Understanding Jet Agitation: Why Proper Tank Mixing Matters for Your Sprayer

One of the most common questions we hear when talking with people regarding new sprayers is:

“What type of agitation does this skid sprayer have?”

At Gregson-Clark our sprayers are manufactured using jet agitation.

What Jet Agitation Really Does

Jet agitation uses the recirculated flow from your pump to create a hydraulic mixing action inside the tank. Instead of moving paddles (as in mechanical agitation), you let the pump do the work by pushing fluid through one or more jets positioned inside the tank.

It’s simple, it’s reliable, and in many cases, especially turf and landscape spraying, it’s all you need.

But the REAL key to effective jet agitation is turnover rate.

Turnover Rate: The Heart of Good Agitation

Turnover rate refers to how long it takes for the pump to cycle the full volume of your tank. Faster turnover means better mixing.

Here’s how pump size and tank volume change the equation.

Example 1: Small Pump on a 50–100 Gallon Skid Sprayer

Let’s say you’re running a 50-gallon skid sprayer with a small 3 GPM diaphragm pump.

• Pump Output: ~3 gallons per minute
• Tank Volume: 50 gallons
• Turnover Time: ~17 minutes per full tank cycle

If you jump up to a 100-gallon tank:

• Turnover Time: jumps to ~33 minutes

What it means:
A smaller pump can maintain adequate agitation for soluble fertilizers or lighter herbicides, but it may struggle with heavier wettable powders or materials that settle quickly.

Example 2: Larger Pump on a 200–300 Gallon Sprayer

Now picture a 300-gallon skid sprayer with a 9 GPM diaphragm pump.

• Pump Output: ~9 gallons per minute
• Tank Volume: 300 gallons
• Turnover Time: ~33 minutes

Compared to the 100-gallon example with a 3 GPM pump, you’re moving triple the fluid through triple the tank size—yet maintaining the same turnover time. That’s why jet agitation tends to shine on larger systems.

What it means:
For larger tanks, higher-flow pumps maintain excellent suspension even with thick mixes, granular formulations, or products that tend to separate.

Jet agitation scales beautifully as pump flow increases, making it a dependable option for most commercial turf sprayers.

For applications that require increased agitation we have multiple solutions to achieve adequate results. The first option we have is to run a high-pressure agitation line back to the tank. This line uses pressurized fluid from the pump and sends it back to the tank for high pressure mixing.

The second option we have is to upsize the pump. Instead of a 9 GPM pump on a 300-gallon tank we can increase to a 20 GPM pump to drop the turnover rate to 15 minutes.

When Jet Agitation Is Enough (and When It Isn’t)

Jet Agitation Works Best For:

• Liquid fertilizers
• Pre-emergents and post-emergents
• Most turf and ornamental products

Mechanical Agitation May Be Better For:

• High rates of wettable powders
• Heavy clay-based products

If you’re unsure, our team always recommends reviewing your most demanding mix and designing your sprayer around that scenario.

Why Gregson-Clark Uses Jet Agitation by Default

We’ve tested our systems under the real-world conditions landscapers and turf applicators face every day.

Jet agitation continues to be a consistent, low maintenance, cost effective and reliable option for the majority of applications. Combined with properly sized pumps, it provides more than enough mixing power to keep your spray uniform and predictable.

Do you have questions about jet agitation, pump sizing, or upgrading your sprayer?
As always, Gregson-Clark is here to help you build the setup that works as hard as you do.

Reach out and speak with one of our knowledgeable staff members today at 585-538-9570.