Air conditioning a fishroom

[GaryE]

I have an older in window air conditioner that is adequate for about 60% the size of my fishroom. The room is above ground, sun exposed and super insulated because I thought winter would be my only problem. I'm not in an AC environment, as summers are cool (usually 22-24c) and we get a fair bit of fog and breeze from the Atlantic Ocean across the road. I have no use for AC in my home. I'm in year 4 of this fishroom. I have noticed it likes to hold a steady 24-25 degrees all summer. The fish I keep would prefer 20.

In year one, I ran the smaller unit, while waiting for a friend's daughter to return my old inland city with sweltering temps portable AC unit. Her apartment burned down uninsured, so so much for that. The smaller unit didn't do the job, so for the last two years I've inefficiently dealt with higher summer temps, after trying a whole range of clever looking failed ideas. I have lost too many killifish to the warm weather.

I just saw an AC unit on clearance at a tempting price. It's the same size as the one I have, so good for a bit more than half the room. For you humid air southern types, would two small units with enough combined BTU for the room (and 40% more as a cushion) be likely to do the job? Or would a larger unit for the whole thing be better? It's 4 month issue, but man, the local sales have me thinking.

 

[MaloK]

Generally speaking, one larger unit designed for the entire room is often the more efficient and effective solution. Cooling and energy wise.

The only advantage of two unit is you somewhat have redundancy and if one breaks you're not falling in an oven in couple hours.

 

[Magnum Man]

actually if you had a large exhaust fan, or big window fan, on a timer or temperature control, so it only runs during the cool of the night, it could both help cool your room, and exhaust humidity, and may make the unit you have, control the room, like you would like...

 

[Archerfish]

In my sunroom, I have the same issue down here in Florida, Gary. There is also an indoor pond with special lighting that throws off heat so that compounds the problem. Initially, a small A/C unit that was sized for the room kept up but barely. It ran hard and all day long on the hottest days. Two years ago, I too found a killer deal on a larger, variable compressor speed unit and it is more than adequate. It lumbers along on low a good portion of the time.

 

[GaryE]

Florida would be an extreme - you have more sustained and higher heat than I deal with. We get cruise ships here full of people escaping the southern heat and just walking around in our coastal coolness.

I calculate that if the fishroom were a kitchen, I would be 1700 btu underpowered with the unit I have here here. If I add a 5000 btu unit, at the opposite end of the 23 foot room, I'd likely have it covered. It might take more energy long term, but in 3 summers here, the hottest day has been 26 (79). The Bay regulates heat, although the sea is getting warmer every year.

A larger unit would be 4 times the price, short term. Window fans now are fine, but by June, it builds in the room. So June to September is my issue, with an average outside temp between 22-24 (72-75f). But at the same time, the room is jammed with tanks and can become quite humid...

I do have a history of counter-productive cheapness, but 2 units would total 11,000 btu and the online calculators suggest I need 7500. I just don't trust Senor Cheapo (me) here...

 

[Archerfish]

Yeah, we have long hot summers. And my indoor pond, tanks and Ficus & Mangrove trees really ad to the humidity. I finally went with a unit more than twice what I need and it mostly cruises along on low. The biggest advantage of the larger unit is mid-summer, I can take off to the beach or go diving and not worry about it.

 

[seangee]

Two would work but would likely use more electricity. I suspect you would need to be careful with placement so that you aren't pushing already cooled air into either unit - think how would you place 2 filters in a tank