Dehumidifier as top off? (1 Viewer)

[Wildfire]

Okay, I know that this SOUNDs crazy, which is why I'm soliciting opinions... My tank evaporates about 10g of water per day, and still gets HOT. So I've got a really hot humid room. I'm shopping around for a dehumidifier, and trying to figure out how to get it to drain out the window, when it hits me:

Why not use a dehumidifier, and cycle the water back into the tank? It would save me in top off cost (evaporated water is all but distilled and pure... right?) remove the moisture from the air, everybody wins!

Comments?

 

[Guest]

Humidifier

Wildfire,

I think that the only problem with using the humidifier is that the water associated with it is in contact with copper tubing? This idea had also crossed my mind.

Mike

 

[bag151]

Ive also noticed when I empty my dehumidifier that bubbles often form which makes me think that as the water condences that it comes in contact with some chemicals.

 

[toefu]

would a tds meter be able to determine anything in regards to the water quality that is collected?

 

[bag151]

well a tds meter would tell you if there is disolved minerals in the water but it wont tell you what kind. There easily could be copper in the water and you wouldnt know about it.

 

[landfish]

You can get a test kit for copper. I would get that kit and test to see if there is any copper in the water.

 

[RickD]

If you move the water through an RO unit and burn it...would that work?

 

[Guest]

water condensed from the air is not neccesarily "pure" its not the same as a still. Copper could be a problem, along with lead, possibly iron, possibly silver. put the money you'd save in one hand over a year, and put your total tank investment in the other... which is bigger?

 

[Guest]

Unless you have a antique AC it is nearly certain to only be wetted by aluminum and maybe zinc(galvinized). Some test for copper would be a not unreasonable precaution. I have used condensate several times (in fresh water tanks) but not consistantly. I can tell you next year; I built a 125 into a wall under the room AC unit, but it is not yet in service.

 

[jdeveaux]

I wouldn't use the water from the dehumidifier for most of the reasons already stated. I've seen the water coming from my dehumidifer and I don't need a TDS to see that it is dirty.

The corals and fish in the tank cost way too much to risk trying to reclaim the water.

If anything I would have it drain out into your yard to water your grass. I have my waste line from my RO system draining into a line I buried in the ground from the front of the house to the back so that the water at least serves a purpose.

 

[Guest]

Tank

Just a thought and I didn't read to closely at their description,
but the person in Reef Central Jan. Tank of the month explain his
heating and cooling methods, its really a science how he explains
it.

 

[jdeveaux]

Re: Tank

Just a thought and I didn't read to closely at their description,
but the person in Reef Central Jan. Tank of the month explain his
heating and cooling methods, its really a science how he explains
it.

Personally I've never had to concern myself with heating the tank; my wife would never let the house get that cold

 

[Tempset]

Okay, I know that this SOUNDs crazy, which is why I'm soliciting opinions... My tank evaporates about 10g of water per day, and still gets HOT. So I've got a really hot humid room. I'm shopping around for a dehumidifier, and trying to figure out how to get it to drain out the window, when it hits me:

Why not use a dehumidifier, and cycle the water back into the tank? It would save me in top off cost (evaporated water is all but distilled and pure... right?) remove the moisture from the air, everybody wins!

Comments?

Only my opinion, but if your tank is getting HOT enough to evaporate 10gal/day, I'd look into better ways to merely cool the tank down. Warm water finds it way into the atmosphere (your room OR the sky) a LOT easier than cooler water does.

I hate to admit it, but perhaps a chiller (however small) may be your answer. Think about the piece of mind you'd have knowing that your tank stays at the right temp all the time.

My apartment fluctuates between 69degree-75degrees. (We haven't purchased an auto thermostat yet). My tank stays around 78degree in the night-time. During the day it climbs a highest peak of 80.5. Granted, i keep a 300watt ebo jager heater int he refugium.

I fill up a traditional beverage pitcher (like used for ice tea) twice to the brim and poor it down the rear portion of my overflow (heading into the sump). I do all of this about every 3 days.

My wife is pushing for an auto-top off. I'm pushing for an in-line TDS meter

 

[AquaNerd]

would it be possible that the dehumidifier could cause even more evaporation. it the room loses humidity, it should cause more evaporation.

 

[orangegreasemnky]

a dehumidifier is also how the air filtering system works in big building they have a dehumidifier then they rehumidify the water. so for sure the water that comes off is really dirty. the one i have can make up to a 10 gallon a week difference depending on what setting i have it set on as far as evaporation goes. and i have a 30 gallon tank

 

[hank]

It is also my experience that the dehumidifier causes the tank to loose more water and they are located a floor away from each other.

 

[Guest]

Well not to burst anyones bubble, but almost everyones home is plumbed with copper, The amount of copper would be extremely minimal, if you think about it these pipes are extremely thin and yet they last for 75+ years with ease, thus showing that copper pipes does not compromise water quality, copper can come from other factors such as citys filtration methods ect.