Planted Tanks And Filter Spray Bars.. (your Setup)

[Squid]

How do you have your filter outlets/spray bars arranged in your tanks.???

I am looking to go a bit more planted than i currently am, but i am concerned about the flow of the water bending the plants all over the place. Whenever i see photos of peoples tanks on here they always look pretty calm and serene.. lucky people.

I want to:

1. ensure i don't affect any addition of co2 by too much surface disturbance.
2. ensure i don't blast sand everywhere
3. ensure i don't decrease the effectiveness of the filter
4. ensure i don't blast the plants everywhere

Jimboo has already advised me to make the holes in the spray bar bigger to help the situation..

It is currently set up like this... (as per the eheim instructions as one of the options.. causes the output to go across the surface, hit the far end and come back in the centre of the tank and back into the intake... nice circle and good water stats



Any advice.. please let me know how yours is set up if you can...

Squid

 

[Daz CPFC]

I actually removed the whole spraybar from my external and just allow it to flow out. Seems to do the job for my just as well. Have camboda right near the outlet and it hasnt effected it to my knowledge

 

[ulster exile]

I have mine going along the length of the tank. It's an eheim one so I have I extended it to decrease the flow (has worked a treat as I had the problem of plant stems 'bending').

I got my extension kit from Charterhouse aquatics (online retailer - excellant for Eheim kit). But note that the extension kit is charcoal, not green (you can get an installation kit to change the rest of the spraybar kit to charcoal too).

Positioned just under the water line so that there is little/no surface agitation.

HTH

 

[MoreCoffee]

As you've already mentioned, you'll want to keep the spray bar below the surface to minimise disturbance and therefore CO2 loss.

My new setup with an AquaEl 500 filter the spray bar comes in 5 sections that can be joined as required, I'll be setting it up like this ....

2 segements positioned vertically (remember spray bars can be used vertically !), pushing water along the back of the tank, 3 segments positioned horizontally mid water with 2 of them pushing water out towards the front and the last segment pushing water towards the substrate.
The idea is to try get some 3D water movement.

I realise most spray bars dont come in segments .... but a little DIY can achieve the same result if needed.


Al

 

[jimbooo]

mine is vertical in back left corner plus i've drilled more holes to provide a multi directional output if that makes sence.

easy to cover it with plants then!

 

[Squid]

mine is vertical in back left corner plus i've drilled more holes to provide a multi directional output if that makes sence.

easy to cover it with plants then!

Thanks for your input everyone .. some good ideas


Jimboo - right next to the intake? or is the intake at the other end? (happy new year chap!)

Squid

 

[Themuleous]

Also dont forget, that the 'pro' people on here often remove the filter when taking pics

Sam

 

[Squid]

Also dont forget, that the 'pro' people on here often remove the filter when taking pics

Sam

Thats just crafty and cheating...

 

[voo]

I position mine just like yours is, across the side of the tank, but with the intake on the opposite end of the tank. I've drilled a couple of holes in the other side of the spray bar too so that plants underneath get fresh water too.

 

[jimbooo]

mine is vertical in back left corner plus i've drilled more holes to provide a multi directional output if that makes sence.

easy to cover it with plants then!

Thanks for your input everyone .. some good ideas


Jimboo - right next to the intake? or is the intake at the other end? (happy new year chap!)

Squid

yep, side by side. the intake is just off the gravel but the spray bar is from the surface (well just a tad under) to about 2 inches above the intake. loads of holes in it though so the water seeps out rather than blasting through.

happy new year to you too mate..

 

[anodized]

i have mine horizontally half way down the tank. keeps the spray bar submerged during water changes (EI)

 

[angelmouse]

my spraybar is on back of tank with sray aimed at back as well,it seems to produce less water movement that way and the intake is opposite end of tank, just high enough not to suck up the sand
Angel

 

[Squid]

i have mine horizontally half way down the tank. keeps the spray bar submerged during water changes (EI)

cunning...