New Seahorse tank Diary

[al&burke]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/120#post_3349928
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/120#post_3349922
Hi Flower, If you are going to make the spray bar with the power head let me know the flow rate of the PH, I made a spray bar for my planted tank - I did a few calculations and I am real happy with the gentle flow I am getting from it, live plants don't like a real powerful flow much like horses I guess. If you need some help with that let me know, I will even show you how to calculate it so maybe it will help you and others as well.
edit: size of pipe you will be using for spray bar.
Al, she's gonna run a 3/4" hose from the pump and the spray rig is going to split into two 1/2" pipes on either side of the tank. Her pump has a max output of 528gph, but her overflow is only a 300gph. The pump has an output adjustment built in so she's going to try to get it as close to 300gph as she can get. The second picture up top was just a quick mock up, I picked up the rest of the pieces today. Each side of the return will have a valve for fine tuning the output on each side incase one side has more than the other.
The holes that I made on the bar in the first pick were small. I want to space them out just a bit more and have 6 holes on each bar on either side of the tank. What size would you recoommend drilling them? I was thinking 6 holes at 3/16"??? Remember, we're not going for maximum output from her pump because it has more power than it needs for her overflow. So a little extra head loss is not a huge concern in her case.
Hey Corey that looks really good - I am going to use that for my HT tank if you don't mind. See attached table - you are not far off my friend - I would probably drill a few more 3/16" holes - Corey PM me your email and I will give you the excel version of this table , Al - Just keep in mind this is for 1/2 of the spray bar system - I assumed 150 GPH per side. Looks really good

 

[2quills]

Quick update:
Here's a mock up of the new configuration, Flower. Since I don't have a 30G tank handy I'm using my 20G for demonstration purposes. The finished product will be a little longer to fit your tank and I still have to add the valves on. Ofcorse your pump will be just a little bit stronger than the one I'm using here. But it works very good. Even without the valves on it yet it's getting even flow out of each side. It creates nice surface movement all across the top of the tank. The ripples/waves are real nice but not over the top.

 

[2quills]

Thanks, Al. I'll shoot you my email. The return works pretty good but I think I'm going to add about a 1/2" of length to the spray bars and make 8 holes on each instead of six.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/140#post_3349948
Thanks, Al. I'll shoot you my email. The return works pretty good but I think I'm going to add about a 1/2" of length to the spray bars and make 8 holes on each instead of six.

That looks awesome! The tank is only 12" wide, and according to my fish tank chart the same width as the 20g..so if it fits the 20g it will fit this tank.

 

[al&burke]

Corey nice job - I am going to go verticle inside the tank with my spray bars - And on my reef tank I am going to go verticle as well and try to build a rock wall around the spray bars. This place is so good for ideas - thank you my friend (s).

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/140#post_3349968
Corey nice job - I am going to go verticle inside the tank with my spray bars - And on my reef tank I am going to go verticle as well and try to build a rock wall around the spray bars. This place is so good for ideas - thank you my friend (s).
Al, I did a vertical spray bar on my reef for a long time..I had it fixed to go across the back wall behind the rocks to keep them clean, it used to look like cob webs back there, it did a good job. Are you going to do it double like the one Corey designed, did I read that right..you are going to make a rock wall?

 

[al&burke]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/140#post_3349971
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/140#post_3349968
Corey nice job - I am going to go verticle inside the tank with my spray bars - And on my reef tank I am going to go verticle as well and try to build a rock wall around the spray bars. This place is so good for ideas - thank you my friend (s).
Al, I did a vertical spray bar on my reef for a long time..I had it fixed to go across the back wall behind the rocks to keep them clean, it used to look like cob webs back there, it did a good job. Are you going to do it double like the one Corey designed, did I read that right..you are going to make a rock wall?
I want to go on both sides vertically - yes build a rock wall around the spray bars - I will drill the spray bars then stick some small woden dowels in the hole and buld around them - I think it might look good - and maybe a rock wall around the overflow - we will see.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/140#post_3349975
I want to go on both sides vertically - yes build a rock wall around the spray bars - I will drill the spray bars then stick some small woden dowels in the hole and buld around them - I think it might look good - and maybe a rock wall around the overflow - we will see.
That's a nice idea, Al. Another idea to throw at ya...I'm thinking if you ran your pipe in the tank vertically and built your wall around them, then maybe instead of drilling holes and making spray bars you could use an elbow and a couple of "T's" (the threaded ones on one side. Then you could put some loc-line nozzles on them. So there would be either like 2-3 adjustable nozzles sticking out of the rock wall on each side if that makes sense. Just a thought, bud.
Flower, I may have just enough extra pipe left over so that I could send you essentially 4 spray bars. Two would be for the set up like you see in the video and an extra two that you could change out and run vertically if you should ever wish to do so.

 

[scott t]

Corey just awesome I want some of yours, Al's and Shawn's Talent I have none when it comes to things like this...

 

[teresaq]

OK, that looks nice. but have a couple question and suggestion
The pipe that is the water intake. Is that open at the top?? if it is, that will have to be covered somehow.
Can you add something to the tank the shows what the flow looks like in the tank, food or something????
can you show what it would look like with one spray bar vertical and one horizontal?? I know its a lot to ask, but would like to see what the flow is like both ways. It might save having to add a power head.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by TeresaQ http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/140#post_3350002
OK, that looks nice. but have a couple question and suggestion
The pipe that is the water intake. Is that open at the top?? if it is, that will have to be covered somehow.
Can you add something to the tank the shows what the flow looks like in the tank, food or something????
can you show what it would look like with one spray bar vertical and one horizontal?? I know its a lot to ask, but would like to see what the flow is like both ways. It might save having to add a power head.
Hi, Teresa.
Thanks, the intake thing is just a simple DIY overflow that I used for demonstrating the return since I don't have an extra overflow box laying around. I don't use it for regular filtering and Flower will have a CPR overflow on her tank.
I'll see what I can do about giving a better idea for the flow. My camera sucks and it doesn't pick up the water action very well. Flowers tank will be a little longer and her pump a little stronger so that changes things just a little bit. As of right now I'm just using a simple 250G powerhead to run it. She'll be pumping at about 300GPH. The way it's set up like in the video the flow inside of the think is almost nothing since all of it is at the surface. There is some movement within the tank itself but it's extremely gentle. She will be able to turn the spray bars and angle them to shoot up towards the top or down into the tank if she want to try to get more flow out of them that way.
One of my LFS breeds horses and I've checked out there tanks quite a bit. They have a couple of tanks for breeding and then a couple of tanks set up for the babies. I do know that the tanks for the babies have super slow/ gentle flow for them. For flow in their breeding tanks they don't even use powerheads they just use the flow from the HOB filters. I'll do some more messing around with it tonight and see what I can come up with. But if it's set up right she probably could get away with not needing a powerhead...or maybe just a small nano one or two.
The only issue I see with running them at the surface like in the video without a powerhead is that the dirty and clean water probably won't mix very well without a powerhead in there to stir things up. So verticals bars may be the way to go if she's looking to ditch the powerhead.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/140#post_3350010
Quote:
Originally Posted by TeresaQ http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/140#post_3350002
OK, that looks nice. but have a couple question and suggestion
The pipe that is the water intake. Is that open at the top?? if it is, that will have to be covered somehow.
Can you add something to the tank the shows what the flow looks like in the tank, food or something????
can you show what it would look like with one spray bar vertical and one horizontal?? I know its a lot to ask, but would like to see what the flow is like both ways. It might save having to add a power head.
Hi, Teresa.
Thanks, the intake thing is just a simple DIY overflow that I used for demonstrating the return since I don't have an extra overflow box laying around. I don't use it for regular filtering and Flower will have a CPR overflow on her tank.
I'll see what I can do about giving a better idea for the flow. My camera sucks and it doesn't pick up the water action very well. Flowers tank will be a little longer and her pump a little stronger so that changes things just a little bit. As of right now I'm just using a simple 250G powerhead to run it. She'll be pumping at about 300GPH. The way it's set up like in the video the flow inside of the think is almost nothing since all of it is at the surface. There is some movement within the tank itself but it's extremely gentle. She will be able to turn the spray bars and angle them to shoot up towards the top or down into the tank if she want to try to get more flow out of them that way.
One of my LFS breeds horses and I've checked out there tanks quite a bit. They have a couple of tanks for breeding and then a couple of tanks set up for the babies. I do know that the tanks for the babies have super slow/ gentle flow for them. For flow in their breeding tanks they don't even use powerheads they just use the flow from the HOB filters. I'll do some more messing around with it tonight and see what I can come up with. But if it's set up right she probably could get away with not needing a powerhead...or maybe just a small nano one or two.
The only issue I see with running them at the surface like in the video without a powerhead is that the dirty and clean water probably won't mix very well without a powerhead in there to stir things up. So verticals bars may be the way to go if she's looking to ditch the powerhead.

A stick with a string attached will show us what the flow is like in there. The extra pipe sounds good, one never knows what the future holds and it might come handy to be able to change it. I could possibly put one side vertical and the other across the top, depending on how much flow it would create.
To have enough flow throughout and not need a power head would be great. However I do have a spray bar that will attach to a power head. I checked it out today. It should be safe for the horses if I put that mid tank, I will also have big bubbles along the back wall (about 5 lines) So there will be more in there besides my return gizmo.

 

[teresaq]

that sounds like a plan. I think you should have enough flow. with one on top and then one up and down. the one up and down could have extra holes drilled so you get flow from more then one side.

 

[2quills]

Can anyone tell me what a recommend turnover rate inside a tank is for horses?
By my best guess I would say that the flow as it stands now on my 20G would be fine for them. And since you'll get more flow out of it then I will I would think it would be ok on your 30G. I tried earlier adding drops of phytoplankton to the tank so I could see it swirl around and there was more flow in there than I had origionally thought with the bars horizontally at the surface. It's not a lot mind you, but I was a little bit suprised at how much there was. Ofcorse when I aimed them down more towards the bottom center of the tank there was a little more in the tank and less at the surface.
There are just too many variables though for me to say deffinately yes or deffinately no. It's just something you'll have to mess around with Flower once you get it on your tank with your pump. I did make the bars just a touch longer and made 9 holes in them a piece instead of 6. The one thing about drilling more holes though is that the more you drill the slower the water comes out.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by TeresaQ http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/140#post_3350063
that sounds like a plan. I think you should have enough flow. with one on top and then one up and down. the one up and down could have extra holes drilled so you get flow from more then one side.

I think you are saying to go with choice A, but drill extra holes, I'm not sure where to drill the holes can you explain a little better?
Choices:
A: Spray bars, 1 vertical and one horizontal (opposite ends). No power heads..w/bubbles
B: Spray bars, Both horizontal on opposite ends, an extra spray bar attached to a power head mid tank ...w/bubbles
C: Spray bars, both Horizontal on opposite ends..no power heads, no bubbles
By having shut off valves and an adjustable return pump, I can regulate the water flow to be faster or slower, even weaker on one end and stronger on the other. So it should be a very versatile system.

 

[novahobbies]

Boy that looks nice. Get yerself a DIY LED array (even as supplemental lighting) and you'll have one heck of a shimmer over this tank, too!!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/382639/new-seahorse-tank-diary/140#post_3350070
Can anyone tell me what a recommend turnover rate inside a tank is for horses?
By my best guess I would say that the flow as it stands now on my 20G would be fine for them. And since you'll get more flow out of it then I will I would think it would be ok on your 30G. I tried earlier adding drops of phytoplankton to the tank so I could see it swirl around and there was more flow in there than I had origionally thought with the bars horizontally at the surface. It's not a lot mind you, but I was a little bit suprised at how much there was. Ofcorse when I aimed them down more towards the bottom center of the tank there was a little more in the tank and less at the surface.
There are just too many variables though for me to say deffinately yes or deffinately no. It's just something you'll have to mess around with Flower once you get it on your tank with your pump. I did make the bars just a touch longer and made 9 holes in them a piece instead of 6. The one thing about drilling more holes though is that the more you drill the slower the water comes out.

I'm not really sure of what TeresaQ is saying, I agree too may holes make weak flow. However I think the spray bars as you showed them in the video with 8 or 9 holes drilled should be fine. I can regulate how strong or weak I need the flow, and I can aim the bar however I need it.
If you have that one extra piece, so I have one that can go vertical, should I choose...(But I think it is just a matter of turning the end piece in another direction..correct me if I'm wrong.)
Also a siphon break, there has to be one hole on a vertical bar with a hole above the water line, so make a hole really close to where it connects to the main line from the sump on the bars so I can do that.
So I think we are good on design...Thank You so much for all the time and effort you put into this for me. I appreciate it so much. Now back to PM for the details of getting it here to me.

 

[teresaq]

I would strive for option A - you can always add the extra powerhead later if you find you need it.
I dont know if you can see in this picture - how I place my holes staggered. some blow up and some towards the middle of the tank .

 

[2quills]

Ok, Flower. Here's some quick shots of the whole thing. It's obviously too big to fit on the 20G now but you can see how it will go together. I've got some of the elbows and valves glued but I'll let you get your hands on it so you can set it up on the tank just right before you glue the final pieces. I'm not sure how tall your 30G tank is by my 20G is only 17" and the vertical bar is just the right length. If yours is taller than the bar may seem a little short but I've used up all the 1/2" pipe. So if you find it needs to be longer once you get it just let me know and I'll send you another one.
Obviously as we discussed you won't want to glue the elbows on the actual spray bars themselves so you can adjust them and take them off for cleaning. I already wrapped the threaded hose barb fitting with teflon and tightened it down super good so you won't have to worry about that. It hangs 8" below the top of the tank on the back, so you should get the 7.5" clearance you need for the overflow box. And ofcorse you'll want to install it on the tank before the overflow box.

 

[flower]

I just got in from work and rushed to see what was going on...and here you have the whole thing laid out for me to see. That looks so complicated and yet so simple. I was telling my boss at work what we were planning to do (he sold me the 30g tanks) He wants to come see as soon as I get it up and running.
The vertical is too long, 17 inches is way too long. With sand and I need some clearence...14 inches. This is a 30g long and it is more shallow..The whole tank from the very top of the rim to the bottom rim is only 16 3/4 inches. This is pretty shallow for a seahorse tank, but everyone says as long as I don't breed them I will be fine, so I am getting only female horses because they are an inch smaller than the males..
I have decided to use on vertical and one horizontal..This is going to be awesome, it looks perfect for what i need! Again Thank You!