Underwater Gravel Filter Question

[bio_zombie]

In my 50 gallon tank i have 3 underwater gravel filter tubes going. I have 3 air pumps connected to each that are good for 20 gallon tanks each. Will this work or do i need to reinvest in air pumps for the underwatergravel filter tubes to work correctly.

 

[TerraDreamer]

In my 50 gallon tank i have 3 underwater gravel filter tubes going. I have 3 air pumps connected to each that are good for 20 gallon tanks each. Will this work or do i need to reinvest in air pumps for the underwatergravel filter tubes to work correctly.

So are you saying you have 9 pumps running, or three? Either way, that must be a seriously loud tank.

Why not stick an adjustable flowrate powerhead in the two corner tubes instead, and abandon the center tube? You'll be virtually silent as they're completely submerged. Just aim the flow fin of each towards the oppsite front corners, and upwards a tad for a nice surface water disturbance.

For additional filtration to collect free-floating debris, place a hang-on-tank power filter on the back that is rated for at least 50 gallons.

This will be a hell of a lot quieter as well as providing decent filtration.

 

[bio_zombie]

no i mean 1 pump for each underwater gravel tube so only 3 pumps going, but they for 20 gallon tanks and i have a 50. So i'm asking is 3 pumps for my 50 that run at power to pump a 20gal tank, are they going to be enough.

 

[TerraDreamer]

Well, are there lots of bubbles coming out of the airstones? It's the bubbles traveling up the tube and subsequently pulling water with them that makes the undergravel filter work. As with anything when it comes to aquariums, bigger is almost always better. If you're going to use this method, and if your pumps are located below the waterline, make certain you install check valves on the airline tubing to each pump, otherwise if your power goes out you run the risk of the water siphoning out of the tank and toasting your pumps, as well as possibly draining 50 gallons of water all over your floor. Not good.

----> http/www.aquariumguys.com/tetecchva.html

I still highly recommend powerheads (at least one) on your undergravel filter instead of airstones to not only reduce noise, but to greatly increase undergravel filter efficiency and to also provide water surface movement as well as water circulation. I suppose you could use a wand in the rear, but why not kill two birds with one stone by using a powerhead? They really make all the difference when using undergravel filters.

----> http/www.aquariumguys.com/penguin660.html

Just suggestions, but I believe them to be good ones. And I still suggest an external power filter as well in addition to the undergravel. You just can't have too much redundant filtration. Keep us up to date with your progress though, no matter what you decide

Regards.

 

[bio_zombie]

Thanks for the help and ideas. Yes there appears to be a lot of bubble action going on in the tubes. I have one corner filter going with a 20 gallon air pump pumping it ( have a 50 gal tank but with 1 side and the underwater I hope it's good enough). I'm looking into getting at least 1 powerhead. My tank is up against a wall so I can't have things that would sit on the outside back of it cuz I can't even move the tank out. Another question would be my heater is collecting white stuff on it.

 

[Rhiannon]

I have a UGF that is run off one powerhead, that has 2 tubes coming out from the powerhead. We have also added one of those tbar things (dont know what they are called, hubby set it up) and it has another tube coming off it, so there is no need to be running 3 power heads if thats what you are doing. Just get one of those tbar things and a gang valve.

I also have a internal because the UGF was not doing its job well. Older fish keeps seem to recommend them because its all they had in the old days, new keeps of this generation seem to recommend anything else but the UGF, so I have both and since I added the internal, my water is more clear and I have had no fish deaths.