[Killietalk] Basic balancing act of physical principals relating to fishrooms.

[Fred Behrmann <athensaquatics at juno_com>]

Hi Guys, As I understand it the best we can attain in relation to costs
incurred having a fishroom vs personal comfort and total destruction of
equipment made from/of unprotected metal and electronic equipment is a
balancing act between physical principals of everything involved.
        The enemy/culprit is HUMIDITY :  The many laws that apply are: 
1. isolate the fishroom     2. insulate the fishroom     Now most of us
can't even do #2, much less #1.     If your fishroom is in the basement,
make it a separate room and insulate it. This includes vapor barriers(
sheet plastic,joints overlapped and taped) on both sides of the house
insulation (not needed if Styrofoam is the insulation). If the TD (
temperature difference) on each side of the wall is not huge and the Rh (
rate of heat flow) is small ( high R value of the insulation used) there
should be no condensation on the hotter, more humid side of the wall.
That's what applies to refrigerators on a humid Summer day without
central air conditioning as well. Except we are dealing with fishrooms. 
Warmer air holds more water than cooler air. RH (relative humidity) comes
into play as well as dew points( condensation points). Water surface rate
of change ( how fast are you bubbling your filter) and the room temp
compared to the water temp ( another possible TD{larger TD means rate of
evaporation is faster}). Evaporation being a cooling process explains why
the tank water temp. lags the room temp by 3 -4F.  If you turn the room
heat up; the air can hold more moisture( dew point up, RH drops) and the
tank becomes endothermic( takes in heat); If you should drop the room
temp back down then the dew point drops and the RH rises but the tank of
water becomes exothermic( gives up heat). Is this bad? I don't know!
Temperature is not static/steady in nature. I do know a fishroom on a
slab fluctuates almost opposite of one in basement of an insulated home
if you compare it season wise. Are you confused yet? This is getting too
long but I'm trying to get across the idea that fishroom conditions bring
on humidity and condensation and the MORE surface area you have the MORE
correcting you have to do and that starts to cost real money. I have the
opportunity to visit many wholesalers ( one every Tuesday) and I see some
HUGE problems being combated with huge costs. Can you imagine 1600 
40gal. tanks crowded together and 3 high. My problem is they rarely bring
in a killie. Basically 7 1/2 hours every Tuesday wasted.   
Sincerely,
Fred Behrmann
Athens Aquatics
37 W. Bridge Street
Catskill, NY 12414    Phone:(518) 943-2630
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