trying to improve distribution

[kcharley]

Hi all,

I have a 22 gal tank with pressurized CO2 and a Marineland C220 canister filter. I would like to improve the distribution of the water flow. Right now, the output is in the upper right rear corner pointed diagonally to the front left corner. Intake is in the lower left rear corner.

http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv51/MotorcycleDad/IMG_4534a.jpg This pic is 3 to 4 weeks old. The sword is another 1 - 2 inches taller. I've replaced the water sprite on the left with another sword, about 1/4 the size of the other one. I also have some dwarf val in that area that is doing well. I'm trying to get the new sword to be the same size as the big one.

Judging from the plant movements, I have pretty good distribution except for the lower right quarter of the tank. Judging from growth, I suspect the big sword is sucking up a lot of the CO2 but there is still some left for the rest of the tank. If I increase the CO2 output any, the fish wind up at the surface gasping for breath.

I'm open to suggestions but I am thinking of two options. One would be to add a Koralia nano to force some of the output away from the big sword and to the lower right of the tank. I am hesitating with this because I want to minimize visual distractions. The other option is to fabricate a spary bar along the upper back so I can pick and choose where the flow goes by drilling holes. My hesitancy with this approach is I have little idea how many and what size holes to drill. I'm guessing I would vary the size and placement of the holes to direct the flow, a few 1/16" angled upward to create water disturbance and 1/8" holes to direct flow to plants in their locations.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

PS. In a week or two I am going to pull the inert gravel and add more ADA AS and cap that with some black sand.

 

[shoggoth43]

What happens if you aim it more towards the front of the tank or even aim it so it bounces a little bit off the right panel? I have a similar setup and just let it do the whirlpool thing. There's not so much movement in the middle of the tank, but all plants have a bit of sway, or I can see the CO2 bubbles running past them so in theory it's all good.

-
S

 

[Philosophos]

Where exactly is your CO2 mounted in relation to your output?

I've been getting pretty good distribution lately without a rain bar on my standard 20g. I've put my CO2 on the left side of the glass, about 2-3 inches above and in front of the back left corner. From there, the outlet hangs 3 inches down and 5 inches out from the left. The filter is angled slightly downward, and rotated horizontally in the direction of the CO2 diffuser. Of course, this can all be reversed for the right side. It creates a lot of vortexes off the glass, blows the co2 bubbles downwards and seems to even things up. Of course there's a bit more CO2 on the left side to some degree, but the pH only has a max variation of +/- .05 (according to a pH meter accurate to .01) between the two sides.

-Philosophos

 

[kcharley]

Hi Shoggoth43,

Thanks for the suggestion. The flow throughout the tank seems less when I aim straight towards the front. I hadn't thought of bouncing it off the right glass. I'll try that tonight. Thanks again.

Hi Philosophos,

I'm running a reactor after the filter. The plants/leaves that get directly hit by the outflow pearl easily but not the rest of the tank. Part of my distribution problem is the one Sword has gotten so large that it partially blocks any angled flow. If I move the output to the other corner, the root will block the flow.

You have given me an idea to try if banking off the right glass doesn't work. Maybe if I just extend my output down and move some of the stem plants I might be able get the flow between the bigger plants in the back. If I do that, I will have to come up with a way to create some surface disturbance. Hmmm? Thanks for the idea.

Greg

 

[SuperColey1]

Putting the inlet and outlet in the same corner would help!!!

Then the water gets taken out at the 'end' of the circuit and enters at the same point. I would point the outlet along the back straight across and put the diffuser on the left below where the outlet is 'hitting' the rear of the left pane.

That should push the circulation rear right to rear left and take the CO2 bubbles forward to the front left and along the front glass to the front right.

The inlet pulling the water in from the rear right should 'drag' the flow into the space vacated then.

AC

 

[kcharley]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the suggestion. Where I end up may be a combination of what Shoggoth43 and you suggested. I can move the outlet to the left corner above the inlet, but aim it so the water deflects off the left glass. (I don't want to go across the back because of the root and the large sword is now breaking the surface.) This will let the smaller sword be among the first to get the incoming water. Now I've got several ideas to try.
Thank you vary much.

Greg

 

[kcharley]

Just a quick report. So far I have just turned the output so that it deflects off the right glass. If the first day results hold up, I will be very happy. Virtually every plant in the tank is pearling and looks better. The fine CO2 bubbles are being pushed almost to the far left corner. Amazying how they wouldn't get there when being directly aimed there but do with the deflection. The big sword must have been blocking the flow more than I thought.

Thank you all for the suggestions.