I'd go with black sand rather than gravel, and just run a sponge filter with a decent air pump for circulation.
Is it possible to use a powerhead to power an airstone?
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I was thinking about going this route. Around here it's tough to find black sand that isn't a planted tank substrate (and I'm planning on just going with subwassertang, bolbitis, and mosses) but I might try a 50 lb bag of Black Diamond. I think it will need several rinses and maybe a carbon filter on it just to make sure. I know it's fine for most fish, but I worry about inverts more. Many people report a greasy slick at the top after using it at first.
Speaking of carbon...the only advantage to an UG is that I like running carbon now and then, since I have a piece of driftwood in there that, in spite of being a couple years old, still leeches a lot of tannins. They had those carbon inserts for UGs for (I kid you not) 20 cents at Petco on clearance, so I bought a bunch of them...like 10 packs!
Speaking of carbon...the only advantage to an UG is that I like running carbon now and then, since I have a piece of driftwood in there that, in spite of being a couple years old, still leeches a lot of tannins. They had those carbon inserts for UGs for (I kid you not) 20 cents at Petco on clearance, so I bought a bunch of them...like 10 packs!
Ack, those inserts for UG filters don't really contain enough carbon do do anything useful. I used black diamond in my 220, was actually easier than sand to rinse. It does leave an oily film on the rinse water, but I simply ran the hose into a 5 gallon bucket about 1/4 filled with it and ran the water until it cleared off completely. No film in the tank at all, and very little cloudiness in the water. I ran a quickfilter on a powerhead and loaded the aquaclear 110's with floss to clear the water, looked great the next day.
I got tired of buying carbon to clear out tannins, now I use Purigen. Soak it in bleach, use dechlor, and it's ready to use again instead of tossing it in the trash.
I got tired of buying carbon to clear out tannins, now I use Purigen. Soak it in bleach, use dechlor, and it's ready to use again instead of tossing it in the trash.
kj5kb
KEEPER OF CATS, FISH AND CATFISHES
How about a reverse flow undergravel filter with natural gravel and a Penguin 660r powerhead?
I'm also in agreement with toddnbecka's suggestion of black sand and sponge filters.
I'm also in agreement with toddnbecka's suggestion of black sand and sponge filters.
No matter which direction you connect the air stone, you're restricting the flow to the power head. Even the tiniest power head moves more water than can be moved through an air stone. All that will be accomplished is eventually burning out the power head.
Thanks, I see this is a bad idea now (see post #8) so that's why I'm not going to try it. I am currently looking into other options. Sponge filters never polish the water quite the way I like, but it's definitely the easiest way to go and I already have a few of them.
Water polishing! Ah, my DIY specialty.
Take one 12oz to 16oz beverage bottle. Cut the bottom out of it. Attach the drinking end to the intake of the power head. I use gel type super glue. Vinyl tape will work for a couple of weeks. Silicone won't adhere to the plastics. Hot melt glue weakens too quickly.
Moderately pack the bottle with filter floss, insert in tank, plug the power cord in.
Particulates will be sucked up in about a day. It won't clear a bacterial bloom.
If anyone wants to do this, but doesn't already have a spare power head, the $15.00 one from Petco works very well. The intake screen fits very well into a standard pop or water bottle neck. It also comes off the power head, so you can access the impeller if needed.
Take one 12oz to 16oz beverage bottle. Cut the bottom out of it. Attach the drinking end to the intake of the power head. I use gel type super glue. Vinyl tape will work for a couple of weeks. Silicone won't adhere to the plastics. Hot melt glue weakens too quickly.
Moderately pack the bottle with filter floss, insert in tank, plug the power cord in.
Particulates will be sucked up in about a day. It won't clear a bacterial bloom.
If anyone wants to do this, but doesn't already have a spare power head, the $15.00 one from Petco works very well. The intake screen fits very well into a standard pop or water bottle neck. It also comes off the power head, so you can access the impeller if needed.
