DIY Waterfalls. Fx5 customization?

[Cloudk]

I'm about to (hopefully) acquire my first 300gal! Currently running a 240gal. So pretty big upgrade. Anyway. Planning on breaking down the 240 and using the 2 fx5s. Will have 3 turtles, 2 adult plecos and not sure what else yet.

First. I was wondering if it is possible to make a small waterfall for the platform? Maybe 7in tall. Not hang off the edge of aquarium though. Maybe something that could b covered or hidden by a rock formation to create the waterfall effect. Water would run onto the platform and into the tank.


Also, would it b a bad idea to use a diy spraybar as outtake for one fx5(how would i accomplish this anyway)? I'm worried about doing that and creating a lack of circulation for the chunks of yuck. Substrate will b cut to size slate tile.

Hopefully I'm explaining everything right... Thanks for any advice or links.

 

[Arthur]

As far as a diy spray bar, just wander around the plumbing section of a hardware store for a bit and gather ideas. They will have tubing to fit whatever tubing the fx5 has, and whatever connectors you need to do what you want. You just have to figure out how to put it all together. This is normally the time when the clerks ask me if I need help, and after explaining what I'm doing, they slowly walk away.

 

[TheSinisterSOB]

A diy spray bar for your Fx5 is pretty easy to make and assemble.

I went with 1" pvc piping, a T junction connector. Painted all the pieces black (Krylon Fusion) to match the background, drilled 1/4" holes in the tubing and the pressure was very strong!

I had a vertical tube and horizontal tube attached to the same output to help push waste towards the intake. If I get a chance, I'll see if I can find the old parts and will take pictures.

The waterfall is a bit of a different story. I believe that the Fx5 might be too strong, and could create more geyser and less of a waterfall. Below is a good video that might spark some ideas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgh9jXme6OE

As a side note, do you have plans for the 240g? I'm right down I-90 and desperately need a larger tank!

 

[TheSinisterSOB]

Minor correction. The pvc plastic tubing is 3/4", not 1"...My bad.

The black rubber coupler will attach to the output of the Fx5 tubing, and will need to be secured to the black double male/male connector with a hose clamp.

The other end of the male/male connect will then be threaded into the T connector, and the PVC tubing attached afterwards. Make sure that there are end caps on the PVC tubing, to force the flow of the output through the predrilled holes.