Spray-bar or no spray-bar?

[map95003]

Hi All, for my new 75g build, I'm thinking of going with a spray-bar as the return from my Mag9 (5 ft head). What do you guys think, are these things benificial, or junk just build up behind them...is it worth having the ugly piece of pvc behind my LR that would still be visible in some areas?

I was thinking of using black PVC for the down tube, might be a bit easier on the eyes..any thoughts,tricks, must see, must read (size of pipe, hole patern, etc.) before I build one would be greatly appreciated. Should I run all flow from the return pump through it, or should I T-off some of the flow? Is this a sump overflow/backflow hazard or drilling a small hole at the top of the down tube in the display tank just below the water line will take care of this issue...just interested in your experiences and picking your brains for ideas.

thanks.

 

[george1098]

Spray bars are pretty old school. Now that the powerhead has been invented, they are pretty much obsolete. Most people these days use some locline for a return and cram in the powerheads for flow. Having said that, I do have somthing somewhat simular to a spray bar, but not quite.. Click on my little red house to see what I did for my return.

 

[billdogg]

as part of my return i use a spray bar on the bottom back of the tank to help keep stuff from collecting behind the LR - i also have a closed loop around the top perimeter with locline fittings to direct flow from above.--no powerheads at all in the Dt no clutter that way

 

[map95003]

Thanks guys, Instead of the spray bar, I think I'll try to come up with a way to hide 2 powerheads behing the LR...not as creative as george. Billdogg, you have to excuse my ignorance, I'm still new at this. Could you explain a closed-loop? My assumption is that it's a system that just circulate water in the display tank and not connected to the sump in anyway? Thanks.

 

[mfinn]

I have always used a bottom spray bar in all my tanks for the last 16-17 years.
Getting good current on the bottom of the tank, behind the live rock without having to put a powerhead down there that is going to eventually get clogged up or die is the easiest thing.
The water is already going back to the tank. Why not put the flow where it will do double duty?

 

[rort]

I know I am new to the forum, but all my past experiences with spray bars has been that if you dont clean them more than regularly they will build up with algae and many other things, and clog the bar. For my 150 I just chose to not put one in and rather used two Koralia 2's pointing at each other on opposite sides of the lower tank to keep movement up but to also allow me to access the powerheads buy just pulling up the power cable!

JMO

 

[mfinn]

I have never had a spray bar clog.
I had one tank set up for 8 continueous years with a bottom spray bar. After taking down the tank and selling it to a friend, he set the tank back up using the same spray bar with very minimal cleaning.

 

[Bruno3047]

I integrated a spray bar into my rock/foam wall for surface agitation. I've always used one and will continue to use one because I think it's the most efficient way to create surface turbulence to promote oxygenation.

I have a 36" spray bar going across the top of a 48" tank. I bought two of these and hooked them up to each other to make one long one with a "T" in the middle. The other 12" is for my overflow.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753124

 

[hebygb]

Problem with tucking powerheads in and behind rock work is eventually one or both will fail and you will have to move those rocks that are now grown out and maybe together with corals. I personally would hate to have to tear apart my rock because of a p-head.

 

[parkpark]

I too am thinking fo making a spray bar, (replacing my loc line). I was just thinking of having the bar right above, parallel with the water line, whats the difference between this and having it down in the tank?

 

[MinibowMatt]

Yeah, I use a spray bar in my prop tank to keep stuff from settling under the eggcrate. Pretty efficient I think.

 

[Michael]

i have 2 look at my gallery pic, however they will need a good clean every 4-6 months with clean hot water, then just stick them back, i am going to replace them with a new tunze soon tbo, just because they look ugly, but they are effective, and keep the surface moving well

 

[alpine36]

does this replicate the effect of rain?

 

[Michael]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13190849#post13190849 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alpine36
does this replicate the effect of rain?

sorry pal i dont understand the question