was ultimately what made me take down the 320g tank. Mine was evaporating about 8 gallons a day. and house/windows just couldn't handle it. It was just wrecking the house from the inside out every screw in the house had rust on it and since this is not the house we plan to grow old in we didn't want to spend the money on an air exchanger along with new family additions just couldn't keep up with tank maintenance costs per month.

There are lots of factors as to how much evaporation will occur, the type of lighting you choose which in turn means how much heat it produces will play a big factor, do you plan to cover the tank or open top, do you plan on a chiller or evaporative cooling via fans. Dehumidifiers are probably the least effecient way of trying to compat the problem, can easily run 24/7 and mine pulled 600w and still wasn't even close to keeping up.

[mrbill]

The type of heating and cooling system your house has will also make a big difference. A forced air system may handle the extra humidity in the winter and AC will help take care of it in the summer. If you have hot water or electric heat you may have to use a dehumidifier in the summer but you may need the extra moisture in the winter anyway. It just depends on your house. I have forced air & AC, a 110 on the main floor, a 120, plus a couple of cans for water storage downstairs, but humidity and odor it not a problem. Anyway, I really love the smell of the salt water.

[Jubei]

Another thing to consider is the weight issue. If your living room in not in the basement, you might want to worry about supporting your floor. 180g + sump is a lot ot put on the floor, even if the tank is running parrallel with the joice.

[kvmn]

thanks everyone i guess i am gonna try dehumidifier first and install a fan blow out from back of canopy through the walls and blow air out side if not maybe next year install airexchanger in the house,,,i guess the best idea is install the whole house air exchanger ,,am i right?? that what i could think of,,and in basement i will install a 4" flex pipe go through the air return furnage unit of the house but not sure i am gonna read more about it on RC to make sure doing it right,,,anyway thank for all input

[David Grigor]

Done right air exchanger is the way to go. Hummidifier can use up to 600w depending on the size ( mine as a 8pint ) and can easily run 24/7 and never catch up. Full house air exchanger is like 80w. Scott Olson in our club was the best example of how big of a difference an exchanger can do for your house and your tanks.

From what reading I have done, tunning the exchanger is the trick so I personally would have it professionally done, I believe in the neighborhood of $1800 but there are lots of variation from quote to quote.

[kvmn]

thank you david ,,any body know who does heating and cooling?? i don't know anybody, otherwise i will start looking in phone book thanks

[storrisch]

I think there was a post in the Members Only section if you have access to it. Try the forum search function...I am almost positive this discussion was brought up before.

[mtfatwork]

I dont believe that there are any members who do HVAC installs, but I know a couple of guys..

[Toua]

wow not that is concerning me too. i'm planning on setting up a 100 gallon tank is that gonna be a problem too or is this issue just for really big tanks?

[Flounder]

My basement really smells like...well tropical when the fan is running. I would think that there is less smell if you had a chiller. I loose about a gallon or two per day with that fan running. I have a dehumidifier running 24-7 in the next room that dumps a gallon or two per day...

I have carpet over cement, but wouldn't do that again. Seems that there is more water in the carpet than in the walls.