Canister Filter Connected To Undergravel Filter

[Mark Z.]

I still have not connected my under gravel filter to my canister filters, but I have connected an under gravel filter in my 15 gallon column tank to my hang-on back filter and it seems to be working just fine. I have shrimp and guppies in that tank, and nobody gets sucked into the filter.

 

[AbbeysDad]

I used UGF's in the 60's and 70's but never would again....but if you're going to do it, consider reverse flow. Instead of pulling plant/fish waste and uneaten food down into the gravel bed where it decomposes into a foul nitrate factory, push clean water from the canister filter up through the gravel bed making it the very best 'clean' beneficial biology platform that only rarely needs light vacuuming.
Even better might be reverse flow with a layer of biohome, Marinepure Cermedia, or Seachem Matrix/De*Nitrate under 3-4" of gravel.
Worth pondering I think!

 

[kevin kranz]

hi there I need some help I got a
Marineland® C360 Canister Filter and I was thinken about getting a undergravel filter system? But how would I hook it up to ? My tank is 125 gallons .. so need advise thanks

 

[AbbeysDad]

I've thought about this some more and feel there is a much better option than hooking a canister to a UGF...
Hook the canister up conventionally and reduce the flow of the UGF so it serves as a plenum (see Youtubes by Dr. Kevin Novak phD).
I feel this will give you the very best filtration and reduce the gravel vac requirement that the typical UGF requires (while still delivering the excellent bio-filtration that the UGF provides.)

 

[Thomas mcneil]

Has anyone ever tried connecting a canister filter to an under gravel filter?

I've had two Fluval canister filters and and under gravel filter running on my 48 gallon aquarium for many, many years. I know many are opposed to under gravel filters, but I have never had a problem with it.

I was thinking about possibly connecting the intake tubes of my Fluvals to the under gravel filter, replacing the two airistone tubes. Not sure, just toying with the idea. Has anyone ever done this?

I would have to get some type of adapter to allow the smaller diameter intake tubes fit into the larger under gravel plate holes. Then, all the water would be pulled through the gravel and up into the canister filters and back into the tank.

Anyone see any drawbacks? The only thing I see is that there would be no direct intake from the open water.

Thoughts?

I'm about to do the same thing on my 75 gallon with 2 aquaclear 70s and a fluval canister... How did yours turn out?

 

[PaulTheTech]

I am trying this for the first time. we will see how its goes.

My set up
29 hallo tank
Fluval 207 canister filter.
UGF plated.
rover rock 1/8 to 1/4 inch is size.
Mexican cave tetras (blind fish)

My issue is water changes are very hard on these fish and I needed a better way to control the waste issues polluting the water that falls to the rocks. also we cant move things around to often as they cant see and bump in to everything until they learn the tank which is funny but stresses them out and they don't handle it well, tuning red and if they can relax they will die in a mater of days.

The biggest hurdler was to connect the pipe form the Fluval to the UGF. I found a close fit at lows in CPVC pipe 3/4 - 1/2 adaptor and used my lathe to bore it out to make a tight fit between the parts. after a good cleaning and dip in some boiling water for a few to soften it up they went together easy enough and since my tank is a cold water one when i put it in the adaptor shrunk just a bit and sealed the parts together.