Fluval FX5..output not strong enough...should i add powerhead?

[djarmstrong]

Remove the dual output and go with a single 90 degree fitting. You will get a lot more flow velocity.

http://innovationlandscaping.com/fx5/nozzle.html

 

[Danger_Chicken]

Nice oscar tank!

Just remember that spray bars, if design wrong, could increase system pressure and decrease total flow of the filter system.

Not a problem the way I did mine. The spray bar puts flow all the way across the bottom so there are no dead spots for debris to settle.

 

[Fishsauce]

I plummed mine completely with 1" PVC. The corigated hose that comes with the FX5 slows down the output. I also created a spray bar at the bottom of the tank to push crude to the intake. It's a 6' tank and the FX5 output is enough to clear the bottom. See teh right side of the pic

I believe it should be 3/4" and not 1". I wasted $3 because I read this thread yesterday and read your post. I have to go back to home depot today and get a 3/4" pvc.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[Avi]

I believe it should be 3/4" and not 1". I wasted $3 because I read this thread yesterday and read your post. I have to go back to home depot today and get a 3/4" pvc.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

FX5 is DEFO 1" tube, the clear pipe you get to connect the strainer 1" lol

 

[FSM]

Nice oscar tank!

Just remember that spray bars, if design wrong, could increase system pressure and decrease total flow of the filter system.

What would be an incorrect design? Not having enough/large enough holes? Would having the total area of all the holes equal the area of a single nozzle be safe?

 

[Avi]

What would be an incorrect design? Not having enough/large enough holes? Would having the total area of all the holes equal the area of a single nozzle be safe?

Incorrect design would be 1 little hole lol, yeah having the same area of holes as the original is very safe... as said before i have 9 5mm holes and my tank overflow is at the same hight it would be if i dont use the spraybar

At 1 point had 6 5mm holes... and the level dropped a bit (i.e. flow was reduced) so thats about the limit

 

[Fishsauce]

FX5 is DEFO 1" tube, the clear pipe you get to connect the strainer 1" lol

I figured. I should read the thread more carefully.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[FSM]

I made spraybars for both my fluval 404s. I think I drilled about 12 holes in each, not sure though.

 

[Deaths Sting]

if u do decide u want a power head, i highly recommend the Koralia 4 by Hydor, its 1200 GPH and is very quiet and effective.

 

[Jgray152]

What would be an incorrect design? Not having enough/large enough holes? Would having the total area of all the holes equal the area of a single nozzle be safe?

Incorrect design would be 1 little hole lol, yeah having the same area of holes as the original is very safe... as said before i have 9 5mm holes and my tank overflow is at the same hight it would be if i dont use the spraybar

At 1 point had 6 5mm holes... and the level dropped a bit (i.e. flow was reduced) so thats about the limit

Regardless of how you design the spray bar, if the bar can "spray" a good distance, than you have increased system pressure. Not saying its designed wrong, after all it is a spray bar, but not having enough holes of the correct size will increase system pressure beyond where you want it. Any time system pressure is increase, flow volume is decreased.

Having smaller holes at the end and larger holes at the beginning is better to get more equal flow. This combination works for system with pressure but if you have water flowing through a pipe without pressure and not filling the pipe completly, than smaller holes at the beginning and larger holes at the end.