- Undergravel Koi Pond Filter
- Undergravel Filter With Powerhead Setup
- How To Install An Undergravel Filter
Look:Don’t let anyone tell you undergravel filters can’t be an effective filtration option for your tank.When done right, they can be POWERHOUSES for stabilizing a healthy aquarium.Granted:The traditional undergravel filter setup method is straightforward:Plates on bottom.Gravel on top.Water pulled down into the gravel bed.BUTThere are some pretty major drawbacks to this setup (which is partly why they have fallen out of favor in recent years). Gunk gets trapped in the rocks and under the filter plate. Not only is it hard to clean, but actually, this can be a very dangerous problem – especially if not cleaned very frequently. These pockets can become anoxic and nasty disease-causing bacteria can form in these areas, leading to sick fish.
Even if you vacuum out the gravel frequently, you still can have all this debris lodged under the actual plates that can’t come out without a deep cleaning – sometimes necessitating a tank tear-down. 🙁. Small gravel poses a choking hazard for some fish like goldfish. Bigger or adult goldfish especially are prone to getting “rockitis” where the gravel actually gets lodged in the back of their throats, blocking their ability to eat and causing other symptoms like lethargy and strange mouth movements. Difficult to grow plants in directly. Plants can grow roots into the filter plates and restrict the water flow through the filter, destroying the effectiveness of your filtration.
Sizes it comes in:.You can also piece together several smaller sizes if your aquarium has a unique footprint.Whatever works for you 🙂You can use the setup designs below alone or in conjunction with another kind of filter. The Sand Cap MethodThis is idea combines the benefits of sand (does not trap muck like gravel) with the efficiency of undergravel filtration.I recommend using.Out of all the sands I’ve tried, this one works the best.Why?The grain size is much larger than average sand but still small enough to prevent fish choking while having the debris sit on top, patiently waiting to be vacuumed.One big advantage of this method is you don’t have to deal with plants rooting in the filter plates, which is a big problem for growing plants with traditional UG filter setups. Due to the strategic placement of the polyfiber barrier, this method is ideal for keeping rooting plants.I highly recommend adding some heavily rooting plants as it will keep the substrate aerated and help lock down the gravel-type media under the sand for those with digging fish.Not all plants enjoy soil aeration, but some like Amazon Swords really do.The roots cannot get through the barrier and block the flow – but the water can.The barrier is not thick enough to serve as mechanical filtration, and even if it were it is far down below the layers of sand and gravel-type media.
This means it does not need to be replaced continually. Place your assembled undergravel filter plates on the clean, bare bottom of the aquarium. If your tank is already set up it is a good idea to do a thorough vacuum and water change. You will and airline tubing to run the airstones in the filter. I use the as you don’t have to T off the airline tubing and you only need to use 1 outlet to run it. Cut a piece of thin polyfiber padding to fit over the surface of the plates.
This will ensure no fine debris or sand can work their way down underneath the plate and get nasty over time. I used an torn 3 thinner layers and spread them on the filter plates, snipping a slit in the fiber where the uplift tubes connect. It’s ideal because the structure allows a lot of water flow while preventing sand and debris from entering. You don’t want to use something that will break down over time, like a cotton cloth. Pour a 1/2-1″ layer of gravel, pre-soaked Seachem Matrix or (for hardwater fish like cichlids) over the polyfiber. This will help with water circulation as well as provide additional surface area for biological colonization. If you use crushed coral or another porous substrate, you can also provide an area for denitrification (aka nitrate reduction) to occur which would not happen with gravel.
On top of this layer (optional but not manditory) you can place a layer of mesh or gravel tidy to prevent this layer from intermingling with the sand. Pour a 1.5-2″ layer of sand over the gravel. I am thinking of switching my 120 gal salt water tank to fresh water. Already use an UG filter with 4 power heads and an external Marineland Penguin Power Filter w/ Multi-Stage Filtration (350gph).I find the sand cap method very interesting, especially for the growth of plants.What do you think about setting up the tank the sand cap method for normal flow and from time to time switch to reverse flow using the pre filter as mentioned? Would the reverse flow have any affect growth of plants?Thanks, Ron. I have used an under gravel filter very successfully in a 2 foot tank of tropical fish for many years.
I do regular part water changes and yes I do break down the tank completely every 18-20 months which I don’t mind as I have a chance to redesign the whole look of the tank while the fish wait patiently in buckets.I do find these methods interesting in regard to plants as that’s the only thing I sometimes have difficulty with. Thank you for such good information, I’m definitely going to try this! I would love to set my new tank up correctly using the reverse flow under gravel filtration. I bought a used tank set up for my daughter for her bdayit is 20 gallons with a top external filter and also came with an underground filter with 2 large tubes with the old charcoal pieces stuffed in the tops of them.
Undergravel Koi Pond Filter
It has a heater, plenty of gravel, stones, and plants. We rinsed everything, filled it with water and have the top external filter and the heater running and are letting it come to temperature before doing anything more. I have read all I can find on how to use the underground filter in reverse, but I still cannot understand what items I would need to purchase in order to actually set this up. I’m also trying to figure out the best way to add lighting as there is no light with the setup currently. I looked at the linked powerhead but in the photos it appears to be pulling water up from the tube rather than pushing it down the tube. I understand we would need two of them if this particular powerhead is the correct one and is capable of blowing air downwards through the straight end. Our budget is limited.
Latest a new beginning harvest moon - torrent. Does anyone have product advice?
Without a doubt, the most important thing that you need for any aquarium is a water filter, that is of course besides the fish themselves. A good filtration unit is absolutely necessary for keeping your aquarium clean and for keeping your fish healthy. That being said, there are many different kinds of filters out there which you can choose from. One of those types of aquarium filters is the undergravel filter, an easy to set up, affordable, and highly efficient filtration method that you will definitely be happy with. In this post we answer the common questions such as how does an undergravel filter work, set up and some of the best options to consider so let’s dive into it.What Is An Undergravel Filter?An undergravel filter is a really neat innovation when it comes to aquarium filters. An undergravel filter is a type of aquarium filter where the gravel, which is your substrate, is used as the primary filtration method. The filter will usually consists of some kind of grate to keep the gravel from touching the bottom of the aquarium, a pump to draw water in, a pump for air, power heads, and sometimes they do even come with their own filter media.
However, by in large, the gravel is what is used as the primary filter media. Keep in mind, this does mean that the gravel itself will require some cleaning every now and then. How Does An Undergravel Filter Work?An undergravel filter is actually a pretty simple type of filter and the way it works is about as uncomplicated as it can get. First of all, there is a grate located under the gravel to stop the gravel from touching the bottom of the aquarium, which lets water flow under it. There is a water pump and a power head which draws water through the gravel, with the gravel working as a biological filters as well as a mechanical filter. To move the water under the gravel there may also be involved.There is then a power head and water tube which pumps the clean water into the tank. Also, there are air pumps involved which blow air bubbles up from the bottom into the lift tube in order to lift the fresh water into the top of the fish tank.
It all kind of acts like a water cycle because water gets drawn in through the gravel and the clean water gets shot out the top, which then in turn causes more dirty water to filter through the gravel.If you need help with how much gravel your tank needs How To Set Up An Undergravel FilterInstalling an undergravel filter in your aquarium really is not that hard. First of all, assemble the filter according to the instructions of the specific undergravel filter you get. Before you put the filter in the tank, make sure that all of the gravel is very clean, then place the filter grate along with other necessary components in their proper place. You need to make sure that the grate covers the whole floor area of the tank.
After you have done this, simply put the gravel onto the grate and make sure that it is evenly distributed. What We Think Is The Best Undergravel FilterIf you want a great undergravel filter for your aquarium, check out this model by Lee aquarium specialists.Lee's 40/55 Premium Undergravel FilterThis is a fantastic undergravel filter choice to go with. It features large plate size in order to reduce the number of plates that are needed to cover the bottom of your aquarium. This thing uses state of the art power heads, air pumps, and water pumps in order to effectively suck water through the gravel and pump clean water back into the aquarium. This is a highly effective undergravel filter with a very strong UGF plates that are extremely durable and it works great for both fresh water and salt water aquariums. Pros. Very durable.
Powerful filtration unit. Large plates for big coverage. Comes with everything you need. Easy to set up.
For salt water and fresh water.Cons. Attaching extra filter media is a challenge.3 Other Options To ConsiderEverybody is different and has different tastes, so we know that you may not be a big fan of the first undergravel filter which we mentioned above. To give you a little diversity we also have another 3 great undergravel filter options to go with. Undergravel Filtration Bottom Circular BarThis is a pretty good undergravel filter to go with. This thing features a unique snake like design that consists of 3 horizontal tubes which suck in water through the gravel, filter it, and disperse it back into the aquarium with 1 vertical tube. This filter is ideal for smaller tanks with fairly large gravel. This is a pretty good filter to use for smaller tanks.
Pros. Effective filtration unit. Good for smaller tanks. Works for salt and fresh water.Cons.
Does not come with necessary grates and pumps.2. Aquarium Equip Under Gravel FilterThis is a very simple yet effective undergravel filtration unit. This thing comes practically assembled, it is powerful and effective, and it works really well too. This model is ideal for all types of water and different types of aquarium. However it is somewhat small. This makes it ideal for smaller aquariums, while larger aquariums will require several of them for effective filtration. Pros.
Powerful filtration. Sleek design. Great for all aquariums. Does not require much space. Comes almost totally assembled.Cons. Not ideal for larger aquariums.3. Undergravel Filteration Bottom Circular BarYet another good undergravel filter option to go with is the Aquarium Equip Undergravel Filtration Unit.
This thing is just like the first option that consists of circular horizontal tubes which suck in water through the gravel, cleans it with the gravel and then disperses it back into the aquarium. This thing works for both salt water and fresh water tanks, plus it is ideal for most tank sizes. Pros. Ideal for all aquariums. Very powerful. Easy to set up.
Effective filtration.Cons. Not that easy to set up.How To Clean An Undergravel FilterThese things may seem really hard to clean because they are covered with the gravel (your substrate), but you don’t actually have to remove the gravel to clean them. They don’t involve as much work as other filters, in terms of cleaning the filter itself at least. Since under gravel filters do a lot of the work by sucking the debris into and through the gravel, cleaning the gravel is the hardest part.Simply use a syphon and gravel vacuum in order to suck the debris out from the gravel. After you have done that, you can actually reverse the flow on the filter to push any gunk, debris, and clogs back through the filter and up through the gravel, all of which can then be sucked up with the vacuum. Other than that, just wash out the tubes and pumps just like you would with any other filter.You can also clean gravel without using a Siphon ConclusionThe bottom line is that undergravel filters make for some really great filtration units.
Undergravel Filter With Powerhead Setup
They are quite powerful, they are easy to use and set up, and they work pretty darn well too. Remember, no matter what filter you get, your fish will appreciate a good undergravel filter without a doubt.
How To Install An Undergravel Filter
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