spray bar idea for 3 filters on a 240 gallon

[Zebvance]

spray bar idea for 3 filters on a 240 gallon

I want to hard line a spray bar for my 3 filters in my 240 gallon. I really dont like all the in takes and out takes hanging in my tank. So I want to simplify as much as possible. This is my idea to connect all 3 filters (2 xp3's and 1 eheim 2260) together and have the spray bar run right under the eurobrace at the top of the back of the tank. The tank is 8x2x2 and the area where the spray bar will run will prob be 3 to 4 foot. SO this is the idea and im going to attach pics of the top of the tank and the filter set up now and a drawing of what I want to do. The drawing is kinda bad it took me about 10 mins on paint . If you dont understand something please ask. Now the questions are how big of pipe do I need? and I have never messed with plumbing before. Oh and the gph for each xp3 is 350 gph and the 2260 is 640 gph.

So If yall can look over it and tell me what yall think or suggestions, or anything please do so.


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[Zebvance]

here are the spray bar plans

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[jarrodaden]

I can calculte this, but I need the outlet sizes for the xp3 and the eheim 2260.

[Zebvance]

I believe that the xp3 is 5/8 and the 2260 is 1 inch inlet and 5/8 outlet.... I have a feeling im going to reduce the flow rate or create some sort of back pressure with this set up...

[specialone0812]

from your drawing, water from the outtake of eheim 2260 will go to the T-sections, it hardly go to the top of the tank due to gravity, so it will go through the xp3 where the flowrate is less than the eheim 2260 and therefore will reduce the flowrate of your xp3--not really efficient that way.
if i was you, i just let the outtakes run separately for each filter and put them at the center of the tank-
1) dont have to mess with tubes, connections, flow.
2) easy to to maintenance on filters( like cleaning).
the other option is get a wet and dry filter to replace the two xp3s, it will look neat that way. you can hide heater, air pump in the sump-all you see are the overflow box and little return outtake of the pump.

[Zebvance]

from your drawing, water from the outtake of eheim 2260 will go to the T-sections, it hardly go to the top of the tank due to gravity, so it will go through the xp3 where the flowrate is less than the eheim 2260 and therefore will reduce the flowrate of your xp3--not really efficient that way.
if i was you, i just let the outtakes run separately for each filter and put them at the center of the tank-
1) dont have to mess with tubes, connections, flow.
2) easy to to maintenance on filters( like cleaning).
the other option is get a wet and dry filter to replace the two xp3s, it will look neat that way. you can hide heater, air pump in the sump-all you see are the overflow box and little return outtake of the pump.

Thanks for the input. I plan on doing the sump eventually but for now I have to stick with the canisters. Plus i just bout all three canisters so they are staying haha.

[RMD55]

It's not the flow rate, but the pressure in the pipe that will determine where the flow will go. The pressure vs flow is easy for the 2260 just look it up on just about any site that sells the 1260 pump that is on it. I haven't looked at the specs for the XP3 but most canister filters only give the max flow not a flow curve. I would use 3/4 in pipe, the gray PVC you find in sprinkler section it will show of less than white PVC. The caluation is easy. you need the area of the tubing 3 X 5/8(squared)/4 X the number pi which is about 3.14 (close enough). Decide how long your bar will be and how many holes to drill, pick a drill that will give you 2/3 to 3/4 of the area calulated on your tubing. Test the bar if it doesn't do what you want, make the holes a little bigger until you like the pattern. I would use 1" pipe to do most of the plumbing to minimize the pressure going to the spray bar.

[jarrodaden]

1.25" for the horizontal piece right above the three pumps. .75" for the vertical pipes going up to the spray bar. A standard spray bar is too small in diameter. I suggest 1.25" for the spray bar diameter. You could make one yourself out of pvc. The number of holes in the spray bar could be determined by incrementally adding them until you have the desired velocity.

Why not route a single filter to the spray bar and then do the other two filters with a traditional outlet?

[Philbert]

There's no glory taking the easy path!

Like those 4 engine dragsters we've all seen...they are just cool in the engineering of it...I think he has a great idea and look forward to hearing/seeing the end result.
It may not be the easiest way to power a spray bar setup, but at least he dares to dream!

[Zebvance]

Thanks guys. Im trying to work out a way to do this with out compromising filtration performance

[RonR.]

Instead of using 1 spray bar, you may want to consider using something similar to an eheim wide jet pipe like this:

http://www.eheim.com/base/eheim/inhalte/index96a2.html?key=liniendetail_27655_ehen

scroll about 3/4 down the page

I have my 2 2217 eheim output going to 2 wide jet pipes. I have them about 1/2" under the water about 2 feet in from the back corners.

I have opened and closed them over the years. When I kept discus I opened the pipes by placing the ends in boiling water. When I wanted to add a little current, I did the same thing and used pliers to crimp and close them. I ran them under cold water after I got the right shape.

On your tank you would run 3 of these pipes. The problem you would have would be with the one in the middle since your top braces are wider near your tank's center portion.

[Zebvance]

DO you know how much one of those would run me?

[Zebvance]

I have this thread posted on mfk too, and someone just posted this. Im not familiar with this looping system. what do yall think?


"You can do a looped system. I have used it successfully on waterfalls where the feed comes from several different pumps (filter, circulation, 2nd filter). Use whatever size feed for the pumps, usually 3/4:, 1". For the loops use the largest tube you can get. At least 1 1/2. 3" if you can. (It is only a few feet). For the spray bar, use the desired size in the tank, but feed from a larger tube outside the tank. The dimensions are not listed, because you will do that on your own. Feed from one end if you wish, but from both for equal pressure across the spray bar. "


Look at the 2 minute sketch. If it helps.

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[fshfrk]

Good luck! Keep us posted with pics.