Lily pipe instead of spraybar?

[Andrew Butler]

So,
I know the saying if it ain't broke don't fix it is a good one to live by but I wonder how people get even flow around a planted tank using lily pipes and no additional powerheads.
I'm considering giving them a trial on one of my aquariums but want to know the answer to the above first.
I'm thinking about adding an inlet with built in skimmer but would want to change things so they all look uniform.

 

[zozo]

I'm not so sure if even flow is a realistic goal. no matter what you use.. 🙂 The flow should be suficient to get enough movement where needed, but dead spots more or less are inevitable.

It might be a mater of experience to setup a thank 100% correctly from the get go. Meaning using a scaping style and dimension, filter capacity etc. you are already familliar with. Many times (and even professional) scapers come back on their initial decicion with new experiences and take plants away and replace them with other sp. or move them to a different spot in the scape.

It's a trail and error, i guess it doesn't have a much beter answer..

 

[Andrew Butler]

I'm not so sure if even flow is a realistic goal. no matter what you use

I think I know what you are saying; it only takes a rock sticking up to divert flow which in turn disturbs all flow.
I just think with a spraybar you are putting out more even flow; at least to start with.

It still leaves me questioning quite how one small outlet can put circulation into an aquarium.