Those with 400G+ tanks - humidity problems?

[Rayne]

I'm wondering how those with big tanks deal with any humidity problems that may arise from their massive tanks. I'm looking at building a 600G tank in my basement and have been doing a lot of reading here and on the reefer forums.

I see a lot of reefers use HRV systems to deal with the additional humidity that their tanks bring into their home but I haven't seen it too much here. I would guess that a lot of the reefers use an HRV because a lot of them like to run open topped, euro-braced or rimless tanks. They also run some pretty high flow through their tanks, so there is bound to be a lot of evaporation I would imagine.

It got me to wonder though how much evaporation or humidity would a large freshwater system with a fully closed top on the tank, but with an open sump, bring into a house. Would it warrant a HRV installation or no?

[Miguel]

It all depends on the air circulation of the room theyank is in. I do not have this problem because i have windows that are open a lot.

In a basememt, it is quite probabble that you will feel a humidity build up.

[Rayne]

I live in an area with some pretty extreme weather variations. Very hot in the summer (+35C) to very cold in the winter (-35C) but the air is always relatively dry. So leaving a window open for me is not an option.

[Miguel]

So hou will have to see how it goes.

If it is in a basememt, is there a problem with the humidity?

[DIDYSIS]

Well I live in Utah which is a dry area, having use to live in western washington where its wet all the time adding more humidity would be really really bad for a house.

Well I have great experience with this, and am happy to help, I was seeing humidity levels in the 75% range with the top of the sump open and a little of the top of my tank, later closed it all up and added the dehumidifier, Normal humidity levels at my housing around the area would be around 20-30%, So after a little bit of time looking at everything and seeing allot of condensation on my windows I decieded it was time to buy a demumidifier and do something about it. I keep it at 45-50% depending on how high the huidity is outside and everywhere. If its running a really really lot I set it at 50% if its not running at all or very little I set it at 45%, But in the first day the thing ran non stop to get it to 50% and I removed 70 litters of water and it kept running after that for another day or so before it got everything back to a normal level. But to give you an idea I went to my parents the other day and their place was 20% humidity and my place was 40% humidity(so the tank adds allot of water to the air), the dehumidifier was not really running at the time beacuse of how dry it was outside but when the humidity does go up out side the dehumidifier runs allot and can take a few gallons of water out of the air in a couple days. Now fluctuations do happen but when you start seeing the levels get above 60% your starting to get too high. Also think of electronics and anything you will be keeping in that room, they will rust and burn out allot faster as well. Most of all you need to seal everything up really well. So far i think its really worth having with my setup, yes it is extra cost but it does not run all the time. Sometimes it runs allot when needed and other than that it sits and does nothing. When its running allot its using a good bit of power but when its dry like now it does not run at all and I save allot on it. Overall I think its worth it to make sure your not causing damage to your house, and I would think in Canada your going to need something to help with the humidity. I started a thread about humidity and talk about it a bit in my thread below.

[clgkag]

I keep my tops closed except about 2.5" for the filter hoses. Don't run a sump. Lose about an inch a week. I don't get any water on the windows or anything. Run a dehumidifier in the fish room, but it is opposite ends of the house. I don't heat the tank either, just run it room temp.

[DIDYSIS]

Tank temp can make a big differnce as well, try to stay lower at the 77 degree area.

[Redtail Monster]

I am running a 180g, 55, 37, and 10g. We are still running a built-in furnace humidifier, and I put a cast pot w water on my wood stove. I lose around ¾"-1" a week (around 5-7gallons. Humidity in the house is still only around 35%. We seem to have the opposite problem, lol

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[Redtail Monster]

Y

I am running a 180g, 55, 37, and 10g. We are still running a built-in furnace humidifier, and I put a cast pot w water on my wood stove. I lose around ¾"-1" a week (around 5-7gallons) in the 180. Humidity in the house is still only around 35%. We seem to have the opposite problem, lol

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Meant to edit, ended up quoting myself, my bad!

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[DIDYSIS]

We are talking about a Heck lot more water then that with tanks in the 600 gallon size.

I have 600 gallons tank, 125 gallon sump,(basement) 120 gallon tank, 40 gallon sump, 55 gallon tank, 5.5 gallon tank and the dogs water bowl (upstairs)

Wood stove would make a large difference also, we use to do that same when in washington and having a wood stove as only heat always had water on the stove top.

I am running a 180g, 55, 37, and 10g. We are still running a built-in furnace humidifier, and I put a cast pot w water on my wood stove. I lose around ¾"-1" a week (around 5-7gallons. Humidity in the house is still only around 35%. We seem to have the opposite problem, lol

Sent from my Motorola Triumph on the MonsterAquariaNetwork App