How To Set Up a Penn-Plax Clear-Free Undergravel Filter
Вставка
- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- Penn-Plax undergravel filters provide convenient and trouble free maintenance for aquariums from 5-55 gallons in size. Learn how to set up a Penn-Plax Clear-Free undergravel filter in this helpful video.
"Dreamer" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...
If you want to get the best efficiency out of this type of filter, the gravel should be sloped, so it is deeper at the back, near the lift tubes, and shallower at the front of the tank. Because the water flow is strongest near the tubes, putting more gravel here, and less further away from the tubes helps even out the flow of water through the underplates.
Thank you!
Thanks for the tip.
Smart idea!
I hooked a canister filter to an under gravel filter to make a super filter. That is how you get the best efficiency.
Hello sir,
From India, Can we fit Or add sponge filter with Undergravel Net??????🤔If possible make us video please🙏
Tuesday 30th January 2024.
15.45pm.
"Dear Sir/Madam. Good-afternoon. How are you? I trust you are well. I ALWAYS wanted to set UP an Underwater Gravel Filter in my Fish Tank but did not KNOW HOW to do it. I kind of, know NOW. Thank you, for the Video. I found it very useful."
Yours Faithfully.
Sir Francesca Kray. 🌹
This video is four years old, it would be beneficial to update it.
1---Instructions are no longer on the interior of the paper sleeve. But instead they are on the back.
2---The cross flow cut outs do NOT separate as easily as demonstrated in the video. The very instructions say to use pliers to remove them. Separating the sections from the remaining tab is difficult, even with pliers. I finally ended up using a Dremel tool with a saw blade to fully remove the sections. I bought two filters (One for each tank) and I will be using the Dremel tool exclusively on the other one.
3---The air stones come with a connected short (1 inch or so) line of air tubing. It was unclear if that should be removed to attach the stones directly to the airflow tube. I left it connected, since it was not cooperating when I tried to remove it. Whether that short pigtail should remain should be indicated in the video.
4---I have decades of experience working with carbon for aquarium filters. The carbon cartridges for a NEW UG filter did NOT require rinsing. I don't know if the same would hold for replacement cartridges. Although I must also admit that rinsing would not be a bad idea. And it only takes a few seconds.
5---The instructions on the paper sleeve are basically useless. It would help if they included photos. The poor sleeve instructions were why I came to UA-cam to see if there were any videos on the process.
Thank you. You are my hero for pointing out the same issues I have. I'm so frustrated!
My perforated sections were not perforated at all & I had a hell of a time cutting those sections out. Cut my finger. Pissed off already.
Same here
Same here too. They should edit the video:(
Yes, had to do the same. Needed a box cut blade to fully cit out the sections along the long edge.
Same, annoying af
If you're going to use at least one uplift tube each on both plates there's no need to cut out those sections under the plates. If you want to use only one uplift tube for the whole thing then you'll want to cut them out so water can flow between the plates.
This was a big help. Thanks for posting.
Nekesha, you are better off without undergravel filter. specially if you have a planted tank, just wanted to let you know. take a canister filter its way more practical and easy to clean. have fun keeping fish :)
You can do either one. It’s your preference in filter, I know I want to do a under gravel filter because I have bottom feeder fish that don’t shift through the gravel but their food and poop is very messy and requires a lot of cleaning. I will be using both a underground filter for my 5 gallon and possibly even a underwater filter that will be attached to my thing with suction cups
How tall are the lift tubes and do they need to be submerged underwater? I’m considering this for my turtle and the water is 3/4 full and a 20 gallon long. Update: I was able to cut the lift tubes to fit the aquarium size and it works fine.
They do not have to be submerged.
How's your filter working out? I'm considering one for my turtle tank.
@@Scarlettsgrammy Turtles poop a lot. This filter is suitable for a tank that has a low bioload. Goldfish wouldn't do well in this filter either since they're messy poopers too.
Ted, yeah... I figured that put. 🤣 Thank you!
I got these need for a a few big tanks I have because my overhead filter doesn’t reach far down enough to get some of the dooky but I haven’t set it up yet cuz I’ve yet to understand how exactly I’m supposed to get the dooky or stuff that falls down underneath out of there. I read a comment that said something about a canister filter…idk someone please help. I’ve got everything I need I know how to assemble it but how do I maintain it clean?
Thanks for posting this I am thinking to get one but I was wondering where you will attach the carbon. This video helped me.
I'd skip the carbon. It's a gimmick. The amount is very small. You and the fish can easily do without it.
Under gravel filters are great, But add a hang on filter on the tank, you can run large amounts of activated carbon and its easy to clean and gives clear water, just remember UGF requires gravel vacuuming on each partial water change.
You don't need carbon
Unfortunately my plates were not perforated. And they were complete nightmare to get off without damaging the unit
Hi, I'm having no luck finding a place to buy an UGF. None of the stores in my area carry. I've gone online and found some but they don't tell you what size they are. Any advice where I can get one for a 40 gallon breeder tank, 36"x18"?
Hi of you are still looking for one this brand sells their stock on Amazon!!
They also share the sizes on the website as well as what size they are recommended for
I know this might be a silly question but where does the waste go in these filters?
The fish poop still fills the gravel Nd u still have to clean it just as much. These are garbage
The waste becomes harmless bio fluff. It looks bad when the gravel is stirred up. But it's harmless. These were THE filters of the 60s and 70s.
You get a gravel siphon cleaner clean 1/3 of your gravel per water change never your whole bed of gravel at a time .
@@williammoore7861
If by garbage you mean inexpensive, low maintenance, highly efficient, and extremely effective, then you're right and you and I have very different definitions of the word garbage.
you need to connect a pipe with water pressure under this floor. And leave the suction above the floor. You need to use a canister filter.
I swear by under gravel filters. They are great for tanks with tiny fry that may get sucked into other filters.
It also creates a permanent, natural, biological/bacterium toxin breakdown layer. The same way that toxins are addressed in nature.
Cut the lift tube short (height of substrate) and make it a strong anoxic filteration system.
What?
It's not necessary to cut nothing! The strong of the flow don't depends on the length of the tube!
@@dyloak6450 search on UA-cam.
Hello sir,
From India, Can we fit Or add sponge filter with Undergravel Net??????🤔If possible make us video please🙏
I really wish this product had a sweeping elbow instead of the cartridge holder.. ive noticed the cartridge holder make the filter louder and slows flow down. and it does a terrible job at directing the flow. this would be a wonderful product if you replaced it with a sweeping elbow and used black plastic.
Thanks for your comment! we will take that into consideration.
Why is it Under-gravel filters are hardly available these days? Were very popular in the 80's and 90's.
My local Petco has them
Companies can't make a ton of money off them.
Most people prefer other filters because these ones don’t have the best mechanical filtration. It has a great biological filter and a decent chemical one, but you have to add sponge yourself to get the same effect. Though the plus side is there is no recurring purchases you need to make to maintain this other than the carbon filter once in a whole
Can you please clarify how can i reduce flow on the filter.?? Thanks
get an air flow adjuster for the airline and reduce the amount of air pushing water up
@@FeatheryFool thanks for the response!!
@@alexherrera3918
If you're driving it with an air stone instead of a water pump then the flow is already extremely slow. Slow enough for a Betta tank. Why would you need it slower?
@@joshuaewalker i have a biocinosis filtration substrate that needs minimum oxygen to grow anaerobic bacteria. i was just looking a way to reduce flow. thanks!!
@@alexherrera3918
Oh. Here's some great info:
aquariumscience.org/index.php/8-9-1-biocenosis-reactor/
you need to connect a pipe with water pressure under this floor. And leave the suction above the floor. You need to use a canister filter.🎉
the rising bubbles create the suction on the gravel bed
Where can I find that air valve?
way late to the party, but in case anyone else comes looking, they are called gang valves
After the plates are connected, is there room for water to move from one side to the other if I only use one lift tube?
Yes. That is the purpose of removing those sections on the bottom. However, they do not snap off as easily as shown in the video. I am about to use a Dremel tool to remove them.
@@nunyabiznes4167 I ended up using scissors. It wouldn't come off like the instructions said.
@@AlexK-ew1mo Yep. Scissors are the same low tech, non-electrical, concept as a Dremel. I just happen to like using electric tools. But I agree, scissors will do the job also.
I don’t see any bubbling coming out of elbow but I see bubbles in the tube , is it working or not ?
Is the elbow underwater or sticking up above the water?
It should not matter. In theory. The concept is to use the air flow as a suction mechanism to draw water down through the gravel and UG filter where biology and bacteria will do its work and biodegrade the waste into harmless material. Remember though, this is dependent upon the strength of the air pump. So, if you have "lazy" bubbles, you might want to consider upgrading your pump strength. When you buy an air pump, be sure to check the rating on it. They will all state what gallon aquarium they are rated for. And, overkill is not an issue. If you have a 20 gallon tank, a pump rated for 30 or 40 gallons won't hurt. However, the converse is not true. A 20 gallon tank with a pump rated for a 10 gallon tank may render the UG filter useless.
Does this filter out excess food waste and fish poo? Or just the foggy dirty water?
It "filters" it by using biological degradation. It doesn't remove the particles per se. But rather it uses a natural biological decomposition and bacterial action to render the waste harmless.
...filters by design aren't supposed to filter things out and clean your water, they are actually a holding place for your bacteria to live, and therefore they can "filter" your aquarium by consuming the ammonia and turning it into nitrates for removal, either by water changes or plant nutrient uptake
The air flow tubing hook up is difficult the most confusing. I’m getting a very low airflow and when I added water neither was bubbling.
Do you have them hooked up to a splitter? My splitter has little thumbscrews to open/close the tube (so you can adjust the flow). Maybe that's why it's not bubbling?
I have soft shell turtles and want a under ground filter but they require sand will that get sucked up in filter or will it be ok
Sand will not work here.
I know its been a while but you can put weed barrier over the filter plates and sand will work. but you also need a bigger air pump with more power to draw water through it.
i think turtles need a higher flow of filtration that what is done with these
I use coco-liner between the UGF and a sand bed. Works fantastically! Coco-liner is really cheap and can be easily cut with scissors to whatever size you need. You'll find it in the garden center of most big stores or real cheap online. It's the stuff they use to line flower pots and plant baskets so they can be filled with soil but still let water drain through and air get in.
@@FeatheryFool
High filtration is important and if using a UGF in a turtle tank it's recommended to connect the uplift tube to a pump or "power head" to achieve a high flow rate. I actually have mine connected to a small canister filter. My turtles have a crystal clear tank.
so i have a few questions, my water barrel flows out of the tubes do they need to be submerged?
I have an idea. To perfection my filtration. Excellent... 😌😏🙄
What size air stones will you need?
It's not necessary.
Will that work with sand.
No it sucks through
I use coco-liner between the UGF and a sand bed. Works fantastically! Coco-liner is really cheap and can be easily cut with scissors to whatever size you need. You'll find it in the garden center of most big stores or real cheap online. It's the stuff they use to line flower pots and plant baskets so they can be filled with soil but still let water drain through and air get in.
Still using those wimpy tube connectors i see, i was hoping for something a little beefier
Bisa online kah ke indonesia
What check valve did you use? Kinda of silly as a company to make a video of the product and not include reccomeded pieces to use with the product you are selling, or atleast share what additioonal products were used with this item. Does this make sense?
Any two or three way air control valve for aquariums work. I think penn plax does sell them but you can find a cheaper clear acrylic one like they are using here
can you use sand on these?
No
Yes. You can. You just need to get is garden fabric and place it over top of the UGF then add your sand.
First of all, it didn't have the printed instructions on the paper that it came with. Secondly, the tabs that are supposed to be snapped off...false, it does not snap off. You have to physically bend the plastic parts and it will separate from the rest of the plastic then you have to fold it up and let the line whiten up then you have to cut (trim) off the tabs that way.
What's the size of the fishbowl?
It looks like a 20 long to me.
What is name of filter
This brand name is Penn-Plax. This type of filter is called an "under gravel filter" or a UGF. Some people call it an underground filter. Some annoying people have started calling it a "plenum" in recent years.
The fact that there is no better way yet to clean a tank and feed a fish without leaving uneaten food sucks. Using the current water vacuum is kind of disappointing when you accidentally suck in your gravel.
This product is very badly constructed. The tabs are difficult to remove. Instructions are horrible. The plastic tubes, etc. is of horrible low quality. They may say its US made but if you get a Chinese made one - substantially better in quality and parts.
Πίσω στο 1980
Super old type of filter
I thought so too but i realized this is the filter i want for not just my bettas but also by shrimp breeding tanks