Filtration

[sao870]

Ok I'm starting up my tank for my red tail puffer (don't have it yet) today I was wondering if I could just use a undergravle filter + a power head as my filter......or will this not work out ? Or do I even need a power head I have all ways just used hang on's but I have a good deal on these 2 items I'm trying to cut cost and I am not going to use sand as a substrate to difficult to clean.

[Pufferpunk]

Sand + UGF won't work anyway. I personally don't like UGF.

[sao870]

But can I use a UGF in replace of a hang on if o don't use a sand ?

[DarkStorm]

ugf's work good just make an vacuum adapter so you can suck directly from the flow return so you can avoid sludge build up

[sao870]

Hmmm please explain please?

[RTR]

IMHO & IME, conventional flow UG is too laborious and not very efficient. RFUG (reverse flow UG) when prefiltered is far superior. With that technique, you have mechanical filtration in the prefilter, biofiltration in the substrate. Additional current is generally required however. Safe upkeep is far easier than with regular UG.

Sand larger than sugar sand can be used with RFUG, but you must do extra construction. You need eggcrate grid and two layers of fiberglass mesh screen over the UG plate, exactly as in construction of a SW plenum.. That is also non-trivial effort. It is only worthwhile with a real need for the technique.

[sao870]

wow so sine im pretty sure im goning to go the under gravle filer way what all do i need to make it work?? i plan on doing this tonight

[RTR]

Penguin powerheads with reverse flow kits, UG filter plate (LFS); fiberglass mesh screen (home store/hardware store); eggcrate grid (sold as light diffuser in home stores or plastic supply houses).

Cut eggcrtae slightly smaller than the tank inside dimensions. Notch out the grid for the riser tube(s) of the UG plate which you will use. Wrap UG plate and grid with a double layer of fiberglass mesh, cutting holes for the riser(s) to be used, cap unused riser slots before wrapping.

Trim the riser tube(s) so that the top of the powerhead will be below the operating water level, and the prefilter will be in place.

Fill the tank with enough water to fully cover the assembly. Tuck the edges of the fiberglass mesh down around the plate/grid and purge all of the air out from under the plate. Add clean sand to 1/2 - 1" depth. A plastic spatula can be used to tamp down the sand around the UG plate edges - gently -don't scratch the glass of push the plate up with excess sand/mesh.

Put a plate (dinner or desert tableware) on the sand and add the rest of the water to mostly but not completely fill the tank, pouring carefully onto the plate (avoids disturbing the sand). Add the pump(s) and filters when tank is almost full. Add other filter(s) and heater. Top up tank and plug in equipment one at a time to test.

HTH

[sao870]

well first off thanks and second i did not get time to do this had a football banquet which went way to long and had bad food. lol but im pretty sure i wont use sand seeing as tho id nood alot more equipment but i will try to get this all done with in the next few weeks

[Myaj]

The only way I'd use an undergravel filter is on reverse flow, which as was said, you'd need a powerhead that can be switched to reverse flow.

The way a standard undergravel filter works, it pulls the water down through the substrate and lets the "filtered" water back out through the outlet/powerhead. The problem with this is, all the waste and decomposing food and feces that get pulled into the substrate just get stuck there and rot.. which of course is no good for the tank. Even with very good gravel cleanings, the amount of "gunk" that builds up under there is devastating.

[RTR]

The switchable powrheads are poor choices - the reverse flow is very low, a waste of electricity. The value of the Penguins is that the accessories are set to run the pump forward and to prefilter the intake water. Very simple and very low-tech. Even an inept mechanic such as I am can do this easily.I have not used anything else since they came on the market long ago. I stockpile boxes of spares in case the stop making them.

[Myaj]

Very good point, I do have an AC.. I think an 802 that has RF, and the reverse flow is so weak its not funny.

[Nick]

I've honestly found jury-rigging an adapter to the riser tubes so the standard output fits snuggly and using one of the cheaply available prefilters on the usual input side to be a vastly better way to use AC powerheads for reverse flow than their reverse flow option. You get the full power of the pump and a perfectly fitted prefilter that won't suck up even the laziest fish.

[RTR]

I admit to jury-rigging before penguins and their accessory kit came on the market, but since then I have been too lazy. The price of the powerheads plus the accessory kits are foe me well less than the price of the sturdy ACs - which are good pumps,and I do use them for other purposes. They are one of the few current pumps (versus head pumps) which do not make noise and burn out early when used against low to moderate heads.

[Nick]

Those kits are nifty - I believe I have even fitted the elbow piece that attaches to the riser tubes to an AC70 powerhead to use it as reverse flow - it was unwrapped in the back room of the fish store, but that's sure what it looked like.