Many of the 3rd party FAN control software will NOT (cannot) be set lower then Apple's H/W minimum. Especially SMC Fan Control 2.3 software @
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/23049/smcfancontrol -> which is on MacUpdate Support Service site.
To determine Apple's minimum FAN RPM value for your 2011 iMac 21.5" box, simply install iStats Nano (which is a free widget) and remove 3rd Party Fan control. Yes, 100% remove 3rd party fan control software. Using a cold (sitting for 3+ days without usage) iMac system, immediately start iStats Nano application and records its "cold value" fan speeds. For my 2010 iMac 21.5" - i3 / 3.2 box, I think the minimum default fan speeds are 900 and 1000 RPMs. At those low RPMs at 23C ambient, its insides heats up "too much". Using 3rd party Fan Control software (like SMC control 2.3 - which is their most recent version), I set the fans to minimum 1300. Yes. 300 RPMs faster them factory minimum. Currently, my iMac fans are at 1390 and its internal HDD is now within perfect 35 - 48 range. The factory minimum default for a 2011 iMac 21.5" could be slightly higher - at 1,300 rpms. If so, I would set to custom "minimum " between 1,450 - 1,550 RPMs (using 3rd party fan control software) - to ensure its insides remains cool as well.
As one can tell from previous posts, I love SMC Fan control 2.3 software. It keeps my 2010 iMac's insides much cooler (which means better odds of longer life) and I can feel the top of its screen without burning my finger either. Many positives in this 3rd Party software. For details of my iMac's 21.5 FAN RPM settings (HDD temp at 38C), surf:
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/...Mac system/SMC_Fan_Control_23onAug11-2011.jpg
Hope this helps in your research...