What PH for spray bars?

[Lightsluvr]

I have two spray bars in the SH tank, and use Maxi-Jet 1200s to feed them.

Anybody have suggestions for small PH that can do 300-400 gph to operate spraybars without generating as much heat as a Maxi-Jet? They need to have a 1/2" output.

Thanks.


LL

 

[bugjuice90]

can't you use a maxijet 400 or 900?

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14269034#post14269034 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bugjuice90
can't you use a maxijet 400 or 900?

I currently use Maxi-Jet 1200's - I was just trying to find a PH that used less current to push more water...The 400 or 900 pushes less water...it's all about heat in the SH tank...

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Hmmm...

Hmmm...

Looks like I stay with Maxi-Jet 1200s...there doesn't seem to be anything more efficient out there with a 1/2" output



LL

 

[Driftwood]

Could you bring some of the maxi-jet above the waters surface to help keep part of the pump from warming the water?

 

[Lightsluvr]

No...

No...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14278259#post14278259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Driftwood
Could you bring some of the maxi-jet above the waters surface to help keep part of the pump from warming the water?

The Maxi-Jet must be submerged - that's how it cools the motor...

 

[Driftwood]

Makes sense, wouldn't want to damage the motor.

Did you have a small fan over the tank? That is how I cool my reefs in the summer, evaporation is a bit much but better then buying a chiller.

 

[Lightsluvr]

tANK TEMP

tANK TEMP

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14279328#post14279328 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Driftwood
Makes sense, wouldn't want to damage the motor.

Did you have a small fan over the tank? That is how I cool my reefs in the summer, evaporation is a bit much but better then buying a chiller.

I run my seahorse tank at 75 degrees. No way a small (or large) fan would do the job. It's just one of the costs of properly keeping seahorses...

LL

 

[pledosophy]

Maxijets can be run externally IME. I used them out of water to run a closed loop. Sold the setup to a guy who still has the same MJ 1200 running on it. I think it's been close to 6 years.

IME a small fan well placed can drop a tank temp 5 degrees under ambient room temp. JME

Personally if your worried about heat from the internal pumps, I would go with a closed loop and an external pump. This is how I run all my tanks now. It's kind of a cleaner look as well IMHO. Right now I am up to a 900 gph closed loop pump that returns through two spraybars, each about a foot in length.

JME
HTH

 

[ducklabdad]

I know of multiple different people running maxjets externally. I am running one on a kalk stirrer and know several that are running externally on skimmers without an issue.

 

[_E_]

pledosophy,
I'm really interested to see your return setup on your tanks. I've heard you mention that you use alot of flow through spraybars and closed loops. Any threads on how you constructed yours? (sorry to jack the thread)
Eric

 

[pledosophy]

I never made a thread on here about them. I meant to, and well, just never did.

Here is the back of the tank

Here are the first version of the spraybars which I later redid. No pics of the redo's, they are just an upside down J. I went with a simpler design. I over thought it the first time.

Here was the tank with the rock in it

After the new spraybars the tank looked like this 3 months ago. It looks much the same now, just moved a few things. I try to keep the macro trimmed.

 

[_E_]

Very nice setup pledosophy. Beautiful tank.
Eric

 

[pledosophy]

Thanks.

Do the pictures make it all make sense? If you have any questions about how I do it, and I'd be gald to help out. I worked on this concept for a few yeas trying different stuff. I found many ways that don't work and so far one that really works well.

 

[_E_]

I think that they make sense to me. In addition to the external standpipe and tank return, it looks like you have a closed loop intake in the overflow, and dual outputs coming on each side of the tank running off the Quiet One pump. The closed loop outputs feed into a pvc structure that has holes drilled in it to direct flow.
Does that sound about right? If so, how did you determine the number, size, and direction of holes? (I'm guessing trial and error) Do the holes restrict the flow of the pump?
Eric

 

[pledosophy]

Pretty much it. I Replaced the Loud One pump with a knock off eheim. I couldn't handle the noise.

There are probably 20 holes in each of the spraybars. I tried to plan the holes so the larger ones would point towards the corals that needed more flow. There is a gorgonia and sinularia in there that like to move about.