Spray Bar

[Scales]

Is it OK to do away with the spray bar from my external filter? It makes the tank look damn ugly with a green plastic tube running across the back of the tank. I have changed the look of my tank to a planted one, is there any problems that might happen if I do remove it.

Cheers in advance, you lovley.....lovley people

 

[Lateral Line]

The spray bar is used to ensure a lot of surface agitation, which promotes gas exchange. You definitely do not need it as long as you are aware of it's function, and are happy you have enough surface movement without it.

 

[jflowers]

You may also find that removing it gives you a strong current which may upset your plants, worth a try though as you can always put it back.

Jon

 

[Matty]

I would leave it on so that you get proper surface agitation

 

[konrad05]

i have mine, just lower it an inch or two below the surface of water so not to have surface movement

 

[Matty]

then they'res almost no point.

I have mine spraying right down and about 5mm above the surface of the water....trust me, the fish love the bubbles..

 

[jordan barnhart]

I wouldn't recommend using it on planted tank as co2 will escape due to surface agitation.

If you can get it to where it doesnt aggitate the surface much then its cool. That is if you use co2 injection and have plants.

 

[konrad05]

Yeah, my plants would hate the bubbles. And the point of the spray is not only surface aggitation but to disperse the water flow so it's not just one strong stream. I like to have my plants upright

 

[Scales]

Yeah Ive got Co2 injection, but I have the holes pointed at the back of the tank not at the surface.

OK looks like I'm gonna have to keep it, see if i can disguise it somehow.

Thanks for the advice

 

[jbennett]

Sorry,know this is late, but I've only just seen this thread and I'm new to this forum. I also attend another frum in the UK and one of the "Plant Gods" over here has his spray bar Vertically in his tank. This way it avoids surface movement, which is a definate No No in a planted tank with Co2. It is also aimed at the side glass to avoid too much turbulance.

 

[Scales]

Never to late m8, thanks for the info. Thats a good idea having it vertically, gonna have to get the hacksaw out and put a bit of my bodging skills to work.

Cheers.

 

[Stryker]

Take a look at my sig. My sump uses a eheim 1250 to return water to the main tank. Ok so I get nowhere near the 1200 litres per hour owing to the head, probably around 500-600 litres per hour flow. Anyways, bottom line, I've never used a spray bar. In fact I run my hose down the corner of the tank and put a "L" peice on the bottom to direct flow across the tank. As the flow is near the bottom it does not seem to get much leaverage on my plants and they are fine.

As for the fish......... sometimes they play in the flow.

 

[Barday]

Actually, I'm glad that this thread war resurected!

My tank is pretty heavily planted and I use a fluval internal filter allong with a co2 system. I do have a spray bar but never use it.

Anyway after reading this post, am i right is assuming that I do not need any surface aggitation? If not, is the water only oxygenated by the plants?

Thanks

 

[Stryker]

Correct. I've read about some tanks where the plants pretty much provide everything the fish need, inc filtration.

 

[Barday]

Cool, Thanks for that! That's a top bonus, The only noisy thing about the fluval is the bubbles! I might een install my spray bar now & have it under the water's surface.