Help With my new 220 "SPRAY BAR" ???

mikrobkirk · 03/12/2012, 08:46 PM

Well I took a big PLUNGE by purchasing a used 220G a couple weeks ago. It is a OLD STYLE Oceanic Reef Tank. Very thick glass and very heavy as compared to what I have seen being sold the last few years. It weighs an estimated 550lbs the guy told me. It is 7' long. It has 2 overflows about 1' in from the ends of the tank (on the back side of coarse). There is only 1 1" Bulkhead drilled in the bottom for the overflows to drain. All the guy had was a 1" pvc pipe with strainer on the top end for the drains. I have made up a couple 1 1/4" Durso Stand Pipes to replace them. Now here is where things get crazy --- HELP !! This guy had the RETURN HOLES drilled into the bottom of the tank, about 9"s from the ends, and the holes are more towards the back a little bit as compared to the front. They are 5' apart. Now these holes had 2- 1" Bulkheads in them with 90 pvc elbows in them connected with a 1" piece pvc with the front of the pvc having 1/8" holes drilled about 1" apart all the way to the 90 elbows. On the back of this 5' piece directly opposite from the drilled holes, he has cut a bunch of little slots. He said it was a SPRAY BAR set up. I've Never seen one or heard of one. I am thinking this is just as about old school as it comes, but maybe I am missing something here. I have never been very fond of check valves, and all I can in-vision, is a check valve failing during a power outage and having 220 Gallons of sw on my floor. Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I dont want to drill the back taking a chance of breaking it for returns. Guess I will just plug the bottom bulkheads and run my returns up over the back, unless someone gives me a better idea.

Rytek · 03/12/2012, 08:59 PM

Wish I could help. But here is a BUMP

smithcreek · 03/12/2012, 09:16 PM

Don't need check valves, it would be part of a closed loop, no danger of draining the tank. Are there other bulkheads/holes in the sides somewhere? Those would be to feed the closed loop. If there aren't he may have just pulled the water over the back of the tank.

davocean · 03/12/2012, 09:57 PM

Depending on how you want to go on CL or not, I would be inclined to just cap what is on the bottom, in fact that is what I did w/ my last tank.
Take my word for it, those spray bars become a bummer over time, they clog, I would definitely never do that, again...

smithcreek · 03/13/2012, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davocean

those spray bars become a bummer over time, they clog, I would definitely never do that, again...

Yeah, clog AND most are meant to go under/inside your rockwork, so you need to get to them to start with which usually means tearing apart your tank.

03/12/2012, 08:46 PM	#1
mikrobkirk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Maryville IL. Posts: 28	Help With my new 220 "SPRAY BAR" ??? Well I took a big PLUNGE by purchasing a used 220G a couple weeks ago. It is a OLD STYLE Oceanic Reef Tank. Very thick glass and very heavy as compared to what I have seen being sold the last few years. It weighs an estimated 550lbs the guy told me. It is 7' long. It has 2 overflows about 1' in from the ends of the tank (on the back side of coarse). There is only 1 1" Bulkhead drilled in the bottom for the overflows to drain. All the guy had was a 1" pvc pipe with strainer on the top end for the drains. I have made up a couple 1 1/4" Durso Stand Pipes to replace them. Now here is where things get crazy --- HELP !! This guy had the RETURN HOLES drilled into the bottom of the tank, about 9"s from the ends, and the holes are more towards the back a little bit as compared to the front. They are 5' apart. Now these holes had 2- 1" Bulkheads in them with 90 pvc elbows in them connected with a 1" piece pvc with the front of the pvc having 1/8" holes drilled about 1" apart all the way to the 90 elbows. On the back of this 5' piece directly opposite from the drilled holes, he has cut a bunch of little slots. He said it was a SPRAY BAR set up. I've Never seen one or heard of one. I am thinking this is just as about old school as it comes, but maybe I am missing something here. I have never been very fond of check valves, and all I can in-vision, is a check valve failing during a power outage and having 220 Gallons of sw on my floor. Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I dont want to drill the back taking a chance of breaking it for returns. Guess I will just plug the bottom bulkheads and run my returns up over the back, unless someone gives me a better idea.

03/12/2012, 09:57 PM	#4
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Depending on how you want to go on CL or not, I would be inclined to just cap what is on the bottom, in fact that is what I did w/ my last tank. Take my word for it, those spray bars become a bummer over time, they clog, I would definitely never do that, again... __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/12/2012, 08:59 PM	#2
Rytek Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 142	Wish I could help. But here is a BUMP

03/12/2012, 09:16 PM	#3
smithcreek Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 142	Don't need check valves, it would be part of a closed loop, no danger of draining the tank. Are there other bulkheads/holes in the sides somewhere? Those would be to feed the closed loop. If there aren't he may have just pulled the water over the back of the tank.