DIY - Projects & Ideas • DIY FX5 spraybar question

[toyster17]

So I decided to make a 36" spraybar for my 4ft tank.

My fx5 is too big to fit in my stand so I have it to the left of it.

As a result, the hose for the output is about 5 1/2feet, as it is in the far right side of the tank, while the input hose is the shortest with the strainer being on the left side. With the spraybar, would it matter what side I connect the output hose to? With the spraybar running across the back of the tank, I figured it really wouldn't matter.

[13razorbackfan]

I would try and get the hoses as close to the same length as possible. Some manufacturers recommend this specifically while others don't mention it. I would just put the inlet to the spray bar on the same end of the tank as the intake. The water is going to take the path of least resistance and if the spray bar holes are the same size then they should flow pretty evenly across the span of the spray bar.

[toyster17]

I would try and get the hoses as close to the same length as possible. Some manufacturers recommend this specifically while others don't mention it. I would just put the inlet to the spray bar on the same end of the tank as the intake. The water is going to take the path of least resistance and if the spray bar holes are the same size then they should flow pretty evenly across the span of the spray bar.

Yeah, that's what I figured.

[13razorbackfan]

Curious....what size tank and stand?

[toyster17]

Curious....what size tank and stand?

Uhhh, it's a 55G 48X15X18. The stand is about an inch bigger on all sides, and about 27" tall.

[13razorbackfan]

Curious....what size tank and stand?

Uhhh, it's a 55G 48X15X18. The stand is about an inch bigger on all sides, and about 27" tall.

So it is the depth(front to back) that is the issue? No possible way to get it under the tank at all? What I did just yesterday when installing a very large canister filter was take the measurement from the bottom to the brace in the back up top. In my case it was 24". The reason being I didn't want my hoses to loop down to clear this brace. I wanted to keep my hoses as straight vertically as possible to maximize flow.

Even with a 55g, FX5 full of media it still does around 560gph give or take. Even with added loss due to longer hoses and more bends you still are probably over 500gph. So in reality it is not that big a deal. With all that being said I am very anal about such things and I would try my best to get every single gph out of the filter as possible.

PS...I had to turn my filter in at a angle to get it in my 75g stand but now that it is in there is plenty of room. The filter is just as tall as the fx5 but probably not quite as big in diameter.

[toyster17]

Curious....what size tank and stand?

Uhhh, it's a 55G 48X15X18. The stand is about an inch bigger on all sides, and about 27" tall.

So it is the depth(front to back) that is the issue? No possible way to get it under the tank at all? What I did just yesterday when installing a very large canister filter was take the measurement from the bottom to the brace in the back up top. In my case it was 24". The reason being I didn't want my hoses to loop down to clear this brace. I wanted to keep my hoses as straight vertically as possible to maximize flow.

Even with a 55g, FX5 full of media it still does around 560gph give or take. Even with added loss due to longer hoses and more bends you still are probably over 500gph. So in reality it is not that big a deal. With all that being said I am very anal about such things and I would try my best to get every single gph out of the filter as possible.

PS...I had to turn my filter in at a angle to get it in my 75g stand but now that it is in there is plenty of room. The filter is just as tall as the fx5 but probably not quite as big in diameter.

The issue is that there's a shelf that's 5 inches off the ground that connects to each leg of the stand. If not for that, there would be room.

[13razorbackfan]

Curious....what size tank and stand?

Uhhh, it's a 55G 48X15X18. The stand is about an inch bigger on all sides, and about 27" tall.

So it is the depth(front to back) that is the issue? No possible way to get it under the tank at all? What I did just yesterday when installing a very large canister filter was take the measurement from the bottom to the brace in the back up top. In my case it was 24". The reason being I didn't want my hoses to loop down to clear this brace. I wanted to keep my hoses as straight vertically as possible to maximize flow.

Even with a 55g, FX5 full of media it still does around 560gph give or take. Even with added loss due to longer hoses and more bends you still are probably over 500gph. So in reality it is not that big a deal. With all that being said I am very anal about such things and I would try my best to get every single gph out of the filter as possible.

PS...I had to turn my filter in at a angle to get it in my 75g stand but now that it is in there is plenty of room. The filter is just as tall as the fx5 but probably not quite as big in diameter.

The issue is that there's a shelf that's 5 inches off the ground that connects to each leg of the stand. If not for that, there would be room.

The shelf is a factory brace or was it added later? I have owned many 55g's with standard stands and I don't remember ever seeing anything like that.

Reason I ask is there is another forum member, GTZ, that has a 4' tank as well with a FX5. He has a very interesting DIY spray bar that runs the length of the tank but instead of running the outflow of the filter through one end of the spray bar he uses a T fitting right in the middle of the spray bar. Looks very cool and he gets really good flow. Only issue is not being able to get the filter under the tank.

[GTZ]

My filter sits to the side of the stand also. The output is only slightly longer than the input because it runs to the center of the tank.
I don't have any pics of the spraybar assembly, but you can sort of make it out in the pic below.
Let me know if you need more pics and I'll take some tomorrow after work.

[toyster17]

It's a DIY stand. I bought the tank with the stand off Craigslist.



I thought about using a T fitting, but as I was searching through the threads it was said there would be less flow going the T fitting route.

GTZ, what size are your holes and how far apart are they? I drilled mine using a 1/8 drillbit and spaced them 1" apart; hopefully it gives me good flow.

[13razorbackfan]

It's a DIY stand. I bought the tank with the stand off Craigslist.



I thought about using a T fitting, but as I was searching through the threads it was said there would be less flow going the T fitting route.

GTZ, what size are your holes and how far apart are they? I drilled mine using a 1/8 drillbit and spaced them 1" apart; hopefully it gives me good flow.

Now I see what you mean....

I would just put the spray bar input(where the hose meets the spray bar fitting) right next to your intake. You should get VERY strong flow with 1" spaced holes. You are likely going to have to angle it slightly upward which is not a bad thing as it will create a lot of surface disturbance and as GTZ can tell you...I love surface disturbance.

Be sure to post pics....are you going to do it tonight?

[toyster17]

Yeah that was my intention, to angle it upwards and create some surface disturbance. I will most likely install it tomorrow as I wanted to let the spray paint dry another day. I'll definitely take some pictures, maybe make a video of it, I just need to borrow a camera because my original iPhone just isn't cutting it (although I consider it a "classic" and not old ).

[13razorbackfan]

Yeah that was my intention, to angle it upwards and create some surface disturbance. I will most likely install it tomorrow as I wanted to let the spray paint dry another day. I'll definitely take some pictures, maybe make a video of it, I just need to borrow a camera because my original iPhone just isn't cutting it (although I consider it a "classic" and not old ).

Ok....look forward to the pics/video. I am going to be a real pain in the rear right here LOL but when you take a video can you take a video with the spray bar submerged and one with the spray bar up out of the water so we can all see the flow? The reason I ask is these threads are very helpful to me and others as we are always learning new things myself especially. Always looking for a better way.

[toyster17]

Yeah that was my intention, to angle it upwards and create some surface disturbance. I will most likely install it tomorrow as I wanted to let the spray paint dry another day. I'll definitely take some pictures, maybe make a video of it, I just need to borrow a camera because my original iPhone just isn't cutting it (although I consider it a "classic" and not old ).

Ok....look forward to the pics/video. I am going to be a real pain in the rear right here LOL but when you take a video can you take a video with the spray bar submerged and one with the spray bar up out of the water so we can all see the flow? The reason I ask is these threads are very helpful to me and others as we are always learning new things myself especially. Always looking for a better way.

hmm, it'll be a challenge to do it out of the water with the center glass bracket thingy, but I'll try my best (maybe I'll put some rags there to catch the water). No problem.

EDIT: I can probably do a small water change to lower the water line, and then run the spraybar, I think that would be best.

[13razorbackfan]

Yeah that was my intention, to angle it upwards and create some surface disturbance. I will most likely install it tomorrow as I wanted to let the spray paint dry another day. I'll definitely take some pictures, maybe make a video of it, I just need to borrow a camera because my original iPhone just isn't cutting it (although I consider it a "classic" and not old ).

Ok....look forward to the pics/video. I am going to be a real pain in the rear right here LOL but when you take a video can you take a video with the spray bar submerged and one with the spray bar up out of the water so we can all see the flow? The reason I ask is these threads are very helpful to me and others as we are always learning new things myself especially. Always looking for a better way.

hmm, it'll be a challenge to do it out of the water with the center glass bracket thingy, but I'll try my best (maybe I'll put some rags there to catch the water). No problem.

EDIT: I can probably do a small water change to lower the water line, and then run the spraybar, I think that would be best.