What's that twirling thingy on the water return???

[Meloco14]

I love looking at the display tanks in LFS's, and in many I see this T or Y shaped thing twirling on the end of the return line. I want one but I don't know what it's called and haven't been able to find one online. Is it possible to attach them to powerheads? Just looking for some more turbulence...thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a rotating return. RIO used to make them a few years ago as an aftermarket kit for their larger pumps. Basically all it is is a PVC t-joint with a joint that allows it to rotate as long as the pressure will push it around.

AFAIK, they didn't fit other types of pumps, and you couldn't pay me enough to put a RIO into my tank.

 

[jbpig]

Here is what I use to create current in my tank. i only use PH's for waterchanges and mixing salt. The bars are located at each end of the tank and create noce currents. The picture was taken when the tank was being set up that is why the water looks cloudy. HTH

 

[Anonymous]

Are those dry fitted so they can be angled? If so, they don't blow?

And.. just how noce are those currents, anyway?

 

[Meloco14]

Yeah, I was thinking of making a PVC spraybar, maybe I'll go that way. Seems like the rotating returns aren't too popular, and i dont know how to make a piece of PVC swivel on my own.

 

[jbpig]

Are those dry fitted so they can be angled? If so, they don't blow?

And.. just how noce are those currents, anyway?

Yes tey are dry fitted. I can adjust each nozzle as needed. I usually change the nozzle pattern monthly when I pull them off for cleaning.

and YES SM they have a very NOCE currents .......I was extremly tired and crashed right after that post.......

 

[Anonymous]

Tey look like tey work very noce tho! :wink:

I'm leaning very heavy towards something like that myself.. - Except I was thinking ball & socket to make it that much more directional (and black..) And add to that a SCWD or two too..

 

[Anonymous]

Meloco- I have seen them at LFSs also, but nowhere else. They rotate so fast that I think the effect is more like the flow from the pump is spread out, rather than creating substantial variations in flow in the tank.

Better choices would be SCWD or Sea-swirl, or even just a wave-strip. I used to have a device that would hold an entire powerhead and slowly oscillate it back and forth- worked quite well. Can't recall the name of it...

 

[Meloco14]

Dan-thanks for the tip, yeah I am thinking of getting a SCWD, those look pretty good. I'll keep my eye out for anything else of the sort when I'm browsing the shops.

As far as a wavemaker, I cannot afford a good electronic one, so if I get one it would be the cheaper powerstrip style. However I have read that these can be bad for your pumps because of all the hard stopping and starting. Is this true? Anyone have experience with these $50 powerstrip wavemakers? TIA