UNDERGRAVEL FILTER / POWERHEADS

[G2-B]

No need to rehash pros and cons. I use gravel filters in my aquaponics system and UGFs seem to work better for me than any other filter type I have tried.

1. Which type of UGF do you prefer? HIGH vs LOW plenum?
   
   a. Penn-plax is made in USA, with screw-in adapter and 1" uplift tube.
   The plastic floor is only 1/4 to 3/8" high and comes only in 11.5"D. (cannot be adapted for 18"D aquariums)
   b. China model #1: 1" high, 3/4" uplift tube directly in the square plastic floor plates.
   c. China model #2: also 1" high, 3/4" uplift tube requires an adapter that slides in the rectangular base plate.
   The cost seems to be similar for all 3, about $30 for a 48" x 12" aquarium.
   
   
2. I'd like to try powerheads. I currently run my UGFs on air pumps, which are rather noisy for a bedroom and are difficult to fix when the air stone separates from the air tubing. Which s better: one mini- or micro (USB-powered?) powerhead on each uplift tube OR one larger powerhead, either on one uplift pipe OR connected to all uplift tubes with elbows and Ts?
   
   
3. Are there any powerheads specifically designed to connect to UGF uplift tubes?
   Many do not have a long enough intake stem that allows pushing a hose or tube over them.

 

[Andy Sager]

For plants it's one thing but for fish, they have more downsides than up sides. #1 is the mulm that collects under the plates that if not routinely removed, will eventually block up the filter plate(s) creating a toxic condition for the fish to live in while the plants can. ( I once pulled almost a pint of live Tubifex worms from underneath a customer's UG plate in his Discus tank when I went to do a service. There was enough stuff underneath the plate to feed the worms because he had never cleaned under the plates. )
There are 2 ways to set up a UG with powerheads. 1is to let the powerhead suck the water down through the substrate and collect detritus under the plate. ( As I just explained, this is a potential problem in the making and it's more intrusive for the fish. ) The other way is to have to the powerhead blowing water down the lift tubes forcing the water UP the substrate which would keep the undersides of the plate(s) cleaner but then your substrate would need to be cleaned a bit more frequently which, depending on the species being kept, could be intrusive to the fish.
Another option to reduce the noise of a UGF is to use no clog small bubble air stones down the lift tubes and keep the water level half way up the lift tube cap so that the bubbles are running across the water surface when they leave the tube instead of splashing down or bubbling up to the water surface. If your air pump is the noise problem, it probably has too much back pressure in it. That's easily fixed with using a gang valve with an extra valve to release the pressure. And if the air coming from the release valve is too loud because you have too large a pump for your needs, just attach some airline tubing and an air stone at the end to the release valve and that will diffuse the noise. All you should hear from an air pump is a quiet hummmmmmmmmmm. ( And you can actually quiet that down by making a strofoam box to put the pump in with a little hole in it to allow air to come in. ) So you don't HAVE to have noise in the bedroom.

Just sayin'

 

[G2-B]

Another option to reduce the noise of a UGF is to use no clog small bubble air stones down the lift tubes and keep the water level half way up the lift tube cap so that the bubbles are running across the water surface when they leave the tube instead of splashing down or bubbling up to the water surface.
All you should hear from an air pump is a quiet hummmmmmmmmmm. ( And you can actually quiet that down by making a strofoam box to put the pump in with a little hole in it to allow air to come in. ) So you don't HAVE to have noise in the bedroom.

Just sayin'

I know you don't care much for UGFs. We disagree on that. My aquariums that have UGF do better with less maintenance than the ones that don't.

Air Pump problems.

1. I replaced one of the air pumps today with a newer model. I can barely hear it but it's outputting smaller air bubbles that are also less noisy.
2. I'd already figured out that positioning the lift tube cap can make a lot of difference in noise level.
3. I was already using foam pad underneath the pump.
   I'll try a making box, see if that improves things.
4. I'll keep working on the other things as well, but right now the noise level is quite acceptable.

Still looking into different types powerheads and how I can best hook them up to the tubes.

 

[Andy Sager]

I know you don't care much for UGFs. We disagree on that. My aquariums that have UGF do better with less maintenance than the ones that don't.

Air Pump problems.

1. I replaced one of the air pumps today with a newer model. I can barely hear it but it's outputting smaller air bubbles that are also less noisy.
2. I'd already figured out that positioning the lift tube cap can make a lot of difference in noise level.
3. I was already using foam pad underneath the pump.
   I'll try a making box, see if that improves things.
4. I'll keep working on the other things as well, but right now the noise level is quite acceptable.

Still looking into different types powerheads and how I can best hook them up to the tubes.

To each their own. I've lived through their redesigning and additional redesigning after that and in the end, if they were so great, newer filter styles that were less maintenance, more efficient and better overall for maximizing biological filtering wouldn't have come into existence. I got to see and use them all when I was in biz so I know the differences. You're not doing anything with them that hasn't been done before. Just sayin'.

 

[G2-B]

I know
I realize and acknowledge that you're very knowledgeable, Andy, and I do respect your experience. Not trying to diminish that in any way.

Better is the enemy of good enough but I like what is familiar. It still works.

 

[G2-B]

I installed a few powerheads today. These are USB-powered 6V, 1.8W @ 40GPH. One on every uplift tube gives a total of 160-200GPH.
Biggest advantage compared to air pump and bubbles: These make less than background noise. I can't hear them at all.
I've ordered a range of powerhead sizes, to experiment with different agitation and circulation patterns. I'll need some for the riverbed tank anyway.

 

[Andy Sager]

View attachment 393000
I installed a few powerheads today. These are USB-powered 6V, 1.8W @ 40GPH. One on every uplift tube gives a total of 160-200GPH.
Biggest advantage compared to air pump and bubbles: These make less than background noise. I can't hear them at all.
I've ordered a range of powerhead sizes, to experiment with different agitation and circulation patterns. I'll need some for the riverbed tank anyway.

Keeping the powerheads under the waterline does not supply oxygen to the water. Most powerheads come with an air diffuser you attach to the outlet so that it's pulling in air for bubbles if you are keeping them underwater.

 

[G2-B]

These little ones do not have an air diffuser.
The bigger ones do.
Until those arrive, I still have the air pump and air stones.

 

[Andy Sager]

These little ones do not have an air diffuser.

Then these should be set so they are close to the surface or you have to use the air pump too. Moving water, no mater how much it is, is not oxygenated water.

The bigger ones do.
Until those arrive, I still have the air pump and air stones.

 

[G2-B]

300GPH powerhead on the uplift tube in 65gl tank. This one does blow air bubbles.
The connection is somewhat improvised but it works fine and the pump itself is very quiet. Volume is considerably higher than with the airlift.

 

[Andy Sager]

View attachment 393006
300GPH powerhead on the uplift tube in 65gl tank. This one does blow air bubbles.
The connection is somewhat improvised but it works fine and the pump itself is very quiet. Volume is considerably higher than with the airlift.

Function over form. I've built many an ugly filtering system that out performed the pretty ones.