Orchidarium fan recommendations? - Orchid Board

Becca · #1 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 09:36 PM

Hi! I'm hoping to get some recommendations on small sized fans to use in my orchidarium. It came with two that hang from the ceiling, but then I added a wonderful misting system and I need more air circulation towards the bottom of the orchidarium. I bought several Coralife fans and have gone through at least three in the last year or less. The problem? Well sometimes water will drip on them from my mounted orchids that need extra air circulation....I'm tired of putting the money into the fans and I am hoping someone can help me out, other then to not let the water drip on them....lol. I like the small size and the output of the larger sized Coralife fans and I need something that will sit on the floor of my orchidarium, so no mounting or clip-on's. So any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! TIA!

Tindomul · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 11:58 AM

Does your orchidarium have a ventilation opening? This tends to let the whole tank dry out quickly.

I usually use cheap computer fans from the web that sell for no more than $3 or so. I connect the power cords myself to the ac/dc converter. This is a much cheaper alternative to coralife.

Becca · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 12:06 PM

Nope, I don't have a ventilation opening, but the doors do not seal completely so air is able to leak out, but if I don't have the misting system the humidity stays down to low for the 'chids. Guess I'll have to check out the cheap pc fans. While the Coralife fans are expensive, around $20.00 each for the larger sized one, it is nice that when it decides to quit working from water driping on it every once in a while that it doesn't cause any problems with any of my other equipment that is plugged into the surge protector strip. I'd hate for a fan to short out and cause problems, but maybe I am just paranoid?

Ross · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 01:36 PM

Becca, I don't understand why the Coral Life fans aren't holding up for you. I've been using the same fans in my tank (with misting) for two years without a failure. In any case, they are 12-volt and direct water won't cause a shock or power failure. Mine get misted on every time the misting system kicks on (every 4 hours.)

Becca · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 01:40 PM

Yeah I figured they would hold up as well! I didn't keep the packaging/receipts for warranty issues either, but I will double check I didn't toss the receipt. I thought it was maybe because sometimes I would hang an epiweb mounted orchid above the fan and water would drip directly onto the fan, I had a couple others go bad on me that was directly under a dripping orchid. But I would think that after they dried out they would be ok, but nope! Could it be the part that has the switch box that you plug the fan into? I've tried switching them before when they went out with no luck.

Ross · #6 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 01:55 PM

Yep. If you get water into that switch box, that could corrode the contacts. But (I haven't looked closely at mine) they might be taken apart and sanded down to remove oxidation on the contacts. I take fans apart all the time (even A/C ones) with no problem. Some of the oil sealed fans still need lubing. I wouldn't let water or fertilizer drip directly onto the fan, but misting and heavy moisture shouldn't ruin them. After all, they are sold by an aquarium company.

Becca · #7 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 02:04 PM

yep that is my problem.....drip, drip, drip sometimes! I'll see if my hubby wants to play with them when he get's bored sometime...lol.

josterha · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul

I usually use cheap computer fans from the web that sell for no more than $3 or so. I connect the power cords myself to the ac/dc converter. This is a much cheaper alternative to coralife.

Hi Tindomul,

Do you use a computer "power supply" to run the fans? If so, are you running more than one on the same power supply? I have a new set-up in my apartment and am trying to figure out the best solution for ventilation. It's not such a big issue right now. This summer in chicago has been unseasonably cool and I just have the window fan on, which blows across the room. Incidentally, this brings in more humidity from outside. However, the winter is a different story. It gets extremely dry and I will have to set up a misting system, or at least one humidifier. Covering the "orchidarium" with a plastic tarp will nix the ventilation, so's I wants to get on that now.

Thanks,
John