spraybar idea/question

[reef newbie]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to make a spraybar for my return. My plan is to use 1/2" or 3/4" PVC with holes placed at different angles ~ 1" apart. My tank is 4' in length (50g) and I will be using a mag 9.5 for a return pump.

Where should I place my inlet? The end, middle, or it doesn't matter?
What size should the holes be?
Also, how would I hang it in my tank?
Any ideas/suggestions/PICTURES would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.

TIA,
Tuck

 

[EmilyB]

I'm trying out spraybars in both my 120g (single return) and 155g (dual return). White PVC, capped, looks like hell, but I'm liking the dispersal of flow. I kept all the holes even, however, I never thought of anything else.

Had some trouble on first powerdown with siphoning, as the spraybar holes were lower in the tank than allowed room in the sump, etc.

 

[Tremelle]

I was thinking about a spraybar return myself. I am thinking of using acrylic tubing and a rounded 90 degree elbow. The acrylic is rigid like pvc but clear so no ugly white piping. The elbow would be drilled just above the bend to prevent siphoning when the return pump is cutoff. I did not think about the return holes at different angles, that is a good idea.

 

[DBW]

Note in using clear piping it will rather quickly get fouled up by various algae.

Where the inlet to the bar is doesn't really matter too much. Just as with any plumbing minimise the number of 90o bends that you have, and use 135o ones if you can.

For the hole size, I would recommend at least 7mm. But it all depends on the flowrate though, and the number of holes. You don't want too much resistance to the flow by not having enough holes, then you loose some flowrate.

For hanging it, make up a couple of brackets out of acrylic to attach it to the rail or side of the tank. Suction cups would be perfect, but they will fail with time.

 

[reef newbie]

Great ideas....
Thanks for all the feedback thus far...

 

[Anonymous]

I know that in landscaping-type sprinkler systems, it's better to laterally branch out your lines instead of having your input on one end or the other of a straight piece of pipe. For instance, if I had 4 sprinkler heads and ran them all in a straight shot, then my water output would look something like this:

Input
|
1st head----------------------------
|
2nd head----------------------
|
3rd head-----------------
|
4th head---------------------------

But if you put the input in the middle of the pipe then your water output is going to be more equally expelled. I don't pretend to fully understand it but it has something to do with the *pressure* and *flow* properties of water. The *pressure* part means that water will try to escape through the nearest hole (1st head). However, at the 2nd and 3rd head, the pressure has been decreased so the flow plays a bigger part. This stronger flow tends to carry the water onward rather than letting pressure burst it out of the head. What's happening at the last head is what's called 'hydraulic damming'. So at your last head, pressure and flow combine to give you the increased output shown.

I'm not saying to have a fully exploded lateral line system of pvc pipes in your tank or anything :lol: . It's just something that might be worth considering.

HTH,
po