DIY UG filter ideas

[chrisstylez1]

So i have this idea, that i can hook my extra AC110 or fluval 204 up to some PVC piping to make a ug filter. I figure ill take the intake and extend it with pvc piping with drilled holes and place it under the gravel to suck the waste though the gavel. good idea? bad idea? stupid idea? wont really work idea?

Thanks,

-Chris

 

[gt1009]

You could do that, but it would sort of defeat the purpose of the extra filtration unless you used the ugf for mechanical and the 204 or 110 only for bio filtration. If you were to do this, I would also just put the intake tube of the filter into the lift tube of a regular UGF plate. Just sticking it in the gravel wouldn't really make a difference in my opinion.

 

[chrisstylez1]

Well i have 2 fx5 and 2 ac110 on a 75 gallon tank, i just figure i'll take one the ac 110 and make it a ugf, leave it on and take my 204 and make it a ugf. Im trying to figure out the best one to use and the best way to set it up and most effective. Without spending to much money.

 

[Camshaft Ramrod]

People still use UG filters??...

 

[chrisstylez1]

I have never used one but it seems like a good idea

 

[FSM]

You already have a ridiculously excessive amount of filtration, there is no reason to waste time adding more.

 

[bitteraspects]

So i have this idea, that i can hook my extra AC110 or fluval 204 up to some PVC piping to make a ug filter. I figure ill take the intake and extend it with pvc piping with drilled holes and place it under the gravel to suck the waste though the gavel. good idea? bad idea? stupid idea? wont really work idea?

Thanks,

-Chris

You don't need to put it under the gravel. If you leave it on top of the gravel, it should keep most of the stuff from settling into the substrate.
Putting it under the gravel would only pull out ant debris from directly in front of the holes. And most likely. It would just clogged with gravel.

Click the first link in my sig for more info on how to go about the plumbing.

 

[Cashlaw]

How about a reverse-flow UGF . . . pump intake at the top of the take, pump output pushing water up and out through the under-gravel tubes. It would force debris up and away from the gravel.

 

[bitteraspects]

How about a reverse-flow UGF . . . pump intake at the top of the take, pump output pushing water up and out through the under-gravel tubes. It would force debris up and away from the gravel.

that would be a UGJ (under gravel jet) system.
you can find lots of information on this forum about them.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101413&highlight=UGJ

while they can be effective, you will likely still have a few dead spots in your tank.

 

[CHOMPERS]

UGJ and RUGF systems are two entirely different animals. Somewhere in that thread, the OP later stated that the UGJ system didn't perform as expected. However, many of us have very successful RUGF systems.