Hot tub returns in reef tanks?

[lessthanlights]

I was sitting in a hot tub the other night and was admiring it’s water returns- the kind that sit flush into the wall and have a swivel inside to direct the water flow. These returns could look really inconspicuous in a reef setup. Does anyone manufacture these for reefs? Or has anyone tried putting hot-tub parts into their systems?

Something like these
http://www.hottubessentials.com/jet_internals.asp

 

[BeanAnimal]

We don't have enough pressure and flow to make these work well

 

[BigReef]

http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/searchhomekeyresult5.asp?offset=30

Pretty pricey!

 

[jimcoman]

What about these...

http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/subsubcategorypage.asp?subcatindexid=pf-tj-t1

 

[BeanAnimal]

Spa jets rely on pressure and high flow to move the rotating orifice. The other problem is the fact that they simply don't last long. The wear parts are soft plastic and become worn down quickly even in intermitant use in a spa with clean water. It takes very little time for the friction due to wear to overcome their ability to freely rotate.

 

[BigReef]

http://www.customaquatic.com/custom...5.asp?offset=30

These are designed for aquarium use, they do not have rotating jets. So you wouldn't need a ton of pressure to operate them.

With that said, I think that it wouldn't take long to become covered in coraline algae. Therefore limiting their ability to swivel and rendering them almost useless.

.02

 

[BeanAnimal]

Your link does not show anything.... you can't link to search results