The Puffer Forum

So school me on the ways of the spray bar... lol
I was reading an article about a guy who made a customer spray bar for his tank.
They ran them along the back of a 180 gallon and then another version was a upside down T.

So here is my question. I have an FX5 running on my 210g. Which option is best for the health of the Fahaka?
Option 1: worried about even flow (pressure)
Option 2: not sure its the best option
Option 3: With the right pressure it could simulate a river

Option 3 gives better circulation if you ask me, you need to tailor the flow to suit your tanks needs such to avoid dead spots. Wet pet exercise against current is just as important though, just be sure to leave low flow low tank points for resting, I break flow with rocks etc in the puffers favourite corner

How's he doing?

Pufferpunk wrote:How's he doing?

Just took this..
He is a little frustrated just cleaned the sand and while doing a water change.

Sure looks healthy! Is he eating again?

Hasn't eaten anything we have put in the tank

Now with that being said we did have two decent size snails in the tank we can't find

I am hoping he ate them and not inside the log we have in the tank

When a tank is newly set up, I spend weeks fine-tuning current.

Get some spare tubing or duplicate spray-bars from the filter company.

If you opt for the full-length versions such as #1 or #2 above, you will find that the hoes farther along the tube (increasing distances from the water input) ned to be slightly large to move the same quantity of water. Otherwise, the early holes will move with much greater force and thus provide stronger current. There are a couple of alternatives: You can add a Y-tube behind the tank and have equal inputs to both ends of the spraybar (both tubes from the Y should be equal length). Or you can use two separate filters, with one tube from each which is 1/2 the tank length. You still need to slightly emlarge the more distant outlets.

Most (almost all) of my tanks are set with multiple filters, with the spraybars vertically in the corners, as #3 above. All large tanks are invariably set with this configuration. It basically gives a good circular current in the tank. If schools of fish are involved (such as SAPs), the planting/decor provides a center spine of dense planting with all four tank sides basically clear of obstacles for fish swimming current and room, food searching is basically in the plants for the SAPs.

Playing with current is basic to tank handling. It can significantly reduce your work load and improve the fish's environment at the same time. Multi-filtering and dead spot avoidance is really needed for adequate fish care, and properly done makes your life simpler as well. A win/win situation IMHO.

HTH