Should i use my dehumidifier?

[DrewBrees713]

Got a 150g tank and my house smells musty... yes musty as soon as you walk thru the door :( I want to use my dehumidifier but someone told me that would just evaporate my tank water even faster. Any thruth to this guys thanks!

 

[Webslinger]

put a cover on the top of your tank and sump

 

[Copingwithpods]

Absolutely true, one of the factors affecting evaporation is humidity, the lower the humidity the higher the rate of evaporation. Granted it's going to be a small change in the amount of evaporation but a change nonetheless. As for the smell, is it coming from the display or the sump/fuge area?

 

[watdachuck]

Sounds like a silly reason to me. Sure a dryer environment might induce tank water to evaporate faster, but does that worry you? Do you have an ATO?

I keep a dehumidifier running in my basement where the tank is for the same reason. Without it the room would get musty. I keep mine set at 50% humidity and it drains directly into my basement sump.

 

[Albertan22]

Yes run the dehumidifier. It will increase evaporation, but that’s a small price to pay compared to potential mold and/or health problems.

 

[ReeferBud]

The dehumidifier should remove more water than is added by increased evaporation due to lower humidity.

However, putting a cover on tank and sump would help lower evaporation but you’d also be decreasing gas exchange, which is desirable.

 

[Mark]

I keep a 150 gallon reef, plus a couple of brute trashcans full for topoff/water changes, in my basement. I run a dehumidifier that pumps into the T coupling on a sink drain pipe. Totally worth a little extra evaporation for better air quality. The only downside is noise.

 

[Webslinger]

The dehumidifier should remove more water than is added by increased evaporation due to lower humidity.

However, putting a cover on tank and sump would help lower evaporation but you’d also be decreasing gas exchange, which is desirable.

Thanks what the skimmer is for.

 

[DrewBrees713]

I dont have an ATO. Just topping it off manually evry 3 days. How long should i keep the hunidier on for?

 

[ca1ore]

The other thing to consider is that most portable dehumidifiers add substantial heat to the room. I think Houston is always humid so probably exchanging room air is not a great option, but that's generally what I do here in CT in all but the hottest and coldest months. There are portable room AC units that plumb to the outside that have a dehumidification option.

 

[ADAM]

I dont have an ATO. Just topping it off manually evry 3 days. How long should i keep the hunidier on for?

Many have a setting for desired humidity and will cycle like your AC/Heat as needed. Also some models have optional draining methods like built in pumps and/or threaded pipe adapters for ease of emptying. If the house has a musty odor your humidity is way higher than it should be and the effects of that can, and will be, worse than the extra evaporation.
The added humidity will also cause your AC to run more because the moisture (humidity) in the air can hold and absorb heat faster making the inside of the house warmer faster therefore increasing the need for comfort cooling. In areas of country were high humidity is prevalent the additional humidity from our tanks, if left unmitigated, can cause the AC to be unable to keep the house comfortable on hot summer days.