Under Gravel Jets

[jakeroberts]

hi all well i am going to be setting up a under gravel jet sytem next weekend but i was just looking at the prive of normal white pvc and black pvc also known as irigation pipe and i have decided on black pvc but i was just wondering if it is aquarium safe

 

[backtotropical]

Can't help with your question i'm afraid. But sounds interesting. Can i ask what the function of the system will be?

Cheers

BTT

 

[jakeroberts]

Basically the function of the system is that theere are ex amount of jets sticking out of the gravel that push water onlg the substrate which stop debri from landing on the gravel and the debri gets pushed up int the filters all the jets on a on a path that connects back to the power head

 

[backtotropical]

Interesting idea mate. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Bignose]

It's an interesting idea. I've been intrigued since I first saw this article (had it bookmarked for years now) http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ug_jets.php

I've wanted to that for a long now, but my next project is a massively planted tank, with soil substrate a la Diana Walstad. May not happen for a while, but that's my next big goal.

I think that the undergravel jets are a great idea for rocky/non planted tanks, though.

 

[jakeroberts]

so does anyone actually know whether black pvc is aquarium safe and yes i am using the jets in a african cihlid tank so their is plenty of rocks

 

[the biffster]

you need the white one that is the food grade if you ask at shop were you are getting
it from they should be able to tell you but i think its the white stuff you need food grade

 

[jakeroberts]

i don't understand what u mean

its just i saw an article on cichlid-forum and it sayd that they used black pvc to make a cave for their cichlids and so i was guessing black pvc is irrigation pipe

 

[TigerLotus]

I just use regular PVC. I'm not a fix it kind of person so I didn't even know there were different grades? (mine were in brown boxes and HD... there were curved ones, T's, couplings, with different sizes) I've used the white and black and never had a problem. I just give then a good wash with water to get off any dust that may be on it and plop it in. I'm very interested in what your doing. if you get a chance please post how the process comes along.

 

[jakeroberts]

well i will be taking picture but here is the link that i am building mine off under gravel jets i will be pretty happy if this works as this is the first time that i would have try do build somthing for inside my tank as i 13

 

[chr15_8]

i have an under gravel jet system.

it the first time i done it and dint do to well. i still have lots of fish waste lying around the substrate. i think i need to add more sand as the jets are to high up.

chris

 

[jakeroberts]

well everything is in the tank but the submersible pump i am using is no where near strong enough as i am using 4 jets of one pump so i was thinking of getting a 1000lph or 1400lph submersible pump do you guys think that would be strong enough as both the pumps are around the same price so yeah?

 

[jakeroberts]

Anyone?

 

[chr15_8]

my pump is around 3500 lph. i have it on about 2/3rds (about 2200) (i use a valve so i can tyrn up/down). i have 6 jets. so id go with the bigger one.

chris

 

[jakeroberts]

so how big do you reckon