Spray Bar Questions

[Akasha72]

Hey everyone, as the title suggests I've got a question regarding the use of a spray bar. I'm asking because I've never used a spray bar - always the nozzles
 
So I have two JBL Crystalprofi external filters on my 4ft tank. Currently I have the outlet nozzles in each rear corner but whilst there's plenty of flow there's not a lot of surface movement and I've been reading about options for keeping the tank cool in the summer and everything seems to suggest upping surface movement. The best way to increase the movement would be to change the nozzles for the spray bars but what's the best way to position them?
 
My spray bars can be fitted straight or curved so I could add both to the rear wall, turn the holes upwards a bit so it's moving the surface OR ... I could implement the corner piece and put them in both corners but which is best?  
 
HELP!! 
 
 

 

[fluttermoth]

Honestly, theee isn't a best way! It depends on how your tank is set up, things like where the plants and bogwood are, because they'll disrupt and/or change the flow anyway.

I'm afraid you just have to try different set ups with the spray bars until you get the effect you want

 

[Akasha72]

thanks .... I think it's my plants to blame for no surface movement as it's set up now. I used to have surface movement but just lately it's gone and the only thing that's changed is the plants going utterly crazy and growing like weeds
 
Given then that my biggest plants (the amazon swords) are in the two rear corners it might be best to try the straight spray bar down the length of the back wall first ... that way I should see more movement in the middle where there's no plants 

 

[Ch4rlie]

Tep, its pretty much trial and error in fitting your spray bar until its in a position that works best for your set up.
 
There is no real right or wrong way of adding spraybars. I have seen these set up in all kinds of concvievable positions on tanks, along rear glass, corner, along near substrate, vertically in corners, sides of tanks or combinations of any of the above.
 
The real point of spray bar is to create surface movement/ripples to help oxygenate the water column, and to create flow so that the water moves evenly thoughout the tank ensuring no hot or cold spots as well as no dead spots where, more often than not, a magnet for algae.
 
On my tank i have the spraybar on whole of left side glass just under the water surface with the nozzles pointing slightly upward to make slight ripples on water surface. It works for me so far but am getting fuzzy algae on highest plants so think thats down to my t5 lights.
 
But from sounds of things with your amazon swords, all along the rear glass is probably a good starting point then take it from there.

 

[fluttermoth]

Given then that my biggest plants (the amazon swords) are in the two rear corners it might be best to try the straight spray bar down the length of the back wall first ... that way I should see more movement in the middle where there's no plants

Sounds like a plan

 

[gmc1]

Same as Charlie but I also have have a nozzle attatched to end of bar to point towards middle of tank.then two wavemakers to push water round to the inlets.I found that to help algae probs with the varied flow.heavily planted also.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Same as Charlie but I also have have a nozzle attatched to end of bar to point towards middle of tank.then two wavemakers to push water round to the inlets.I found that to help algae probs with the varied flow.heavily planted also.

 
2 wavemakers! Is that in your FW tank or the SW one?
 
But not sure what you mean by "also have have a nozzle attatched to end of bar to point towards middle" is that an extension of the spray bar with a smaller spraybar to point or a one of these duckbill type nozzles attached to end of spray bar?
 
Am intrigued as I might try that on my tank as well.

 

[Byron]

The best position for a spray bar is along the end wall(s), not along the back.  This provides a flow down the entire wall to the substrate, and then across the tank, something like replicating a stream.  If is also best to have this flow one way, i.e., not spray bars (or any filter outlets) at opposite ends of the tank.  A flow from left to right, or right to left, tank length, will provide the best water movement for plants and fish.  Fish from moving waters expect this, as it means they will face into the current upstream.  No fish live in water that comes at them from more than one direction.
 
As for surface movement, it is easy to fiddle with the angle of the holes to achieve this.  I direct the holes into the end wall, and from there you can have them more downward (less surface movement but stronger current downward) or directly into the wall (which should provide more movement on the surface) or even slightly upward for even more.
 
Remember that plants generally do not like water movement.  Fish are more important considerations, both with respect to flow and surface movement.  In my 70g I noticed the corys surfacing more often, and all it took was a simple turn of the spray bar towards the wall to provide just a bit more surface movement, and problem solved overnight.
 
Byron.

 

[Akasha72]

I'm having minor troubles with these swords. Some leaves are getting scorched on my lights, many leaves are covered in brown algae where they now sit on the water surface and it seems they are affecting flow. I'm actually wondering whether to stop adding co2 and ferts for a while in the hope it will slow their growth. One plant currently has 3 flower stems ... they really are going mad
 
Just taken this photo
 

 

[NickAu]

 
The best position for a spray bar is along the end wall(s), not along the back.

 
On my tank i have the spraybar on whole of left side glass just under the water surface with the nozzles pointing slightly upward to make slight ripples on water surface.

Best place is along the side wall.
 
Setting up a filter spray bar and making a bit of surface movement is harder if you have a Betta
 
This is how I had to do it.
https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb2B8cdX3So

 

[gmc1]

Same as Charlie but I also have have a nozzle attatched to end of bar to point towards middle of tank.then two wavemakers to push water round to the inlets.I found that to help algae probs with the varied flow.heavily planted also.

 
2 wavemakers! Is that in your FW tank or the SW one?
 
But not sure what you mean by "also have have a nozzle attatched to end of bar to point towards middle" is that an extension of the spray bar with a smaller spraybar to point or a one of these duckbill type nozzles attached to end of spray bar?
 
Am intrigued as I might try that on my tank as well.[/quote



In my freshwater.my 406 hE the spraybar with nozzle at end.my 296 has same nozzle further into middle.
You can see the two wavemakers in pic on left.that's four diff flows that are weak enough for plants.

 

[Akasha72]

if I put the spray bars at the side I'll not be helping anything because of the plants ... that was why I shared the photo. I might just give up and leave it as it is and pray we don't get too hot this summer and my tank doesn't over heat like last summer

 

[gmc1]

Mine are on back akasha

 

[Akasha72]

Mine are on back akasha

 
Oh okay ... and does it work okay and do you think it could work with my tank and it's lay out? 
 
In terms of the tank getting too hot in summer, so far it's been okay ... I think there was just one day that it got a little higher than the thermometer setting. That said we've not really had any serious hot weather just yet so I want to be prepared in case we do get a heat wave

 

[gmc1]

Yes it seems to work fine.I cleared up a lot of algae issues with this set up.not saying it will do the same for you .the four week flow outputs work fine.it lets my Amazon frog bit move around but not too much.it keeps the middle and lower portions with enough movement too.
With your Amazon's it may be trial and error because let's face it they are huge.lol.
In the summer I feel I have enough circulation to cope.I open lid and turn lights off for a while.if it's too hot the heater .but that's very rare lol.