How to put together an undergravel filter?

Question

Please help us we are trying to get an aquarium filter. There are no holes linking the tubes and the underground. Does the filter sit under the tray and the hose go up the tube or does the hose sit at the bottom and the filter stay at the top?

Answer 1

Here is a diagram i have drawn, You may want to put the airstone down a little.

: http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l13/dunozl/untitled-2.jpg

~ GG

Answer 2

Hard to tell you exactly what to do since you don't mention the model, but the tray or plate along with the gravel which sits on the top of it is the filter. You might have one of the types where there are round holes at the rear of the filter plate that need to be punched out for the wider tubes to fit into and lock- if you look closely at this photo, you can see one that's not punched out at the left rear of the plate in this photo: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/14686/product.web

Yours might also be a type where there are permanent places already open that the upright tubes fit into and you cap the ones not used: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/10636/product.web

Once you get the wider tubes in place, there is a narrower rigid tube that fits down through the elbow (the piece that sits on the top of the tube and directs the current outward). You need to use flecible air tubing to attact the rigid piece to an air pume which will create bubbles to pull the water downward through the gravel then up through the tube. Once you have the tubes connected to the plate, you place this in the bottom of the tank and cover it with gravel. There is no filter "media" such as floss or padding to use with these, unless you have an insert that fits into the "elbow" piece.

The flexible tubing (what you're calling the hose?) should only go as far down the wider tubing so it sits just at the bottom of the tank - you don't want it to be under the plate, or the bubbles will come up in the wrong place - you want them going straight up the wider tubes.

Using an air pump is really the least efficient way to power an undergravel - they don't move that much water. A powerhead is better, especially one that's reversible, so it blows the water up through the gravel. Otheriwse, you'll have gunk accumulating under the filter plate so it becomes necessary to remove the entire plate to clean beneath it a few times a year so water is moved throu the entire bottom, not just areas that aren't clogged.

Answer 3

What type do you have? Most of them are cut to the approximate tank size. All of them go under the gravel and have holes in the back for plastic tubing to fit down into(air line tubing). Go to your nearest pet store and ask for help. But Penflax is a provider of undergravel filters

Answer 4

DON"T USE ONE. They Cause Higher levels of AMMONIA AND NITRATES over time because more waste gets caught up in the bottom of your tank and in your bottom medium.

Just say no to Undergravel filters.