Sandbed Filter with UGF

[imke_j]

Hi guys and girls,

I recently have read an interesting set up I want to discuss with you. It is a UGF in combination with sand.

First layer is an UGF with 2 pipes, both driven with an Aquael Circulator Filter in that 54L tank. On the UGF, a blue filter foam matt was put to prevent to sand grains from clogging the filter. On the sponge matt, the guy added a 10cm layer of sand.

The idea behind is, that common sand is used for water clarification and treatment.

Did anyone of you used or heard of a similar project before?

- Imke

[Lexinverts]

Hi guys and girls,

I recently have read an interesting set up I want to discuss with you. It is a UGF in combination with sand.

First layer is an UGF with 2 pipes, both driven with an Aquael Circulator Filter in that 54L tank. On the UGF, a blue filter foam matt was put to prevent to sand grains from clogging the filter. On the sponge matt, the guy added a 10cm layer of sand.

The idea behind is, that common sand is used for water clarification and treatment.

Did anyone of you used or heard of a similar project before?

- Imke

I wonder if sand will allow for enough water flow to the undergravel bed. Sand can become quite compacted when used as a substrate.

[Fento]

I think it may work, but as well as other kind of aquarium filtration. Sand won't let a good water flow, and with enough organic matter I think it may collapse ond obstruct filttering system.
I have heard about he employ of sand at filtering water to make it potable, but it requires more sand than this (or less water, it's proportional). I know the objetive is not to make potable shrimp's water but it's just a very effective kind of filtering.
http://translate.google.es/translate...iltro_de_arena

I think it's a good idea but the setup it's not the right one. As scientific papers use to say... further research is needed.

[madness]

You darn Germans make me wish that I had kept up with my study of German when I was young.

Then I think about all of the technical stuff that we discuss and I realize that it probably wouldn't matter if I was fluent anyways since technical stuff can be so difficult to translate.

I do like the idea of using a sponge around UGF to help keep unwanted substrate (whether that is sand or some other sort of substrate) out. Interesting idea to consider.

[RiverAquatics]

Reminds me of those old plenum systems for reef tanks. Kinda cool, sometimes worked well and not the worst but if you ever had problems (and you did) it was a pain. Muck tended to build up, the draw would slow and anaerobic bacteria tended to pop up.

If I tried one I'd experiment with a lot a materials and layers to ensure flow and stop the sand, Poret comes to mind and whatever the material those little bags of SeaChem Purigen are made of... what is that stuff?

[enyinverts]

I have a problem with sand as it packs and can get aerobic unless you are are stirring it up constantly. And when you do that you have turbidity. I saw one a few days ago where only part of the aquarium floor was covered with an UG filter. I still would rather have a thin layer of gravel, soil and sponge filters.

[enyinverts]

Being an old public health guy with some experience with public water filtration, I can say that there is a difference between using sand as a filtration for public water vs using it as a substrate for an aquarium. If you want to use the sand filter concept, use an external plenum with sand like salt water aquarists do but use coarse gravel in the tank with an UG filter.