Filter To Use With Sand

[paula]

Hi im going to chang from gravel to a very fine gravel/sand .
At the moment i have an under gravel filter ,I understand you dont need one with sand.
Can anyone recommend a 'outside' filter?
My tank is 3ft wide 15inchdepth 13inch front to back.

 

[black angel]

Youre right a ugf will block if it has sand on it. You could try an eheim 2224 which is what i have for that size tank, but you can run internals if they are around 3 inches off the bottom. Only run them once the sand has settled.

 

[Snick]

if its a 10-30 gal you might want to get a "waterfall" filter, not shure of the technical name... I have one for my 10 gal and it keeps it squeaky clean! My 30 gal has an internal filter that goes at about 200 gph... if it goes over 150 gph then its good. thats all you really need. be shure to buy top quality carbon and filter media, its one of the most important factors... oh and my 30 gal has what is known as a bio wheel, it is said to reduce armonia by a whole lot. I seems to be working nicely in my aquarium. I dont know much about external filters, but you must have one of those if you used an underground filter.

 

[Teelie]

The "waterfalll" filter is called a hang on the back or HOB filter and they work perfect with sand. There is also the choice of cannister filters but IMO, they're only needed for larger tanks in the 50+ gallon range.

I also have a Dueletto internal that sits on the sand (no matter how much I try to stick it on the glass) in my 10g and doesn't pull up the grains but the sand I use is a heavier grain.