Under Sand Jets

[dirtydogg]

I am in the planning stages for my new tank that is going to be heavily planted. Something that I have always wanted to try is under-gravel jets like the ones outlined at Cichlid Forums. Does anybody here have any experience using them with a planted tank? Are there any drawbacks to having water flow that low in the tank? Any other thoughts suggestions?

The tank is a 75USG with a sand/laterite mix as the substrate.

 

[dirtydogg]

This is the article from the other forum

 

[lljdma06]

This helps, thank you. Sorry, I didn't respond sooner, but I don't keep cichlids so I wasn't understanding what you were asking at first. So, as I understand it, the substrate just lies on the piping and the water moves through the pipes and it's then pumped through the pumps to remove dead spots, but that water is not being directly pumped into the substrate. Not even sure what I'm saying makes sense. Kind of like having a pipeline underneath your substrate?

Personally, I don't see it interfering with plant growth as the piping interior would not get clogged with plant roots. Many planted people encourage great water circulation and this may be a way to get water circulation to the lower levels of the aquarium. I, myself, am looking at some small pico powerheads to direct flow to the lower tank level, but my substrate's already in place.

Perhaps a silly question, but would fish perhaps get stuck in the piping?

llj