Who Gives A Fish Forums

What's the general consensus, lily pipe or spray bar - which one comes out on top?

For optimal performance, lily pipes need higher flow rates - we're talking more than 5x the tank volume's turnover per hour. This is crucial in preventing those dreaded "dead-spots" from forming.

Good water movement is also essential when using glass or ceramic diffusers to produce CO2 microbubbles, as poor circulation can cause the bubbles to simply rise to the surface.

In larger tanks - those over 48 inches - it might be wise to consider using two lily pipes, each paired with a decent filter.

Personally, I think the glass lily pipes look the part - brands like ADA, Aquilli, and the new Cal Aqua from Aqua Essentials are top-notch. JBL and Eheim do offer more affordable plastic alternatives that are less delicate, but still get the job done.

I've bought an Eheim lily pipe from Aqua Essentials for my 2213 Classic external filter. I'm looking to improve CO2 circulation from my ceramic diffuser, as it's been a bit lacking with the spray bar. My setup circulates just over 3x the tank's capacity per hour. George, do you think that's enough for decent circulation?

Give it a shot and see how it goes. I've found that the only real issue with lily pipes is the placement of the diffuser - they tend to stick too far into the tank. I've recently picked up a Cal Aqua lily pipe and decided to opt for a CO2 reactor to get around this issue.

Sorted now, all good.