SUBSTRATE FOR AN UNDERGRAVEL FILTER

[Gothyc_samurai]

CAN YOU USE SAND LIKE SILVER SAND VERY FINE FOR AN UNDER GRAVEL SYSTEM?

 

[bigcichntwisted]

CAN YOU USE SAND LIKE SILVER SAND VERY FINE FOR AN UNDER GRAVEL SYSTEM?

I'm assuming your meaning undergravel filter w/ the use of UGF plate, if so then this is not recommended. If you do decide to do so then, you MUST place a media filter pad on the top of the plate's, which is not a problem & is recommended even if you were going w/ a gravel substrt. However, this is not recommended because of the very real chance that the PWRHD'S you place on you uptubes could be damaged by drawing the sand up the tubes & into PWRHD'S. Its possible that you may avoid this w/ the placement of a pad over the plates. However should the pad, by chance get torn or punctured some how, then the chance of a damaged PWRHD is almost inevitable. So this is not something that is commonly found by those using this filter method. Personally I run UGF on all my tank's, always have always will, but never with sand as a substrt. The only thing I've givin some thought to, is w/ use flagstone i.e. flate rock creat a barrier in an area that you don't place a plate, split w/ gravel or similar sub. over the UGF plates & sand in a part of the bttm w/ no plate & I think it could wrk well if thought out sufficiently. Hope it helps

 

[Dr Joe]

Basically no, you need to flow a descent amount of water thru the sand for it to work. Fine sand will go right thru the UGF plates, or pack down or at the very outside clog quickly.

Are you using air or a powerheat to run the UGF?

Also, if you have very large fish the sand is never going to have a chance to settle .

Dr Joe

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