So i was just looking around and remembered a thread i had about marbles as a substrate. and since there big all the waste would fall under the marbles. Could it be possible that having an under gravel filter and using it as a water change syphon to take all the waste out be really effective? Just thinking about it and wondered if anyone has thought or tried this.
Marbles over undergravel filter?
- Thread starter Gobrian44
- Start date
I have a UGF , but I'm not sure I understand your question. You are wanting the waste to pass thru the "marbles" and go "where"?
go under the marbles and "into" the under gravel filter and then just syphon straight from the tube coming out of the ugf...as an easier way to get all the fish waste out? i was also thinking about on an acryllic tank with this set up drill a whole directly in the middle so when u do water changes the fish waste would be sucked right out. Sound possible dawnmarie?
It is possible, but the benefit of UGF is the BIO filtering. I would think that the mables would be a terrible substrate for BB to grow on. Plus the waste helps keep a balance in the eco system. Imagine if we took all the nitrogen out of the air. Same thing in your tank, the system needs it to keep a balance. I had the worse cycle happen to me after I did a MAJOR gravel vac, I am sure it was just a fluke but I now just do light vacs.
The marble would look extremely cool, but not very practical IMO.
Just my 2 cents
Bear
The marble would look extremely cool, but not very practical IMO.
Just my 2 cents
Bear
oh sorry for the confusion...i was planning on having a canister filter for filtration. and the ugf ONLY to remove waste. so i wouldnt need to gravel vac or make it more efficient
You still need a certain amount of waste in the tank to keep the eco system in balance. I gravel vac once every 2-3 months. My water reading are at 0-0-0 all the time, and my fish are happy and healthy (I also feed pretty heavy).
Gobrian44;3889265; said:
Hi, I have that exact setup in my 55g except for the marbles I use polished river stones bought at a dollar store. It leaves gaps for waste to seep through and into my external canister filter. It looks more natural than marbles and I never see waste on the bottom. I do notice that over time some of the waste/bb collect bellow the UGF tray and I just have to siphon it out through the stones about once every 2 months. I check my canister filter at that time just to make sure its not getting clogged. This method is very good for setups with larger fish or turtles(as is my case).
If you want to try this method I recommend you get a good canister filter, as the setup will mostly rely on it for the bb growth and not the media over the UGF.
***MORE IMPORTANTLY*** you need a good flow rate so that the waste doesnt just settle down underneath the tray but gets sucked up. I have a flow rate of about 350 gallons per hour for a 55 gallon tank, and I think the system would work even better if i had 400 gallons per hour. so consider a turnover rate of about 8-10 times the volume of your tank.
It is also a good idea to consider your decorations in the tank. not many plants will grow in such large substrate and other decorations sitting on the bottom may actually impede the water flow, and cause debris to settle underneath the tray right below the decorative item.
you may also want to consider what type of fish/animals you have and their feeding habits. you will not be able to feed sinking food to the tank inhabitants as it will quickly be sucked up through the gaps. However I overcame this situation by having a 3" x 3" slate rock so that my sinking pellets can rest on it.
I hope that helps
no because the marbles are so big there would be alot flow through them. so water would only be drawn in around the tubes, that area would be clear but the other areas not near the tubes would still be dirty.
Sounds like a disaster in plastic.
I think I know what your trying for.
Simple waste removal system.
What you will end up with is a waste trap.
No way are you going to get the waste out without massive suction on your lift tubes.
You might have a bit better luck using reverse flow, and getting as much waste into suspension as possible.
Even then, with no restriction on the plates surface, the flow will take the path of least resistance and leave large areas with no flow.
********
The idea that a tank needs waste, while it does have that Touchy/Feely, Green sound to it
Has really got me scratching my head.
Unless you have a planted tank, the thought of your tank benefiting from Nitrate is new to me.
If true, we spend an awful lot of time in cleaning and water changes in order to keep this benefit under control.
I think I know what your trying for.
Simple waste removal system.
What you will end up with is a waste trap.
No way are you going to get the waste out without massive suction on your lift tubes.
You might have a bit better luck using reverse flow, and getting as much waste into suspension as possible.
Even then, with no restriction on the plates surface, the flow will take the path of least resistance and leave large areas with no flow.
********
The idea that a tank needs waste, while it does have that Touchy/Feely, Green sound to it
Has really got me scratching my head.
Unless you have a planted tank, the thought of your tank benefiting from Nitrate is new to me.
If true, we spend an awful lot of time in cleaning and water changes in order to keep this benefit under control.
For the last year I have been using your basic concept of a UGF with the drains drilled thru the bottom of the tank going to a canister. With a flow rate of 950GPH thru a 2' x 8' UGF the area under the trays stays nice and clean. The water stays crystal clear. Unfortunately this setup still requires weekly gravel vacs.The use of marbles might help to move the waste but defeats the BIO advantage of the gravel bed. While I haven't given up on the concept I am reversing the flow, as KaiserSousay eluded to. Check out my thread "Tank 2.0 RUGF/pressure system" on this forum. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=306190
Either way you go , I don't think commercially available UGF trays are going to give you the results you are looking for.If you decide to go forward with this project take a look at this design by CHOMPERS as it has a number of good ideas.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69943