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I have heard several people talking abotu their spraybars in their tanks. What exactly is a spray bar? How does it work? What does it do? Is it considered necessary? Please tell me what these things are I would like to know more abotu them.



Christina

Hi,
Many filters have a single return that sends a high
velocity current into the tank. A spray bar is a
tube that has a line of holes in it and is open at one
end and sealed at the other. It can be made in any
length (generally stretches across the long width of the
tank) and the holes are large enough in diameter so that
there is no back pressure on the filter pump. You attach
the spray bar to the filter output, and the high
velocity output is broken up into a bunch of lower velocity
smaller currents across the tank. The spray bar can be
mounted along the edge of the tank spraying into the water
or it can be mounted just under the surface (quieter) and
downward.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Do you think you could show me a picture or a diagram of how they work? Is this strictly a DIY thing or do they sell them at pet stores? Does it help with the movement on the surface? My HOB filter pours into my tank and sometime I think the current might be a little strong for for the fish. Would this help? If so, how exactly do I hook it up?



Christina

Spray bar is typically found in canister filters only; it's attached to the output hose. I've never seen it used with HOB filter, because the output of the HOB filter is a waterfall type, not a hose, so I don't see how a spray bar could be attached to it. Does your HOB have something to adjust the flow? My Aquaclear HOB filters have a mechanism to adjust the flow.

-P

Yes it has an adjuster. I just wondered if there was a way to disperse the flow some more throughout the top of the tank. I have never seen or used a canister filter and I have no idea how they work either. I think I will jsut stick with my little HOB filter for now I guess.


Christina

Hi,
Here is a link to a spray bar kit with pictures:

[link=http://www.aqua-fish.com/B0009YUIX6/Spray_Bar_Kit_for_Fluval_104__204__304__404.html]http://www.aqua-fish.com/B0009YUIX6/Spray_Bar_Kit_for_Fluval_104__204__304__404.html" style="COLOR: #FF00FF[/link]


Hope this helps...
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I am startign up a SW aquarium soon. Do you recommend one of these for a 55 gallon SW tank. It will be a FOWLR tank.



Christina

I know nothing about a SW tank, but I have a spraybar.

And as such I dare to make the assumption that it would not be a good idea to have one on a SW tank as the openings would be clogged up with salt rather quickly.

Let&#8217;s hear some of the pros if my assumption is right.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well, I am probably going to get a canister filter for my sw tank so please someone respond about the sw tank so i know if i should or should not get one for this tank.



Christina

Hi,
Yes, the spray bar on the output of a power filter would
be a good idea. The live rock needs currents across it
to provide the nutrients and floating critters that the
inhabitants eat. If you had only one filter return in
the 55 there would be "dead spots" in the tank and that
would not be good for the live rock.
I would set the spray bar below the surface and run it
across the whole width of the tank (3 - 4 feet) pointing
so that it "sprayed" towards the live rock. Put it under
the surface to avoid splashing the salt water up onto the
cover glass which would then need endless cleaning, and
as the water dried would dim the tank with the light
trying to penetrate the encrusting salt.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--