Best Flow With Spray Bar

[itonlyrains]

Hi, I wonder what is the best position for the output spray bar in a planted tank? Currently I have intake to the external filter in the far left corner and spray bar in the centre about 5 cm below water line pushing water a bit upwards to create agitation. Is that ok or there is more optimal position? Thanks.

 

[GrayScale]

Do you run any sort of co2 or dose any ferts? If not, just about any position would be fine as long as there is some surface movement. I've noticed whe. Dosing ferts, a "film" can build up on the surface which is easily fixed by surface agitation. also, if your dosing ferts, what you'll want is an even distribution of flow ensuring that everything gets the most of the nutrients added and not have any "dead zones". Best way to determine that is by watching the food swirl around the tank when you feed the fish.

If you're not dosing, ignore everything I just said and as long as there is some surface agitation for gas exhange, then you are good to go.

 

[itonlyrains]

I don't run Co2, but I just started doing ferts. I get a lot of food swirling at the surface (two circles as spray bar is in the middle), but as it falls down it generally goes straight to the bottom. My overall flow is not particularly impressive (4.6 times the volume of water per hour), so I'm concerned that it might not be enough for a planted tank (not heavy planted though - I have about 10 plants, most of them just starting to grow).

I've read people put spray bars on the side where intake is, so that it moves water horizontally (say from left to right) on top of the tank and then to the bottom at the other side and returns back (right to left) at the bottom going into a filter at that stage...