Under gravel Filters with sand?

by **Skunk** on Thu Apr 15, 2010 11:38 pm

I was in my lfs today, and talking about setting up a community tank of 100L (as most of you may already know Very Happy

) and he suggested getting an under gravel filter, with two outlets at either side and an air pump, etc.

But I'd like to get bulldog plecos who like to burrow in sand, and I do prefer sand to gravel. So, would it be possible to have this type of filter system with a layer of gravel and then sand on top? Would the waste still sift through the sand and gravel down to the filter?

How effective are these as a filter system?

Thanks again!

by **Vandraco aka Bronzecat** on Fri Apr 16, 2010 12:45 am

Hiya
Its not advisable to use sand with u/g filters. The sand will just compact and reduce the flow to zero.
You would be better off with a Fluval 3 internal filter or if you are feeling flush, how about an external like the Aqua One Aquis 500? I have the 1200 version on my 40g community and its great.

by **Skunk** on Fri Apr 16, 2010 9:43 am

Ah, thats interesting, the UG was just what I was suggested when talking about the tank. I prefer sand though, so I'll have a look at the other filters. Thanks!

by **kizno1** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:20 pm

i wouldnt use UG filters evan if your using gravel they get clogged up really quick and then you have to pull every think out to change the sponge on a tank that big a external would be best.

by **Skunk** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:55 pm

Ah ok

Am I looking at a fishless cycle of about 8 weeks with a tank like this?

by **kizno1** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:07 pm

do you have any other tanks? if you do just take some of the filter media out of that filter and put it in the new one and you can add fish streght away but only stock to what was in the other tank to start with and they slowly add more fish.

by **Skunk** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:17 pm

Well, my first tank is currently going through a fishless cycle, about 5 days in and can't wait till it's ready for a male betta. Looking to set up a community tank of around 100L. The filter I have in my male betta tank is a sponge filter, and as of yet has no "filter media" of course (btw, what exactly am I looking out for?)

by **kizno1** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:25 pm

it wont cycle then if theres no media in it. i might just have miss understood what you where meaning though.
what do you mean what are you looking out for what filters?
a fluval 405 would be good for a tank that size i have a 404 in my 30g

by **Skunk** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:33 pm

I mean, what am I looking for in filter media, is it the liquid in the sponge? i.e. keep that and put the water in the new tank, or is it something physical, like what blocks more advanced filters?

And in my current cycling tank I have around 6 plants, bacterlife and dechlorinated water, and a very small amount of fish flakes a day.

by **kizno1** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:37 pm

the filter media is the actual sponge. so if you cycle one tank you can add some of it to the other tank and then it will alredy be cycled.

by **Skunk** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:43 pm

Ah ok, so, if after a month or so of my male betta tank having him in it, and I get a 100L tank, I can cut a bit of sponge from the filter and then what? Sorry, new to filters and heaters, etc.

by **kizno1** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:45 pm

and then put it in the filter for the 100l. but if the other is only cycled for a betta then you will only be able to add 1 or a few fish that will make the same amount of waste as a betta and then slowly add more. dont worry about it i only learnt by doing the same as you are now.

by **Skunk** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:46 pm

Ok, that's good to know, wouldn't want to overload the filter!

by **kizno1** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:49 pm

you should be able to add a shoal of tetra or somethink along them lines because its a fairly big tank any waste will be alot more dilute

by **Skunk** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:10 pm

Ok, so, something like Cardinal Tetras first, then a BN, bulldog pleco, bettas, etc. Adding them a species at a time, and like one species on a monday, then the next on the monday after, etc?

Does that seem ok?

by **kizno1** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:11 pm

thats sounds ok but i would add the cats last they like established tanks. the tetra then the betta then the cats and so on would be best.

by **Skunk** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:17 pm

Ah cool :D Sounds good to me! So excited about this, specially as my local reptile rescue centre is donating tanks to me whenever they get them in <3 yay

by **kizno1** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:19 pm

lucky. saying that i just got a 23g for £15 and a 10g for £3 so not to bad.

by **Skunk** on Sat Apr 17, 2010 11:16 pm

Wow, that is good. Well, when people bring reptiles in that they have found or can't look after anymore, they usually bring in their viv, and sometimes they have kept them in fish tanks, so! Anthony (the owner) threw away around 30 tanks cause he couldn't get rid of them a few weeks ago! I think my room is going to get taken over by tanks by the end of the year..

Under gravel Filters with sand?

Under gravel Filters with sand?

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