Undergravel Filter

[mjx2]

I think our undergravel filter keeps getting blocked. can i prevent this ??

 

[bigblokey0]

I think our undergravel filter keeps getting blocked. can i prevent this ??

how is it getting blocked it shouldnt be in contact with the gravel

 

[mjx2]

Not really sure, the water flow just slows down a lot. - We haven't had the tank for long and we first cleaned out the undergravel part of the filter the other day. This caused huge disruption to the tank due to the gravel being disturbed. The water was extremely cloudy and I can't imagine that is good for the fish.

 

[Underwurlde]

Next time you get the urge to clean it, replace it with an external! Best £50 you'll spend....

 

[mjx2]

It has to be in contact with the gravel - it sits underneath it. How often should it need to be cleaned - it was only done two days ago and already the water flow seems to have slowed down.

 

[bigblokey0]

if it was blocked with gravel it woulnt work at all

It has to be in contact with the gravel - it sits underneath it. How often should it need to be cleaned - it was only done two days ago and already the water flow seems to have slowed down.

it should not be in contact with the gravel it connects to a gravel board underneith not the gravel itself

 

[mjx2]

We bought a tank kit. The set up is hard to explain so i have just posted a copy of the instructions that came with the tank. We just set it up like that and then chucked the gravel in

 

[bigblokey0]

which bit of the pump did you clean has any gravel fell into the board ?

 

[Underwurlde]

That's not a UGF is it? Looks more like a gutter filter to me.

I could be wrong!

Andy

 

[mjx2]

we pulled the "black box" out from underneath the gravel - (making the water very cloudy) and pulled it apart and cleaned the cartridge which was inside. Was this wrong :$?

It says its an undergravel filter

 

[bigblokey0]

thats not an udf it is a gutter filter aint it but there simler anyways aint they the basic pump looks the same could be that you just got some gravel stuck inside when you cleaned it out best thing to do is clean it out again to have a look just be careful when you put it back together

 

[Underwurlde]

UGF trays usually cover the entire base of the tank. Little black box looks way too small. Then again i', no expert!

Is there anything in the tray at the top where the water comes out?

Andy

 

[mjx2]

yes in the tray where the water comes out there is a "carbon floss cartridge" and a "black bio sponge"

it does say underground filter on the instruction sheet

 

[Underwurlde]

Nah, not an UGF, I reckin that's a gutter filter! ... Instructions probably translated from chinese into engerish...

That said of course means that you don't HAVE to have the black box thingy under the gravel unless the gravel is being cunningly used as the primary mechanical filter (to strain out big bits of crap)

The actual important 'filtering' of Ammonia & Nitrite takes place in the gutter by the 'Black Bio-Filter'.

Either you've put the pump back wrong, it's leaking (this loosing pressure) or it's blocked. Try sweeping the gravel away from it.

Andy

 

[mjx2]

Thanks heaps for all your help =)

I think that the gravel might be used for the filtering of big bits of stuff, as you say. I might have to look into weather we have a leak or not

Thanks again for the help