power-up an undergravel (seriously)

[aweber1nj]

I have a turtle tank (30 gal breeder variety), with two medium-sized sliders in it.

They eat and, well, "eliminate" a lot...

So I went and got a Rena Filstar XP2 and hooked it up and it works AWESOME (as a general aside, if it can clean up after these guys, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one for any fish tank that meets similar size req's).

The only problem is that there is still an eventual accumulation of waste at the bottom of the tank. (The inlet does a fine job of clearing the water, it just obviously can't vacuum the bottom of the entire sq. inches of the tank.)

So here's my idea: Somehow hook-up the Filstar to an undergravel mechanism (i.e. could I simply hook the "riser" of an undergravel plate to the inlet hose?).

I use river-stones as a rocky bottom, so the flow should be easily enough into the filstar and nothing should get clogged in the bottom-"plates" of the filter.

Any comments, concerns, constructive-criticizms, suggestions, etc.????

Thanks in advance,
AJ

[daveedka]

Any comments, concerns, constructive-criticizms, suggestions, etc.????

Questions mostly,
Are you intending to hook the filstar up in standard Ug configuration or reverse?

If you hook it up standard (down theorugh the substrate up into the filter) I would have some concerns. Despite large river stone and good flow, I would hazard a guess that you will have some issues with plugging and the resulting collection of gunk on or below the plates. It may work but if it didn't cleaning out from under the plates will be needed, and while it can be done with everyhting left in place it's easier to avoid the task altogether.

In reverse configuration, the mulm would never sink into the substrate, but it would remain to be seen if you could get enough current up through the gravel to lift all particles and allow your filstar to capture them.

Dave

[aweber1nj]

I was thinking standard config. 99% of what's lying beneath the river-stones is relatively "light" and somewhere between gravel and sand in size.

I was thinking with the power of the XP2, it would create plenty of current to suck the debris thru the gaps of the plates and continue its travels right up into the filter.

Am I reading your "plugging" comment such that I'm just moving the problem from having the droppings on the floor of the glass to pulling them thru the plates and they're going to be on the floor once again because there's not enough suction?

I don't know enough to say (which is why I posted).

[daveedka]

With the size of the UGf plate being what it is generally the water slows as it encounters and passes through the plate. Basically you have a specified flow traveling through a restricted area (the gravel), and then opening into a much greater area (under the plates) so it slows at the point of the area increase. Even with extreme high flow UGF systems (I run a couple) there is very little noticeable current. I haven't tried running high flow with conventional set-up though so I'm not sure the exact reaction or effect it would have. Either way physics dictate it will slow down, but whether or not it will slow down enough to kill your concept is the question. I Imagine without knowing for sure that you will have areas of mulm collection under the plates. they will eventually plug off completely and then you'll have clean flow channels elsewhere. The problem will lie in the fact that anywwhere that doesn't have good flow the mulm in your tank will collect in that part of the substrate and you'll be back to heavy vaccuming anyhow. In reverse configuration you'll get the same effect except the collection will be on top of the substrate where vaccuming is easier. It would still leave you vaccuming mulm which I think is what you are trying to reduce/eliminate ?

MY 115g 48x18" footprint has 1200 gph rated flow under it. Granted I am using much finer substrate and that does make a difference, but the pleco deposits still collect in areas on top of the substrate constantly.

Not sure If that helps any or not. I like the concept, just not sure if your idea will work or not.
Dave

[aweber1nj]

Well, you're right about my intentions. I'm trying to get away from vaccuming the bottom every time I change the filter-media. That took me forever.

I first tried a std, siphon-based, gravel vac. That took way too much H2O out of the tank (but was effective). I ended-up running back and forth with buckets of water to replace with (good think we're talking hearty, freshwater turtles here)!

I came up with using an old canister filter with the inlet in my hand, and basically moved it around the bottom of the tank like I was vaccuming a floor. That worked fine too, except the setup, tear-down and cleaning of the additional canister filter obviously doubled my work-effort!

Does anyone have any good ideas then? I'm out! ;)

[RTR]

The RFUG is the best solution that I know.

[aweber1nj]

Can you point me to the current location of your (now famous) RFUG article? I tried a few links on some of the other forum posts, but nothing came-up with your article.

Will investigate that further.

Thanks in advance,
AJ

[daveedka]

http://www.aquasource.org/CMS/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=17&page=1

It's still one of my "staple" links, I don't think I could live long without it. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
dave

[RTR]

Actually daveedka, it is updated a bit at:

http://www.thepufferforum.org/viewtopic.php?t=1389

The old site is not as reliable, and several articles became hosed without any corrections being done, plus some disappeared completely. Net result is that I took the originals and updated where needed. I now have almost everything plus some new stuff at the Puffer Forum. Unless things change radically at the old site, anything new will appear elsewhere.

[daveedka]

The old site is not as reliable, and several articles became hosed without any corrections being done, plus some disappeared completely. Net result is that I took the originals and updated where needed. I now have almost everything plus some new stuff at the Puffer Forum. Unless things change radically at the old site, anything new will appear elsewhere

Thanks, I'll update my links accordingly.
Dave