Apex in fishroom: moisture proofing

User

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 15, 2017
Messages
4,522
Reaction score
7,100
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Wondering about people who have apex systems set up in a closed environment like a fishroom.

Other than ventilating the room to keep humidity in check, say <55% , do you also enclose the apex and modules in a cabinet or acrylic box, or just have it mounted up on the wall in the open?

Wondering if I should redesign my plan to include an acrylic panel door and some desiccant pouches for protection of the electronics.

Thanks
 

ihavecrabs

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 25, 2014
Messages
2,799
Reaction score
3,353
Location
Illinois
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have mine mounted inside a cabinet with original intentions to run a tube through the wall (another room in the basement) to pull fresh air in and the other side of the cabinet would have humid air out with a small PC fan for movement.

My recommendation is to use a deeper cabinet. I made mine 6" deep and a hidden panel to hide cables and man is it hard to shut now haha.

So mine sits in higher humidity too now
 

ReeferBud

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 2, 2017
Messages
515
Reaction score
328
Location
Houston
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I’m still running an Apex classic since 2012. It spent 4 years mounted inside my cabinet, where there’s a lot of moisture and then 3 years in my fish room, where it’s currently placed.

While I do notice a bit of corrosion, I have never had any issues because of it.

I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you.
 

ca1ore

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 28, 2014
Messages
14,193
Reaction score
19,711
Location
Stamford, CT
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
I’ve had the usb connections rust a bit on components sealed up inside a small stand, but no issues in a larger fish room. Much more important to use drip loops on the wires.
 

radiata

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 2, 2015
Messages
1,162
Reaction score
779
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
I think ventilation may be the key. My DT is on my 1st floor, but most of my Apex modules are in the basement. My basement has central air-conditioning, but it hasn't been warm enough (in NJ) to need to be turned on yet. Thus, my basement is now humid enough to create condensation on the water lines, the Neptune ApexBus cables, and the electrical extension cords that traverse my basement's ceiling. I did lose one electronic module (NOT an Apex) this past week when condensation water collected on an electrical extension cord and rolled down into the area where the extension met the module's electrical plug - crackling noises and smelly smoke ensued.

I obviously need better ventilation in my basement. I'll have to install a window fan this weekend. Wouldn't it be nice if Apex had a probe for humidity monitoring that I could use to turn the exhaust fan on and off? (DA actually made one for herp hobbyist to use.)
 
OP
OP
User

User

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 15, 2017
Messages
4,522
Reaction score
7,100
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
IWouldn't it be nice if Apex had a probe for humidity monitoring that I could use to turn the exhaust fan on and off? (DA actually made one for herp hobbyist to use.)

Why pay $175 for an unreliable humidity probe and module when you can buy a humidistat from amazon for $28?
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT AMOUNT OF LIVE ROCK AND SAND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR OPTIMAL BIODIVERSITY/FILTRATION?

  • 100% live rock + bagged sand

    Votes: 38 27.5%
  • 100% dry rock + 100% live sand

    Votes: 46 33.3%
  • 50/50 live/dry rock, 50/50 live/bagged sand

    Votes: 30 21.7%
  • 75% live rock, 25% live sand

    Votes: 14 10.1%
  • 25% live rock, 75% live sand

    Votes: 10 7.2%
Back
Top