Fluval Spec Spray Bar Mod (complete With Part Numbers)

Ildiko The spray bar is a really really easy mod. It doesn't require many tools, especially if you don't do the second row of holes, and improves the circulation of water through the tank. I'll bet you could get away with only needing a new blade in an Xacto cutter to trim down the length of the tube until/unless you want to make further modifications.

RE: Snail poo + turkey baster

I've got pooping machines in my two snails and I have been unhappy with my cleaning method since my vac takes too much water out of the tank before I can get it satisfactorily cleaned so I tried a new method last week and it seems to be an improvement:

(1) Find a "dead" spot in your tank where the water doesn't circulate very efficiently or where detritus naturally tends to build up.
(2) Use your baster to blow water from the baster down at the substrate to stir up the detritus, aiming the baster so the jet of water pushes the detritus toward that dead spot. Experiment with how close you can get to the substrate without totally blowing it around: I have sand so I have to be gentle with the baster's pressure.
(3) Continue step (2) until most of the snail poo and other larger/heavier waste collects in that dead spot.
(4) Use your aquarium vacuum to suck it all out.

Because I have a large piece of driftwood in my tank the spray bar doesn't quite have the openness to create a strong current around the tank to push all the detritus to the filter so I came up with this new plan.

I also went to home depot last night and got two 1/2" PVC elbows and created a little vacuum filter so I can suck out debris but not remove water. Pretty handy for a mid-week clean if things start looking too cruddy.

Thanks for the tips, I am waiting for the parts to arrive and can jump on the spray bar project! Now that minI vacuum is interesting, could you include a photo please, if you get a chance...I live right behind Home Depot.

 

I followed the wisdom of many reviewers of the tank and cut two holes in the return pipe to help circulate the water where the pump resides (this is where I placed my heater), so I have my pump set to high with this mod. I didnt try it on low. You can probably get away with it on low without a second set. Play around with it and give it a try!

Hi,when you cut the holes on the return pipe did your pump become louder? I just punched holes on mine and it seems louder...kind of annoying to my betta, I noticed that he doesn't go near there anymore, even though that was his favorite spot to sleep.
I also did the spray bar mod today, but it's definitely the pump/return pipe,I checked.

 

Check that your pump was reinstalled well. I had my pump suddenly get really loud about a week after I bought the tank and way before I cut the holes in the tube but it got quiet again when I took it out and reinstalled it after a cleaning.

The holes shouldn't cause noise.

 

Check that your pump was reinstalled well. I had my pump suddenly get really loud about a week after I bought the tank and way before I cut the holes in the tube but it got quiet again when I took it out and reinstalled it after a cleaning.

The holes shouldn't cause noise.

Thanks, so it's not the holes then. I tried every possible way to fit the damned thing. Getting a bit annoyed by it.Cleaned it out too. It also vibrates now,definitely more than before...

 

The return tube is soft so there is no mechanism that would take our vibrate to the point that it would create noise.

My guess is that it's something to do with your pump and how is installed that is either rattling against something else hard or some other hard component is rattling.

 

I even tried to put a rubber band on the pump,took it apart,etc. Contacted Fluval and they are sending a new pump,which is nice of them.
By the way in case someone punches too many holes on the tube, when they order the outlet nozzle from Fluval, it comes with a tube,just good to know. Othervise it's quite a mission to score one...
The new spray bar is working great,thanks for your idea!