Lilly Pipes and closed topped tanks?

[HybridHerp]

So I'm still new to higher end plant keeping and am currently in the process of making my tank a high tech set-up. I have only recently heard of lilly pipes and was wondering what the benefits of them are and what their purpose is? My tank is 75 gallons and is running 2 eheim 2217's. It is probably going to be heavily planted, so now I'm also wondering if I need more flow or whatnot. Is that what Lilly Pipes are for? I am also still figuring out how to do pressurized CO2, but Lilly Pipes are meant to help with that as well correct? Explain this to me people :P. Btw, just so I know for future reference, are there any pre-made lilly pipes that fit an eheim 2217? And would I need them on both filters? (I'd figure I would at the very least for aesthetic reasons).

[Wasserpest]

Their main purpose is to transfer water from your filter into your tank.

They are aesthetically more pleasing/less distracting than say green plastic tubes.

The Lily shape (really more of a angle-cut tulip shape if you are into botany) helps to get a gentle, wide flow. I believe you can direct it towards the surface to outgas some CO2 (perhaps at night only) and reduce build-up of surface film/scum.

Not sure if you need more flow or whatnot. Whether Lily pipes will help depends on how you have it set up currently. Spraybars reduce overall flow, while a direct filter outlet will probably create more (localized) flow than the Lily.

There are Lily pipes available that fit the Eheim tubing.

Hope that answers some of your questions.

[HybridHerp]

Originally Posted by Wasserpest

Not sure if you need more flow or whatnot. Whether Lily pipes will help depends on how you have it set up currently. Spraybars reduce overall flow, while a direct filter outlet will probably create more (localized) flow than the Lily.

There are Lily pipes available that fit the Eheim tubing.

Hope that answers some of your questions.

what set-up for lilly pipes would be ideal? I don't have any but am considering it since I feel like the spray bars are a little annoying anyways (I have issues getting mine to stay suctioned cupped to the back, and for w/e reason both my spray bars and my intakes have some black beard algae growing on it, its diminishing mind you but its still annoying, that and I find that the spray bars can get a little clogged (then again I probably need to replace things in my filter, its been a while lol) I also just find that I need a little more surface agitation than the spray bar alone gives me

btw, any links to these lilly pipes for ehiems?

however, does having a lilly pipe creating surface agitation lessen the amount of flow towards the bottom of the tank? at least lessen more than a spray bar would anyways

then again, when I add pressurized CO2 to this tank, my methods of doing that could possibly add more flow as well right? I'm just sitting here debating between methods of how to get things in my tank done lol

[talontsiawd]

Originally Posted by HybridHerp

what set-up for lilly pipes would be ideal?

Honestly, on setups where appearance matters. I have used lily pipes and they didn't spread out the flow as much as I would have liked. It's only marginally better than a direct outflow pipe (which I often use on tanks with no tall plants and love it and it's cheap). Their are plenty of plastic outflows that do the same thing, more or less. I have not tried the "poppy glass" style of outflow which should distribute the flow more and make it more gentle.

Obviously I am not comparing to spray bars, which isn't a fair comparison. I am only comparing them to a strait through outlet. Spray bars have their own pro's and con's but you can get outflow that works that is plastic for $10 or less that will do what a lily pipe claims to do. It will be ugly. Some may be harder to move for aeration or surface skimming but the ones I use (Eheim) are actually easier to move. They even give a vortex effect.

I don't want to say it's a waste of money because that is opinion. I will continue to use them as I can afford them but only on display type tanks that everyone sees and the plumbing makes an impact on the viewing experience. To me, it's still worth paying the money for them. The advantages, IMO, over other types of outlets are exaggerated and achievable with other types of outflows.

Inflow pipes really don't have any advantage, just look better.

[BigfellaJ]

I am setting up a similar tank and wondered how you went placing your pipes to get good circulation and spread of induced CO2 over your plants?