Fixing the undergravel filter/jets?

[HackJob]

you may want to use different sized holes to help control the pressure too. Smaller holes allow less access out and keep pressure higher, larger holes at the end to all what pressure is left an easier path out.

An acrylic plate on egg crate could also do this, but if something got under there, it's going to cause all manner of issues.

 

[ripit]

you may want to use different sized holes to help control the pressure too. Smaller holes allow less access out and keep pressure higher, larger holes at the end to all what pressure is left an easier path out.

An acrylic plate on egg crate could also do this, but if something got under there, it's going to cause all manner of issues.

One thing that is making me shy away from plexiglass is local availability and cost. I'm rather hesitant to drop $50 or more experimenting on something that has a good chance of failing without a little trial and error (and possibly wasted materials). I have been looking around for other types of sheet plastic (maybe even the lid from a big plastic tub or something). I'll probably wind up using plastic mesh (gutter guard doubled or something). I already wasted most of 2 10 foot pieces of pvc pipe with experimental design and may have done it again. Luckily 10 feet of pipe is about $1.50. I rebuilt the one pictured with new pipes. Instead of 40-80 1/8" holes per foot, i have 3 1/8" holes in the bottom, and 5 1/16" holes top on a 20" inner pipe (near the pump) and 5 1/8" holes bottom, and 8 1/16" holes top on an outer 20" pipe (one farther from the pump). All the pipes have about that spacing of holes. I am hoping in reverse flow, the small holes on top will have more pressure to blast stuff up out of the gravel, and in normal flow, the larger holes will be big enough to actually suck particles through the holes and into the pipes, and through the filter. With a few pipes it seemed to work great but as I got the whole system built pressure got too low. I'm already looking for bigger pumps so this may still be a working design.


I do have one concern though. Do I have to worry about a thin 1/16" jet shooting up through the gravel and hurting a fish?

 

[projectile]

Use foam board instead also called
Sun board , its the stuff shop advert vinyls are stuck on.
Easy to cut with a hobby knife.
Available in many thicknesses in 8'x4' sheets. ( not styrofoam though).
Sorry dunno the local name.

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[ripit]

Thanks for the info. I had considered foam of various types (seen a few different things) but was worried about them breaking down and contaminating the water. Is foam board something you might find at the local hardware store I should I look elsewhere?

I haven't had much time to work on it but I have some promising developments for pumps. I got a maxi-jet pro 1200. While it is only rated at about 300 gph, it seems to spit out more water than my other pumps. With the other pumps, one is a no name submergable and I had look up the model number to try and find the flow (could be wrong and or it might not put out what it claims). The high pressure pump uses rubber veins which can wear out so it might not be at full power either. The maxi-jet seems to spit out a decent amount more water. I haven't had time to test further. I also got a lot of 4 aquarium pumps (wont know what I got till I get it but they all kind f look like power heads). I would kind of like to have a couple so they are not necessarily just for this. I have also found pool filters kind of cheap used.

 

[projectile]

Yes the kind of foam board I am taking about looks like solid acrylic.

It doesn't degrade as its meant to be used outdoors with advert vinyls.
Infact localy here tank hoods are made from this material.

If your tank is deeper than 18" try looking up larger dia airlift tubes which is quite famous in koi forums.

Provides staggering flowrate while aereating at the same time.

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