Humidity

Just thought I'd start a little thread and see if anyone else has this problem for half the year. I only have a 75G and now have set up a 20G frag tank, but every year when it starts getting cold out the windows start fogging/sweating, and even mold starts to grow. Anyone else have this problem and what have you done to take care of it? I just have a larger dehumidifier that I have to empty multiple times a day and it still doesnt help the windows much haha.

 

i have 5 reef tanks in my house and never had a problem with it

 

How are your windows? It may not be the tank. If your windows leak air, when the cold air comes in the house and hits the warmer room temperature air, condensation will occur.

 

Have the same issue. The small dehumidifier did not seem to help so we installed a whole house dehumidifier.

 

How much did the whole house dehumidifier cost you? If you dont mind me asking. My windows are only a year old.

 

Do you have fans in the canopy? if so that tends to increase evap which with the cold air coming in from a leak in the window is causing the condensation.

I have 2 dehumidifers in my basement to keep up with the evap from my tank and the extra heat from the dryer. I have them plumbed to a floor drain so no dumping of buckets for me /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/biggrin.gif

Only option I can think of is a whole home dehum if this happens every year. They are nice to have in the summer to help keep the heat down as well.

 

No canopy open tops on both tanks. I did have glass tops on last year but this summer went to open tops. I was thinking bout the whole house dehumidifier but I got an estimate from someone I cant remember for like 3k and yeah we all know that didnt happen. Hence why Im asking tasha what she paid for hers lol!

 

Cost around $2000 but we did the installation ourselves. We also run open tops and have no fans in a canopy. Our house is 5 years old. I believe the issue comes from the lack of air exchange as a lot of the newer furnaces do not pull air from outside that's where the efficiency comes from.

 

I have the same problem. I installed an air to air heat exchanger to help with it. It helps a lot, but doesn't solve the problem. Our situation might be a little different than some. We have electric heat supplemented by a wood stove. That means that we aren't running a furnace to circulate air in the house. My house was built in the mid seventies, but we have replaced the windows and have kept it upgraded with additional insulation etc.

I would like to hear what your HVAC system is Reefguy2010.

 

A newer tighter house has more problems since it cant breathe as much.

An air exchanger is best as it takes the humid air out and brings in fresh air from the outside. It is actually code in new homes now.

Do you have a exhaust fan in your bathroom? If so, you can let it run a little more & that will help.

 

You could dry the windows with a towel and then use a floor fan blowing on the window...keep your curtains open, too. We paid $1500 a year ago, I believe.

 

My house is smaller so that probably doesnt help either, 726 sq ft. It was built in 1950, but the house I lived in before had the same problem, older home as well. Im a +1 on wanting to know more information on Reefguy2010's hvac system. Also, was that installed or you doing it yourself Sponge?

 

898 sq. ft for the level where the tank is. Kapaun & Brown installed it (HRV) along with furnace and AC.  Has helped with humidity and Ph /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

I installed a big Broan bathroom exhaust fan in my fishroom and run it through a dehumidistat (NuTone NRS200WH). Cheaper even than a dehumidifier!

I've yet to set up my tank, so we'll see how well it works... I will say that our house is newer (i.e. airtight) but has AC on all summer and is incredibly dry in the winter so I think it will work well.

 

A newer home is going to be the issue as there is very little air exchange from the outside.  The size of the home will not matter either.  If you do not have a way to exchange the moist inside air you are going to have an issue.  
We also have a newer home, 5 years to be exact.  Square footage also will not matter, our total square footage is 4200, 1/2 where the tank is located and still have a moisture issues on the windows on the main floor.  There is no issue in the summer as the AC is pulling the humidity out of the air but in the winter if you do not have a way to pull out the moisture or have a way to bring in drier air there is going to be an issue.