[jeffro79]

I have been swapping for the last few months between a diy spray bar and the duckbill that came with the Fluval 306.
The spray bar seems to increase circulation a lot more but when i turn the flow down during feeding then turn it back up there is a large amount of waste floating around the tank which takes hours to clear. I dont have this problem when i use the duckbill though.
Why is this happening?
Is it lack of cleaning? I clean a different part of the filter each month and i have heard people say they only clean the whole of theirs once a year.
Also i would be interested to hear from anybody else who has views on using a spray bar on this filter.
I have this running on a 260ltr tank.
Thanks

 

[jaysee]

I use almost all spraybars, and don't have that problem...but then I don't go messing with the flow rate. The fish are more than capable of eating with the normal flow. I clean my canisters twice a year, and never clean the plumbing.

The reason stuff is coming out is because you are messing with the flow rate. Increasing it after you've decreased it causes stuff to come loose in the plumbing, and even the filter. Stop messing with it and the water will stay clear.

 

[Boredomb]

I generally get that stuff coming out of my filter when i turn it off then back on. I do this when I swap my sponge on my intake. It comes from stuff in the hosing. Its generally not a problem for me as its very little and my filter just sucks it back up. There no real way to stop it except tearing down your whole filter and cleaning everything including the hoses. The other way is just to stop messing with the flow as Jaysee as mentioned.

 

[MoneyMitch]

agree with others, lowering the flow then putting it back up creates a surge of pressure, that pressure is going to knock stuff loose. are you turning the filter off because it is sucking up the food before the fish can get at it? ive had this happen in smaller tanks with smaller fish. I just akept my filter clean, I would wash it out completely every month which includes taking it apart and getting into every crevice I can. keeping a clean HOB also helps cut back on rates =D

 

[jeffro79]

I use almost all spraybars, and don't have that problem...but then I don't go messing with the flow rate. The fish are more than capable of eating with the normal flow. I clean my canisters twice a year, and never clean the plumbing.

The reason stuff is coming out is because you are messing with the flow rate. Increasing it after you've decreased it causes stuff to come loose in the plumbing, and even the filter. Stop messing with it and the water will stay clear.

Thanks for the advice mate. I have since posting this thread drilled the holes slightly larger in the spray bar and its clearing up real good.
But i will take your advice on board and leave the filter running at the set flow rate.

 

[jeffro79]

agree with others, lowering the flow then putting it back up creates a surge of pressure, that pressure is going to knock stuff loose. are you turning the filter off because it is sucking up the food before the fish can get at it? ive had this happen in smaller tanks with smaller fish. I just akept my filter clean, I would wash it out completely every month which includes taking it apart and getting into every crevice I can. keeping a clean HOB also helps cut back on rates =D

Thanks for that.
I seem to be getting the same opinion so im goin to leave the filter running at the same flow rate.
I have since drilled slightly bigger holes in the spray bar and it seems to be clearng better so i think its a combination of the 2.

Ste

 

[MoneyMitch]

the bigger holes is a good idea =) monthly cleaning will help cut down on gunk that's in there too ^^

 

[JDM]

I used the stock output "duckbill" for a while and shut off the filter for feeding only because the food was going where I didn't want it.... It probably wasn't a problem, really. I have since gone to a DIY spray bar made of 5/8" lawn soaker hose with 1/4" holes drilled. It amounts to doubling the output area which slows down the water velocity and now I don't turn off the filter. I had the puff of crap when turning the filter on before as well, now it's not an issue.

I'm going to add two more holes and change their orientation to change where the water is going... but that's another story.

Jeff