Cannister Filter Return?

[The Saltwater Kid]

I was just thinking that maybe instead of the stock return vent I could put on an elbow connector and fit it into a piece of pvc pipe (about 20 inches long) with holes drilled in it (about 1 inch apart) and run it along the back of my tank for better flow/aeration...would this be a good thing to do? How hard would it be? How expen$ive would it be? Any pros/cons to doing this type of thing would be appreciated as I'm no Bob Vila (or even Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor...lol) .

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

Oh, was thinking of attaching it with those suction cup holders for heaters unless there would be a better way?

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

bump

 

[Big Boy69]

It would work and be great for moving the top of the water for better gas exchange

 

[jmkarcz]

Ahhhh an old fashioned spray bar.... Classic.... yet useful, ever thought about putting the holes, not in a straight line, but in a stagered pattern, some up, some down, some at an angle. I have one that is L shapped at the end of my tank.

Make the holes large enough to not create to much back pressure for your canister, I started with 3/16" and then mixed in 1/4" in the middle and then a little bigger near the end. remember that the coraline and other algae love these holes, so from time to time keep them clear.

J

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

What size holes would you recommend I cannot afford to have my filter back up and leak all over)? I assume i would cap off the opposite end of the pvc pipe correct? I did think about staggering the holes every other one aiming down as my live rock is stacked up against my glass in the back of my tank and not much flow gets behind the rock.

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

bump

 

[scrager]

you want the area of your drilled holes to be equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the pipe they are drilled in to prevent back pressure.

and you want to cap the end, otherwise the water will just go out the end instead of the holes. water is like electricity. it takes the path of least resistance.