spraybar help

shinny

shinny

New Member
I am going to make a spray bar for my return pump. I am going to drill 10 or 12, 1/4 inch holes down the length of my pipe and point them in the direction of the LR in my tank. I will then put an end cap over the tubing. The pump is a Mag 9.5. The pipe I am using is 1 1/4 inch flex spa pipe. There will be no 90 degree turns just maybe a 45 so I will have quite a bit of pressure I think. Comments from anyone with experience doing something similar would be appreciated. Thanks. Also, how would I prevent siphoning with this setup?
 
azocean709

azocean709

Member
I am making a spray bar today for my fuge. I have one also in my main tank. I also thaought about the flood from backsyphon....so the one in the display i bought a 300gph powerhead. i got some vynal tubing and pushed it onto the powerhead exit side. then i took my pipe and drilled 3/8 holes all down it, with end cap glued on and pushed the other end of the vynal tubing oever the pipe, it was really tight so there was no need to glue that, plus i can take it apart and clean it if it becomes clogged from coraline algae. and i laid it behind the live rock. now if you want to keep your power head up top for easy access you can just get a longer piece of tubing to attach to your spraybar. so ....power goes out...powerhead shuts off...no flood.
 
shinny

shinny

New Member
my spray bar is coming from my sump though. I am worried that the spray bar will suck the water out of MT and drain it into my sump and flood. Maybe I am not understanding your power head idea.
 
azocean709

azocean709

Member
if you use a power head then there is no need for it to come from your sump...you simply hook your spray bar to a power head drop it in your MT and plug it in. powerhead draws water through one end, and shoots it through the spray bar...very simple. i can't explain it any better than that.
 
azocean709

azocean709

Member
yeah i agree...i was just explaining mine..LOL mine works perfect...and its hidden..you dont see any part of it. and easily taken from the tank for cleaning.
:hilarious
 
shinny

shinny

New Member
yeah, I don't want another pump. I want to use the spray bar with the return pump. Now we understand each other. I have been reading some old posts here trying to get an idea of how many holes and what size. I am going to drill a hole in the pipe somewhere just under the water line so it will not siphon.
 
nytrillium

nytrillium

Member
yup... 2-4 1/8" holes should do it.. about 1" under the water.
I could have told you before but i figured i would make you read...
 
shinny

shinny

New Member
Well, I was going to do that with a regular (90 degree elbow) return. I didn't want to put the spray bar too far under the water through. But I think I can put it under the water enough to drill some holes in it for anti-shiponing. Do you have any experience with spray bars? I.E. how many holes to drill and what size?
 
nytrillium

nytrillium

Member
I havent personally done one... but i know some about them....
1. Fewer Larger holes are more efficient than alot of smaller ones. (1/4" to 1/2" is good) You will restrict the pump less this way and maintain your flow.
2. Your spraybar should be larger than normal... if your running it on a mag 9.5, i would use 1" up to to the spraybar (at least) and then make the spray bar 1.25' or 1.5".
you will also get less loss of head and flow this way.
Im not too sure what you were talking about wiht the 90 degree return. :notsure: but if the return is less than an inch under the water you really dont need to worry about drilling holes. As soon as the water drops below the return syphon is lost anyway. Same goes for the spray bar.. if you dont want it under the water all the way ... dont worry about it. As soon as the MT level gets below the holes in the spray bar... there is no more syphon to worry about.
 
shinny

shinny

New Member
Thanks NY. That is a good idea about sizing up pipe. I think I will try that. I think I will try a few holes smaller to start and get bigger towards the end cap. Don't worry about the 90 degree thing, not important. Any ideas on how to mount it in the tank? The tank is built in a wall so I have a wood "nailer" above the glass tank I could secure bar to somehow. Maybe suction cups. Where do you get those things? Thanks.
 
shinny

shinny

New Member
I think I have found the answer to hanging my spray bar. I am going to use pvc hangers. I never thought about it until I saw them and I think they will work great. I can screw them into the wood above my tank and that should hold it into place.
 
bailey52

bailey52

Member
Mine worked great this way... i put holes about 2 inches apart.. and blowing in diff angles.. the best part of this I feel is the pipe going down the back left side of the tank corner.. it gives great current through the tank...

 
7

75bownut

Guest
all you need is a one way check valve , this is a picture of one . Its has a flap on the inside so if the power goes out the flap closes and no siphon!

 
bailey52

bailey52

Member
How would a siphon start in a power outtage.. I never thought about it.. My spray bar is hooked to my pump in the sump.. so a power outtage is the same when i turn my pump off.. how would a siphon start with an overflow?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top