DIY Undergravel Jet system (lots of pics)

[rtazz17]

oh,and would the aquaclear 70 which pushes I think just over 400 gph be enough to do maybe 6 or 7 ugjs?Having cichlids that dig,Im not sure this system is a good idea....I may be looking at pvc exposed everywhere.....

 

[Derpeder]

Hi,Imin the process of setting up a new 180 gallon..I wanted to know,what is the flow like throuhg each ugj?is the flow equal in all of them or is does one have way more flow...I have an aqua clear 70 I may use for a powerhead,what size is your powerhead??I just dont want to blow my sand everywhere...Its very course sand and drops quickly,so I dont think that will be an issue....thanks...

oh,and would the aquaclear 70 which pushes I think just over 400 gph be enough to do maybe 6 or 7 ugjs?Having cichlids that dig,Im not sure this system is a good idea....I may be looking at pvc exposed everywhere.....

The flow does lessen as the jets get further away from the powerhead, Not that drastically but it does decrease. Plus the jets don't push any sand around becuase I angeled them the correct way. and using course sand you shouldn't have any problems. I would not recomend 6 or 7 jets out of one. My powerheads I believe are pushing 400 gph. and 4 jets is pushing it. I think 3 per powerhead would have been even better. and on 180 gallons I'd definately do two powerheads pushing 4 each for 8 jets or 3 powerheads pushing 3 each for 9 jets.

As far as the cichlids thing goes. Read throught the link I posted on post#1 from Arl. That guys tank was cichlids. and he stained his entire pvc the color of his substrate. you could also put the jet system together and just rub sylicone all over the pvc and put it in the substrate just like I did with the tips to camo the whole system.

Its working so good right now. I watch the junk on the bottom just move around until it gets pushed up by a jet and into the filter. It even pushed up a small shell off the ground and was stuck in the filter grate!!! Shells are pretty heavy too. So I think in time its really going to pay off and it was sooooo easy and cheap to make.

I'd go for it. its always easier to remove it from the tank then to try to add one later. and post some pics.

 

[vanilla__gorilla__]

looks good but I find that a closed loop ugj's work better they don't loose neary as much presure in the nozles further away from the pump

 

[spds31]

looks good but I find that a closed loop ugj's work better they don't loose neary as much presure in the nozles further away from the pump

...

I don't know where people are getting this idea from, but that is not even remotely true. Nor would it actually be a "closed loop system." Water enters one end, and flows out the other; that is an open loop.

Making it "closed-loop" will do nothing but increase head losses. The OP's current setup is fine.

 

[Derpeder]

looks good but I find that a closed loop ugj's work better they don't loose neary as much presure in the nozles further away from the pump

Either way its built I think will be fine. Whatever your gonna be happy with.

I'm very pleased with how its working so far, and the flow I get out of the Jets furthest way are just fine.

 

[rtazz17]

The flow does lessen as the jets get further away from the powerhead, Not that drastically but it does decrease. Plus the jets don't push any sand around becuase I angeled them the correct way. and using course sand you shouldn't have any problems. I would not recomend 6 or 7 jets out of one. My powerheads I believe are pushing 400 gph. and 4 jets is pushing it. I think 3 per powerhead would have been even better. and on 180 gallons I'd definately do two powerheads pushing 4 each for 8 jets or 3 powerheads pushing 3 each for 9 jets.

As far as the cichlids thing goes. Read throught the link I posted on post#1 from Arl. That guys tank was cichlids. and he stained his entire pvc the color of his substrate. you could also put the jet system together and just rub sylicone all over the pvc and put it in the substrate just like I did with the tips to camo the whole system.

Its working so good right now. I watch the junk on the bottom just move around until it gets pushed up by a jet and into the filter. It even pushed up a small shell off the ground and was stuck in the filter grate!!! Shells are pretty heavy too. So I think in time its really going to pay off and it was sooooo easy and cheap to make.

I'd go for it. its always easier to remove it from the tank then to try to add one later. and post some pics.

I think I will give it a try...The 180 is empty as Im building a stand so now is the best time to do it,I can always remove it...Did you put yours ontop of eggcrate or did you cut your eggcrate around it?

 

[rtazz17]

it looks like we have the same powerhead,do you remember the inside diameter of the hose you used from the powerhead to the pvc?Im lazy and dont want to measure mine...lol

 

[Derpeder]

I think I will give it a try...The 180 is empty as Im building a stand so now is the best time to do it,I can always remove it...Did you put yours ontop of eggcrate or did you cut your eggcrate around it?

it looks like we have the same powerhead,do you remember the inside diameter of the hose you used from the powerhead to the pvc?Im lazy and dont want to measure mine...lol

I didn't use eggcrate, if I did I'd put the egg crate around it . Unless you have a lot of substrate. Its better to have the pvc as deep as possible especially with cichlids.

and I used 3/4"........I think.....LOL.........all I know Is at first I bought the PVC piece that was too small......and don't think I'm going to not be lazy and measure for you to be sure. LOL......

Take some pics as you go and post them up.

 

[rtazz17]

thanks,I will post when Im done..Actually I think Im going to buy a mag 18 and flow 10 jets...

 

[smallcrpt]

on a closed loop system, you get twice the pressure. so the heads on the far side would get the same water from the power head if you set it up coming into a 3-way 90. trust me, i work on a golf course, we do this all the time.
=-chris