WOuld THis Work?

[FraggledRock]

So I have been researching water movement, waves etc etc.

Now I was thinking what better way to get the most movement then by covering more area of water being moved versus a power head of lets say 1.5 - 2.5 output which creates a tunnel effect where water around the stream is unaffected as much??

I designed a basic pvc pipe setup that would get attached to a power head or water pump.



would this work?

it would create turbulent water movement and hit high and low spots keeping debris or detritus from settling?

we could even get fancy and put some kind of Rudder for random motion on the output holes LOL

The ends should be capped but don't have to be

 

[username in use]

It's been done. It's just a basic manifold. You would want to put some loc line nozzles on it direct flow.

Really what you should do, is split the water between a pair of sea swirls at either end.


That being said, the propeller power heads provide a very wide flow pattern.

 

[FraggledRock]

It's been done. It's just a basic manifold. You would want to put some loc line nozzles on it direct flow.

Really what you should do, is split the water between a pair of sea swirls at either end.


That being said, the propeller power heads provide a very wide flow pattern.

interesting, is that what they call it? manifold.. hmm makes sense... i guess its like the intake manifold on my mustang drag car LOL

sea swirls? i will look into that, i like the sound of it!

by propeller im guessing like a vortech or koralia?

 

[FraggledRock]

I also already have 2 Koralias a 500 and a 300 gph with a 300 gph return pump.

i have the 500 in the middle aimed at the glass, the 300 on the right side of the tank aimed across the way and the return on the top left.

I just feel there still is a lack of flow possible.

i want to cut through the 500 gph stream with another one but with a very broad push

 

[username in use]

Vortechs are pretty broad, I had one on a 40 breeder and through a ton of flow. You don't have a crazy amount right now. Before the Vortech on my breeder I ran two of the 1400gph Koralia's and a 750. You could also look into the new Gyre pumps. The smaller one on a 40breeder might be just right. It's not available till February though.

 

[beolson25]

I assume you might have understood this but you do realize that there will be more water flow coming through the holes closest to the pump ... right? Unless you somehow regulate the flow through each hole you will not have equal flow.

Just want to make sure you thought of this.

 

[FraggledRock]

I assume you might have understood this but you do realize that there will be more water flow coming through the holes closest to the pump ... right? Unless you somehow regulate the flow through each hole you will not have equal flow.

Just want to make sure you thought of this.

Yes I did actually, I was going to use this to my advantage!

that was a crude demonstration i could make in Photoshop easily.

I was going to have the first holes closest to the pump at the top of the tank and make holes further away lower in the tank to simulate rougher current and flow up top

 

[username in use]

 

[FraggledRock]

SWEET! thanks for the pics!

 

[billdogg]

My 150 is set up similar to the middle picture, with the addition of a DIY spraybar along the bottom - I use a DART - it takes a ton of flow to get a decent amount of return from the top manifold.

 

[FraggledRock]

My 150 is set up similar to the middle picture, with the addition of a DIY spraybar along the bottom - I use a DART - it takes a ton of flow to get a decent amount of return from the top manifold.

so it might be useless?

 

[billdogg]

I would suggest a pressure pump instead of a flow pump I think.

 

[FraggledRock]

SO here is the final i made last night





i used the purple primer to cover the white piping.

i also made flat tip nozzles with the pvc pipe. i just heated it up and stepped on the ends.. flat spread nozzles =P

I haven't seen such good flow in this tank til now.

I made it so the powerheads and the outputs from the manifolds interact, i get good swaying waves inside since everything is crossing so many paths, so much detritus started getting moved up and around once i did this.

the output from each is as follows:
output 1 - 100% (after less from 2 elbows)
output 2 - 50%
output 3 - 15%
output 4 - 10%

th elast two are more just flow versus pressurized output.

i may redo the corners and put 2 45 degrees versus 1 90 degree and see if the flow is less restricted.

but overall it worked how i wanted it to

 

[FraggledRock]

i also might T the outputs on the first output to have more pressure reach the one towards the end. would that work?

 

[username in use]

2 45's won't actually reduce head pressure so don't bother replacing the 90's.


You were fairly aggressive with that purple primer huh? :lol:


If it's working, then more power to you. If you wanted to get more flow to the end, step down the size of the first one or two outlets.

 

[FraggledRock]

2 45's won't actually reduce head pressure so don't bother replacing the 90's.


You were fairly aggressive with that purple primer huh? :lol:


If it's working, then more power to you. If you wanted to get more flow to the end, step down the size of the first one or two outlets.

HAHA yea I just couldn't stop smearing it on!!, it just smelled so good!!



I was thinking about that, but wouldnt it become more of a high velocity stream? It is already a half inch setup.

Thanks!