[e_baer]

sucks.


i made it with 1/2" cpvc pipe and i drilled a bunch of holes, and it does almost nothing for me.

is there a trick on how to make it super good?

i am using it on my 55, so i made the bottom piece with holes drilled into it, about 40 long and i made the part the pump attatches to about 13"

the pump is rated for up to 320gph.

there are probably about 30 holes drilled in the pipe, and they are fairly small, about the size of this: o -------the size of that o

[jvharding]

Pump is way too small. Need at least 700GPH or more to get a good spray going RIO 2500 is about 40 bucks and will give you perfect flow and has a 1/2" adapter that will connect directly to your PVC!

[e_baer]

what if i add a second 320gph pump? think that would be just as good?

[jvharding]

Yeah I think it will work out well with one pump on each side. do you have pictures of your spraybar so i can see the the way you did your holes?

[jvharding]

My Spray bar is about 40" long but has holes blowing up and out toward the front of the tank. RIO gives me 782GPH and blows crushed coral out from my rock.

[e_baer]

well, the lights just went out, so when i add the second pump tomorrow or the next day, ill take pics for you. right now, i have it in a big L.

the holes are mostly at a 45 angle, with some up and some straight out,

[glampka]

Did you put an end cap on it?

[e_baer]

lol, yeah i put an end cap.

[glampka]

Had to ask - sometimes the simplest of things might be overlooked.

[e_baer]

yeah, i do stuff like that a lot.

[stephaniesquires]

Glad you're doing this now - I'm going to start mine next week after my mini-vacation. Keep posting how it's coming along and PICTURES!! I need pictures

[e_baer]

alright, ill post pics, but ive decided instead of adding 2 pumps to power the spray bar, ill just have my return pump power it, even though it will only be about 650gph

[glampka]

Be sure to drill a hole in the return from your pump just below the water surface. Otherwise should the power go off, you'll drain the tank.

[e_baer]

yup, ive been reading up on that. would a check vavle also work? ive been tryting to fine one in strores near me, but cant seen to find. i guess ill have to go with the drill method. how large should the hole be? 1/8 inch?

[Lowej82]

Would a 450-500 gph be enough for a 30" spary bar? str8 pipe along backside of tank, is 1/2" a good size?

[e_baer]

well, i used cpvc pip, which is a little bit smaller than normal pvc pipe. i would say it all depends on how many holes you have in the bar, and how large hte holes are.

i put about 30 holes that are the size of this o.

[Lowej82]

I have a 600 gph @4' head, should I use 3/4" or 1" return, also i thought about spliting my return into 2 1/2" 1 for the spraybar and other for return with a valve to adjust more flow to the spary bar

[glampka]

Originally Posted by e_baer

would a check vavle also work? how large should the hole be? 1/8 inch?

Check valves have been known to stick. 1/8" hole is fine - you just need something to take up air & break the siphon. Make sure your sump can handle whatever will siphon out as well.

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by Lowej82

I have a 600 gph @4' head, should I use 3/4" or 1" return, also i thought about spliting my return into 2 1/2" 1 for the spraybar and other for return with a valve to adjust more flow to the spary bar

sorry I miss read the post

[Lowej82]

I also thought about making 2 15" spray bars andspliting it to these w/o an open return pipe, my concern is this will probally cause my return pump not to keep up with overflow, I know I could slow it down a little also, just seems like defeating the purpose of a good fast water exchange. Im thinking my 600gph with my 29 gal tank will change the tanks water out with sump/fuge a little over 20x an hour so if i did slow the overflow down a bit, it MIGHT not efect it much.

if i made my return setup w/dual spray bars at same size and setup i would in the DT, and put 29 gal of water in my 120 qt cooler and see how long it takes to empty it out then I could figure out what I would be working with...........I think lol

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by glampka

Check valves have been known to stick. 1/8" hole is fine - you just need something to take up air & break the siphon. Make sure your sump can handle whatever will siphon out as well.

alrighty, thanks for all the great help!