How do your return from your sump?

Since I am starting over, and building a new sump, I was wondering what the best way to get the water back in the tank is. (I love stiring up things! ;D ) I have considered spray heads, but want a wider dispersion. I am thinking a spray bar, but where? Across the back length of the tank? top or bottom? across the end opposite the overflow? again top or bottom? I Will have a couple of powerheads for aux circ. What your opinions?

Mike

 

I love the circulation I get from the spray bar return...check out my pictures. It's at the back of my tank and pretty much spans the entire length of my tank! I also have a few powerheads in my tank for added circulation.

Hope my opinion helps a little bit even though I still consider myself a newbie!

-Mike

 

Actually, your pictures were the inspiration for thinking about a bar at the top. how far apart and how big are the holes? How far under the surface? Pointing straight across or down?

Questions questions, and the answers inspire more questions!

Thanks for the response,
Mike

 

Mike to answer all of your questions...

The holes are on average about an inch apart and are drilled with a 1/8" drill...however, the holes get closer together as I get closer to the end cap (this ensures that the holes at the end of the bar get comparable water pressure to the holes closer to the T)

I alternated the holes every other one...one points down, one points straight out (at the water line) and this alternates the whole way down. The bar sits pretty much at water level, but the holes are just under the water level to eliminate bubbling. Hope this answered most of the questions...feel free to ask more.

Oh, also, if you are doing a T type design like I did, get a GPH pump that is about 2x's the recommended amount for your tank because the T and the head-way negates a lot of the flow.


-Mike

 

I have a spray bar at the bottom behind my rock...between it and the return split to a SQWD, I have maxed out my 800 gph overflow box...take that into consideration when designing. You may want to put it on a closed loop type setup. ;D

 

how do you look at your pictures. I can not find the link. LQQk blind in one eye and cant see out the other. please help?

 

Welcome to 3 Reef!!! Here is a link to the pics they are talking about ;D

http://www.3reef.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=9523

 

BL, Isn't having the spray bar at the bottom of the tank a potential problem? If the return pump power goes out, wont the return form a suction and gravity will serve to drain the display tank down into the sump therefore overflowing everything?

The reason I put my spray bar at the top of the water level is for that reason.

-Mike

 

BL

I'll ask the same question I did of Mirosh. How is your spray aimed? Straight across, slightly up, way up? I assume you have a hole at the top to break the siphon from power failure. What do you thing of an oval hole to widen the spray? How about sand storms?

Appreciate your patience and help

Mike

 

1 - yes, a hole drilled right below the water line to break the siphon

2 - spray is aimed towards the front and bottom of the tank in the back

3 - no sandstorms, just percolating sand in the back. Sandstorms in my tank are caused by my Tunze powerheads ;D LOL!

4 - I don't know that oval holes would gain much, I would just do more holes... but I do know some of my holes are clogged at the moment, so I would not make them real small.