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Air circulation

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Jeff9, Aug 9, 2013.

  1. Aug 9, 2013 #1
    Jeff9

    Jeff9 Member

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    How do you get good even air circulation in a closed cabinet?

    I have not been able to figure out how to do this, seeing as all sides are enclosed and it's really a square container, how do you position fans so that they evenly move around the air without drying one side out more than the other?
     
  2. Aug 9, 2013 #2
    ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    Put the fan or fans facing down at the top center of the tank, space them evenly if you have a few. I've always been able to get fairly even air movement that way.
     
  3. Aug 11, 2013 #3
    Orchidbyte

    Orchidbyte Active Member

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    I have a 24"x 24" x 18" vivarium and thru testing i find that using them like ceiling fans works really well. I have two pointing so air is drawn up and gets pushed around from top to bottom.

    My tank has air holes along front for ventilation and the top is completely sealed, except for a 5" hole for heat exhaust.

    plants seem to like it good roots and happy plants.
     
  4. Aug 15, 2013 #4
    s1214215

    s1214215 Member

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    I just added another fan for more Air Flow. It perplexed me how to add more fans easily, so I got this low voltage fan and modified a plant hanger which could be hung from 3M hook (glued to the glass ceiling with silcone). I then glued the fan for updraft to the hanger.. Easy to move if the location doesn't suit.
    ai79.photobucket.com_albums_j157_s1214215_SAM_8496.jpg
    ai79.photobucket.com_albums_j157_s1214215_SAM_8499.jpg
     
    Marni likes this.
  5. Aug 15, 2013 #5
    Jeff9

    Jeff9 Member

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    Thanks for the advice. I have tried this already, but i am really curious if there is a perfect balance that is achievable.

    The best result i had with fans hanging vertically, moving the air horizontally across the tank through the plants.

    I had them facing down aswell but in my opinion this unevenly dried the plants, since obviously some plants were receiving direct airflow and thus drying out faster.

    Any ideas? :)
     
  6. Aug 15, 2013 #6
    Jeff9

    Jeff9 Member

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    I should probably note that while the vertical arrangement worked well i don't want the fans visible. Am trying to find a way to get good airflow while mounting them out of sight (i.e near the ceiling)
     
  7. Aug 15, 2013 #7
    s1214215

    s1214215 Member

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    I tend to prefer updraft with my fans. Though my radiator blows over the top inside my case. As the radiator fan is diffuse and humid from water I get away with that, and the stronger fan I just put it with it on updraft seems not to dehydrate. Mind you I am misting more often and need to get the mister automated.
     
  8. Aug 31, 2013 #8
    Jeff9

    Jeff9 Member

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    If anyone is interested in learning how i solved it.

    I bought six "Gelid Silent 8" fans which are very silent 80mm fans which spin at low speed, they are evenly spread out pointing downward from the ceiling of my cabinet.

    They're connected to a fan controller, which means i can precisely dial in the correct airflow for each one. The controller is connected with a 12v universal adapter.

    It's completely invisible, and absolutely silent, you can't hear the fans. - They even come with rubber mounts (instead of screws) that further reduce noise.

    They even offer waterproof (& dustproof) fans but i didn't buy those (yet) since the "Silent 8" only cost 4 euros a piece and are more than adequate for now. - The waterproof "Wing 8" also come with bright green fan blades (less aesthetically pleasing), and i think you only need them if the fans are near misters or in a very humid cabinet.

    Though, the fans are very very cheap for what you get in my opinion, and even the waterproof ones only cost 10 euros.


    In my opinion it's better to have the largest possible fans at low speed, providing even air movement. -- My cabinet is small otherwise i would have used 120 or 140mm fans instead.