Canisters feeding RUGF ...

[Derringer]

I'm thinking of replacing my two powerheads with a canister or two to run my RUGF ... anyone know the optimal flow rate for a RUGF?

I had read pushing clean/filtered water was better for RUGFs - true or not? Is the canister pushing RUGF a good concept?

Curious, and full of impulses ;)

[J double R]

a lot of people have canisters on their RUGF.. if my 75g wasnt already established thats what i would do with it.

[Derringer]

Yes, Ive read its a good to push filtered water so thought a couple canisters would do the trick; just dont want to have too much flow. Also already have RUGF setup; and a couple of HOB so I dont think Ill be disturbing much if I were to switch to canisters.

The AC70 PHs claim 175gph in reverse mode - not even sure thats the proper/optimal rate for RUGF - I need to find that bit of info and I'll be set.

[J double R]

just make sure you run the HOB's for a few weeks after you get the canisters set up to make sure everything cycles well. If done right, you may not even see a mini-cycle.

[red devil]

If you have canister filters why do you need the rugf? I thought the idea was to push the water through the gravel to let the bacteria in the gravel clean the water. If the water is filtered - presumbly clean - is there enough "food" in the water to keep the little bacteria happy and fed?

[nickmcmechan]

why not run the cannister as well as the rugf, i.e as two separate entities filtering the tank, i think the end resulf would be better filtration?

[wackydan]

Hmmm.... How long would an rugf last vs a normal ugf?

Does it cut down on gravel vac'ing?

Not to hijack.... just thought they were good questions to ask.

[Rbishop]

The RUGF I have on my 4 ft 90 gal is driven by 4 Penguin 660 powerheads. It has a 1 1/2" gravel substrate and you can just feel the flow of water coming thru, ever so slightly.

I also have another 4 ft 90, with the RUGF being supplied by two Mag 350s and two Penguin 660. Same amount of substrate, a tad more flow.

The RUGF definitely cuts down on gravel vacs, since it is pushing debri into the water column and being removed by the floss in Canisters or HOB.

I establish my tanks on RUFG, so the substrate has the majority of bacteria and any filter cleaning I do never interferes with the tank balance.

[Derringer]

Yep, RUGF makes it so much easier to vacuum - the debris isnt sucked down into the substrate beneath the plate; what crap is there is on the upper levels of the gravel and it comes out very easily.

I don't have any plans to remove the HOBs; just plan on having the xtra filtration. If I decide to go with a couple of canisters I would set them up on a rotational cleaning.

That was an interesting point above about pushing clean water through the gravel - doesn't seem like there would be sufficient reason for the bacteria to stick around and colonize. Hmmmm I might have to keep doing research ..

[Rbishop]

Clean...as in free from physical debri? The wastes, ammonia is in the water, as are the nitrites and nitrates. You can't filter them out physically. That is why there are bacteria everywhere, on any tank surface.

[Derringer]

Heck I just started the RUGF up because everyone else was doing it - LOL!

I had read that the bacteria colonize from the bottom of the substrate up and it makes vacuuming easier and thought heck I'm going to do this on my new 75g tank. I had always done UGF before so it was something new ...

Then I got to thinking heck I could make my filtering scheme even better if I was using canisters instead of the powerheads.

The AC70s as I stated above claim 175gph in reverse and that doesnt seem to be too much flow so maybe I should add a couple 2026's ~209gph/ea ... or maybe even a couple 2028s @ 230gph/ea - honestly I haven't a clue as to what the optimal flow rate for a RUGF is - do you?

[Rbishop]

I am not sure if there is an "optimal". I would classify it as that flow/force needed to push the debri out of your substrate.

[legendaryfrog]

Thats a great idea using your canister to run your RUGF! Might as well make the intake run a sponge filter aswell.....

[Rbishop]

You can and I do on some, but most just pull the debri to the floss in the canisters.

[Derringer]

So rbishop do you run RUGF via canister(s) ??? What would you recommend a canister for each down tube or one canister split? I dont want too much flow ...

I think a couple 2026 @ 206gph/ea should be ok - specially if that rate was determined without media.

Also, do they sell plumbing parts to accomplish this hook up hose to down tube?

Thanks.