View Full Version : I did it!!
Skittyfish
03-24-2003, 12:42 PM
After seeing the other posts of undergravel jet systems I decided I could do it myself. So I went and bought $4 us worth of pvc and connectors, cut to fit stuck on my reverse flow powerhead and wallah! it works. The great thing is that I put my CO2 line into the air intake on the powerhead and now I have no CO2 bubbles. It completely disolves the CO2 before it reaches the end of the PVC. I am thrilled, pearling is more obvious now, because there are no little bubbles to confuse with pearling bubbles.
But what a mess it was to install. I had to uproot nearly all of my plants and had to buy a little more gravel to completely cover the pipe. But it is definately worth doing.
125gJoe
03-24-2003, 5:29 PM
Sounds good! And, also sounds like some work. What size PVC tubing did you use? Did you have to silicone it down to the bottom of the tank to keep it from floating up?
Skittyfish
03-25-2003, 12:31 PM
Wasn't much work. I have an Aquaclear 402 reverse flow powerhead. 3/4 inch pvc fits perfectly on the bottom of the powerhead. I used one T fitting, one 90 degree, and 3 45 degree fittings (couldn't find 30 degree). It only has two jets because it isn't a very strong current. I am going to buy another bag of gravel to cover it. It doesn't want to float exactly, but I can't keep it completely covered. The tank is full, but can I still use silicone? I didn't think I could, but that would be a great way to stick it to the bottom.
Unfortunately my CO2 airline won't stay put in the powerhead, so I hooked it back up to my Duetto, pointed the ouput straight at the intake on the powerhead, and the jets distribute the water to the other side of the tank.
somefinnfishy
03-25-2003, 1:03 PM
Hey they make underwater epoxy for tanks:D Little pricey though.
BTW what wall thickness is the 3/4 pvc fits "perfectly" example schedule 40.
Skittyfish
03-25-2003, 4:14 PM
I got it to stay down finally. I had to move all of the gravel from the side its on and then cover it back up. Cheap way to provide gentle water movement. The powerhead by itself blew my plants away (fish liked it though). This seems to work great so far.