A New Look To Undergravel Filters

For this weeks build I thought I would put a new twist on an old filter. UG filters have been around forever but this build gets around their issues.

[@philashton7578]

The original UG filter was, I understand, made by a well known Australian aquarist named Jim Coombes in the 1960's. He glued glass marbles, about 8 inches apart. all over the bottom of his aquaria and cut a sheet of stainless steel mesh with water lift tubes incorporated, to fit his tanks and used very coarse sand as substrate. I read an article on this from an aquarium magazine of the time and built myself one. I have used UG filters ever since. With occasional 30% water change I have never had a problem. The plants grow fantastically, the fish do extremely well and when they breed the filter can continue to run as no harm can come to the fry from it. They became extremely popular, but were 'killed' by the hype and advertising of filter manufacturers and sellers. I changed the air pumps to power heads, when these came in, not because they necessarily worked better but because they made much less noise. I still use UG filters with coarse sand substrate

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much for sharing the history of UGs. Something I didn't know. You're absolutely right about them. They were only replaced because you can't sell replacement cartridges or other things for them. There are some situations they aren't good for (fish that dig etc...). I think I still prefer to drive them with air though. Just so I can run them off one air pump. Thanks for taking the time to come by

[@philashton7578]

And thank you for presenting the UG subject in a video. I think a lot of aquarists will be re-thinking their filter situation now. Keep up the good work.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

@@philashton7578 Thanks so much. I'm glad you liked it

[@ryanwilkinson438]

My mother-in-law gifted me all her old aquariums and supplies that had been building up dust for years; and mixed in a bucket full of fake plants and tubing, there were just the stacks off of an old under gravel filter. Now I know how I can upcycle them and put them in a future tank! Thanks so much! Subscribed just because of the genius involved in this!

[@catfishcave379]

I like that you are finding new ways of improving upon an old but very good technology. I used the typical UGs for about 20 years myself.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thank you! I really appreciate feedback especially from people who have been in the hobby for a while. Thanks for taking the time to come by

[@madfishdiva]

Your builds are always so awesome. I remember those undergravel filters and have actually watched recent videos of many hobbyist still using them.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much Diva! I haven't seen one in years. Kind of cool there are still a few around. Have a great weekend.

[@modyosman5059]

DIY and fish keeping the perfect combo, glad i found the channel.. It's great content, keep up the great work. Pretty new to the hobby (3 years), always was curious about how under gravel filters worked. I love the system for getting extra use out of a single air stone/pump. Now i'm thinking about adapting that design with a sponge filter instead of the under gravel, for a low tech, diy tank.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Cool! Would love to see that. Thanks so much for your kind words. I hope I can live up to them

[@aquaticsandfurries8718]

Great build, love the idea of it being removable and that it flows up to the plants, cool idea

[@FishmanEricRussell]

It seems to be working out well. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch

[@30eesh]

As a wood worker and a aquarist.... You could do ya self and for the benefit of novices watching to follow a safety tip where the table Saw is concerned...lower the saw blade to just above the desired cut thickness...it's much safer than having it sticking up at full height when your just cutting what looks like a 20mm thick plastic grating... Just my 2bits

[@CaylorsReptilesAquatics]

I remember being so excited when under ground filters came along and we could get rid of the box filters. I went back to the boxes, due to the reasons you mentioned with toxins building up. This is a cool build. The Endler fry were a nice surprise. I read, or someone told me, that the snails surfing on water tension were eating floating bio film also. Cool stuff.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks Bob. It's always nice having someone watching who remembers those times.

[@First_______]

Back in the 1980's when Mini Reef's became the craze, I built an undergravel filter just like the one you made, even used the same type of gravel, for my Mini Reef. (Against all the rules) I used power heads placed at gravel level instead of air . I went to Florida and collected the Live Rock. I used a cannister filter to help with mechanical and chemical filtration. For many years that was a super healthy Mini Reef, where soft corals bred and all the algaes grew correctly. I even got to watch as a dime size brain coral slowly slowly grew to silver dollar size. When I finally had to tear the tank down, there was a colony of large Tube Worms living under the filter, keeping that area free of Dietrus. I'm sure that type of homemade undergravel filter is much better than the store bought type.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with me!

[@First_______]

@@FishmanEricRussell You're welcome. But my way wasn't removable the way yours is. I like the way yours is integrated and easily removable.

[@abrahambarkhordar5572]

beautiful story

[@AQUAFUNK]

I love that build 👍 I use undergravel filters on my tanks and I've been trying to find a way to do some DIY undergravel filters for 40 breeders and I think you just solved that problem for me thank you

[@FishmanEricRussell]

That's so great to hear! Definitely post what you end up making. I would love to see it

[@FredHOleniuk]

I have been keeping aquariums since 1969. I switched to undergravel filters early on and have been using them ever since. My solution to cleaning the filter has been to put a network of PVC pipes with many holes drilled in the pipes under the filter. I attach another PVC pipe to the network and bring that pipe upright to the top of the tank. When I do water changes I attach a hose to the PVC pipe network and bring dirty water from deep to the gravel out of the tank. This keeps the filter clean and solves the problem of having to tear down the tank to clean the filter. I also use a mesh cover on my undergravel filter to keep the gravel in the proper spot just as you demonstrated in your video.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Hey Fred great meeting you. You've been keeping fish one year longer than I. It's wonderful hearing from people who've been in the hobby so long. That is a excellent way to keep these things going long. I used a similar setup for a large indoor pond I put together almost two decades ago. It still does fine though if I weren't lazy I suspect I would need to redo it as I'm pretty sure there is some channeling going on. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and share your experiences.

[@scottlytton5328]

HI Fred....do you have a pic or a tutorial on your idea. I could really use that my friend. Thanks for your insight. Fishman....brilliant sir. Thanks a lot. Got drop cieling egg crate on my list. Where do you buy that acrylic piping? Thanks guys.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

@WeeStrom CO Guy Lots of options for sure. Find what suits your maintenance style and what works for you. Thanks again for watching

[@willparsons32]

I'd like to see how you built your undergravel system... sounds interesting!

[@TheBobby416]

@WeeStrom CO Guy it all depends on you, and your desired outcome. Do not lose sight of the gole. Lol

[@Stanley.1977]

I love this! Well done, sir! I have always been a HUGE fan of UG filters! I really don't know why they are not as common these days, as they were in the 1990s, 1980s, and '70s. (???) Thank you for taking the time to make this video, and thank you for the brilliant idea! I love it, and I subscribed to the channel for more great ideas!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked it!

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

Quite interesting and I love the colours in the mystery snail.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Glad you liked it and thanks for watching

[@FitOutPost]

What a clever idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thank you for taking the time to watch one of my videos!

[@MarcoAntonio-tb4gx]

I remember those filters! Back in 1991 I had 2 40 lts acuariums. Those filters were great. No need for parcial water changes. Of course every 3 or 4 months the acuarium had to be teared apart, to clean the gravel. But anyway that was 3 or 4 months of just toping water! Recently I had retaken the hobbie. But this time with a 200 lts guppie tub in my garage, that I really enjoy. I hate parcial water changes. So sometimes I miss my 1991 acuariums

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with UGs and for watching!

[@SLynch007]

I've bought one for a 9.1 gal. nano that I'm planning on putting pea puffers in. I know you have a think for puffers, and I have a question for you. I've been scouring every piece of info on puffers that I can find, but when I watch videos, a lot of times with puffers in particular, I've noticed that some dwarf puffer keepers use very little, if any substrate. I was planning on using my 'planting substrate' (clay that's been reshaped into tiny balls) like McDonald's does with it's fries. But now, I'm rethinking that for the hardly-any-substrate and no underground filter. A tiny canister will suffice. What do you say about this approach? I would still keep live plants, but I'd keep them contained; plus some wart on the top.

[@discobobentertainmentmore]

You can learn alot about fish tanks by watching your videos. Thanks for the information.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for coming by Bob. Keep on dancing

[@joshs_random_location]

This was actually very enjoyable to watch. I might take a breeder box to house some flower plants in the future, thank you for sharing :)

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. Means allot

[@joshs_random_location]

Your very welcome! Feels good to build/make/diy projects. You don't really get that kind of satisfaction from off shelf products.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

I couldn't agree more!

[@freshwaterdreamingAquariums]

I started (same as you, late 70's early 80's) with undergravel filters. I have just recently gone back to them and it really is a better filtration than HOB and just as good as canister. Wish I had seen this before I set up mine. I solved the bacterial problem by using a riser in each back corner and 2 center/spaced in the mid/front. I disguised the 2 front risers with java and xmas moss.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Great to see a fellow old schooler! I've done the gambit and I'm now back to where I started too lol!

[@BK42Cycles]

Very nice tank!! Well done!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for coming by

[@JohnCRV]

Watching CrashSafe gadget ad was interesting I definitely need one of those in Florida with all the canals we have here. Great video my friend you make everything yourself that is cool. Have a good weekend.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks John. Great seeing you again

[@maicodoug]

UGF are harder to find and fabing stuff I enjoy as you do in your video. Exactly the "egg crate" UGF is a classic design that works. Simply raised up from the tank bottom with some PVC 3/4" couplers sawed lengthwise in half and PVC glued to the PVC egg crate, also what I used for the riser tube is also a 3/4" PVC coupler, with minimal dremil work, a spare clear riser tube fits and is glued in place. Be sure to allow a bunch of time to allow the PVC glue to off gas. Works for my 40 gallon short tank. Thx friend for the vid!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

It's always wonderful hearing from a fellow DIYer. Thanks for coming by and sharting!

[@PsychoticLucidity]

Pretty clever man, I was looking for a way to grow plants off the back of my 29-gallon tank other than using cut off water bottles and media. I will definitely give this a shot as I can have the tray go the whole length of the tank with little to no issues. I may even think about hooking it up to my sump intake line with the limited flow but that may prove to be harder than I am thinking ATM. Great idea for sure!!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

So glad you like it! Thanks also for taking the time to share your thoughts on it

[@madbotanyorganicfarmsllc1603]

I love it. I designed one out of glass for my 55 gallon. Haven't built it yet. Just like yours but for media.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Cool! When you get it up and running post it. I would love to see it. Thanks for coming by

[@jamesmann2377]

great content. looking forward to more vids!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much!

[@gibbyrockerhunter]

I just found you today and subbed immediately. Iv been building very simular ugf's so iv gotta say, i like your style. Iv found that using knitting mesh instead of screen works better for my use. A) the larger holes won't clogg as easily with the build up of bacteria and waste. 2) theres no need for the egg crate since the mesh is rigid enough on its own, plus since its plastic (hdpv i think) its uber easy to cut/heat/form. Also, you mentioned it briefly but for anyone reading this that didnt pick up on it; using an air stone helps out with flow. The smaller bubbles help make a pillow to lift the water.

[@AngelosFishTanks]

Surface skimming at its finest lol. Such a cool build as always..

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Hey Angelo! Hope you have a great long weekend and thanks for coming by

[@AngelosFishTanks]

Fishman thanks Eric. And the same to you..

[@AquariumCop]

Brilliant easy to remove design to clean !😍

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks Cop. Always appreciated

[@AquariumCop]

@@FishmanEricRussell 😘

[@jseagate84]

I'm building a ug filter like that to use in a new shrimp tank I'm going to set up. Thank you for all your great ideas

[@FishmanEricRussell]

That's so great to hear John!

[@FlockensNekroparlor]

I love efficient, multifunction tools. Most people would have tried to stick an extra pump in their tiny tank to get the water to flow through the pothos bed. Idk why so many people like having extra wires and tubes and hardware sticking out if their water. Very efficient 👏👏👏

[@FishmanEricRussell]

So glad you liked it and thanks for watching!

[@COOPERSCICHILDS]

Aww sorry to hear that 1 you build some of the best stuff great job I love egg create

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Hey Coop. Isn't egg crate great. Did you catch the end of the bladed algae scraper video? I was hoping you would like to try out one of those filters

[@PerplexiaX]

You should have done it for the whole bottom to really show how well it works! Cool twist though! You're right, it should work a lot better than the old design! We had to clean our family tank all the time way back when we were kids, and there was always this blackish, gooey algae or whatever it was across the whole bottom of the tank! Nasty as hell! LOL :-)

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Sometimes the old UGs were a pain for sure. I didn't want to go the full bottom style for easy cleaning and so the tank won't be disturbed if you wanted to plant the other half. Thanks for sharing your experiences much appreciated

[@PerplexiaX]

@@FishmanEricRussell You're welcome! Yeah, I was thinking you were doing the entire bottom, but I can see the reasoning behind how you did it... Maybe you should think about that, though... might make for a good series of episodes on how well it works, maybe 2 a month or once a month, because as you know, anyone can say anything on KZbin, but showing us in a causal, controlled experiment... well, the proof is in the pudding, as they say! :-) I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to see a long term on this, and I'm not that kind of hobbyist, I only have my 20g show tank, Goldfish and Guppies mostly, and another I'm working on... I guess it's about three gallons, set up as a breeder tank for the guppy fry! I still need to get the light switch fixed!

[@LittleLargeMouth]

After first seeing your channel with your diatom filter build, I knew you’d be good to subscribe to

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much!

[@beatap6250]

Great job 👍💪👊💕

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks

[@johnallison4688]

I have just found your site and look forward to seeing more of your videos. When I had a shop many years ago I successfully used diy sub gravel filters for most of my tanks. These were fabricated out of 5/8 inch pvc using a bending spring with hacksaw cuts on the under sides. Quick, simple and cheap. My main stock tanks had 24x24 inch bases and were covered by a square “s” of pvc with an uplift of the same material.

[@trevormcmanis]

Great video ! Really cool idea

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for coming by!

[@rerun9539]

I’ve used undergravel box filters for Caridina shrimp for years. Great filtration method

[@FishmanEricRussell]

It's a classic. Thanks for watching

[@superaquatics]

Excellent video. 👍

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much!

[@neighborhoodman323]

That looks EXTREMELY aesthetic

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much. I'm glad you liked it

[@byrguy1295]

LOL

[@bisonsgames]

you could also use it as a holding place for something like a guppys to have her young and the babes will full down in the tank. this is a very cool build. i will be doing something like that for my next tank build. i use to use a under gravel filter but after some long use the gravel started getting toxic and pretty much had to dismantle my hole tank to clean. that got old. im going canister filter next week and give that a try. hang on filter have always served me well. i just subscribed to you simply because i respect a man like me who builds what he wants and having a machine shop was a added bonus lol. i too am a machinist over on my other channel called bison workshop. i dabble in alot of different from my fish, my truck and my machine shop. its nice to meet people like you. today kids dont know how to do anything. and being a throw away world like we live in is gonna bit them in the ass one day. lmao

[@FishmanEricRussell]

thanks so much for your kind words and for sharing your thoughts on this.

[@Slacking02]

Happy New Years!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks! Same to you

[@SandyDoughty]

Love it what a great idea!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks Sandy. Hope you have a great long weekend

[@philthytanks4952]

Great video dude!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much and for taking the time to watch

[@LilDirt12]

I used screen to make a lid for my weird shaped corner tank. It worked out for a couple of weeks but then the chemicals in the tank started breaking down the screen and turned my tank cloudy white. Total bumber. But no fish died so that's cool. Just had to do major water changes to start over. But I really like the design you created. Super smart.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Weird what happened to your screen. Glad you like what I do here

[@DanielKeepingFish]

Cool video bud. Under gravels were always one of my favourite types of filter. Sad we don't see them as much any more but great to see your take on them.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks Daniel. It has been a long time since they were popular for sure. Glad you took the time to watch and comment

[@DanielKeepingFish]

@@FishmanEricRussell no worries. Aye I've watched loads of your videos now and enjoyed every one. Great projects, builds and presentation. Glad I found your channel.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Very much appreciated Daniel!

[@SibsFish]

This seems like a combination of Deep Sand Bed, Plenum and an under gravel filter. Issue is Anoxic is not an issue. It is a myth from the 70s carried onward to today. It is actually a contributing factor to dealing with Nitrates. Which the average filter won’t do if not setup properly. Plants, deep substrate and high bio media capacity in the filter will keep Nitrates at 0. Aerobic will only deal with ammonia and nitrite. But the idea of a removable tray is a smart idea.

[@upsidediy3945]

I really like under gravel filters, because when rinsing substrates , using a diy (bucket with holes)sifter , the fine debris and substrates are seperated .and helps the.molecular rinsing. Aquarium water filtering, ugf good paired with a sponge filter , more than a hob because of plug management. thanks for the pointers.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thank you for taking the time to come by and watch. Much appreciated

[@dolcecasa4307]

thank you for this setup. im wondering for days where do I start, and how the hell would I clean the UG filter after sometime. Now I know what to do. Thanks a bunch.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

You're very welcome!

[@incubatork]

The mulm under the UG filter is a goldmine for plant roots, its in fact aquatic humus found in any slow moving river or lake. Personally i prefer the slit type UG filter, i have tried many in 40 odd years.

[@dustysteele5408]

I would really like a filter setup like this. I have pothos in my 29 gallon tall tank. I keep the tank filled only 3/4 of the way full and have the pothos in some foam that just floats on the surface.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

So glad you like it!

[@dustysteele5408]

Maybe I might try and make one myself.

[@VK4VO]

As long as there is water flow thru the substrate, you will never get anaerobic conditions under there. Also, you only need a short 3 inch lift tube and slow water movement.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

I use these in conjunction with high humidity plants. The UG is just for biological filtration and the planter removes the nitrate

[@craigengelman1369]

ive done undergravel since 92 with fresh and saltwater . for the past 20 years ive done hydroponics with undergravel with great success . i just dont use airstones . i only use marineland maxi powerheads . reason being heat the air pumps heat the water where powerheads push air out with no heat . in my netpots i use 1 inch bio pin balls . funny ive never thought to use screen so thank you !!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! I use air because it's easier and cheaper when running 37 tanks.

[@craigengelman1369]

@@FishmanEricRussell i totally understand thats a LOT of tanks ! i have 9 30 gallon drum dwc , intex 4x4 mini pool that is a bass pond . 180 is my piranha tank , 39 is for my seahorses and a 10 for live brine

[@pscfields6628]

Just came across this video You are using the under gravel filter as a pre filter in this build. You can convert it to a biological filter by turning the flow way down to a trickle. As air pumps became more powerful the flow rate increased so much that the gravel became like filter floss and eventually became dirty just like floss and had to be changed. Breaking a tank down to clean the under gravel filter was a pain. It would be interesting to see if the plants did not grow better with slow moving water. At least that is how we did it in the plant nursery.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for watching this older video! Since this time I have made many different versions with different flow rates. check some of them out and let me know hat you think!

[@stephenater9687]

Liked and subbed, but please lower the blade of the saw!!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for the sub and comment much appreciated. Unfortunately when cutting acrylic I need to have the blade set as high as it will go so that it is cutting in more of a downward angle. If I don't the upward pressure causes there to be a slight deflection to the cut and it doesn't weld as cleanly. I know it is the least safe position for the blade but I've wasted to much acrylic the other way. Thanks again for coming by

[@wearefishlover]

Amazing

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Much appreciated

[@ArtyMars]

I saw miniature versions of these for small shrimp tanks on another video, these look really helpful for cleaning in stages, you can do one at a time and have extras in the tank, clean them in intervals so theres always biological filter in the tank :D

[@FishmanEricRussell]

This style seems to be coming back into fashion though for the moment it's mostly for shrimp. I hope more catch on as they are very useful. Thanks for coming by!

[@ArtyMars]

@@FishmanEricRussell ah yes just noticed this was uploaded a couple years ago 😁 I couldn’t find a DIY video anywhere thanks! I’m thinking of making a few of these for some fry tanks :D they look really tidy in this dudes shrimp store haha kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp3EgZevpsaZpZY

[@gk9417]

Fantastic idea I’m going to try it out maybe I’ll put ceramic rings underneath the egg crate ✌️👍🇨🇦

[@FishmanEricRussell]

So glad you liked it!

[@Qui-9]

Nice build! One thing I would add on top of the mesh, or instead of the mesh, is a fibre or foam filter, like maybe the black charcoal impregnated mats sold for aquariums which are meant to be cut yourself. Then you have some volume for the beneficial bacteria to cling to and enough surface area that clogging would rarely be an issue.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for the suggestion and for watching

[@apaulmcdonough2170]

The gravel IS media for the Beneficial Bacteria. The Purpose of UGF is Biological Filtration. Gravel Siphon 1/3 or 1/2 the gravel bed each water change to remove excess debris. I use Lee Premium UGF plates with Marineland Maxi-Jet pumps. I cut the tubes so that the top of the pump is 2.5 - 3 inches below the Normal Water Level.

[@Tropicalfishcrazechannel]

good build brother

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for taking the time to come by and comment. Much appreciated

[@James_Hande]

Nice DIY but I have a concern with it... Original UG filters had thin slits spaced through out the plate to try and even the water flow through it. Using the egg crate will cause most of, if not all of, the flow to be near the lift tube. The farther away from the lift tube the less of a flow if any. The screening idea was often used back in the day as well as some folks tried those out door garden weed blankets or polyester fiber sheets. LOL Personally I never had much issues with mulm buildup under the plates and I just used the air stones or even just the rigid tube without. I would gravel vacuum half of the tank every week switching sides each week. I would remove the lift tube(s) for that sides plate to clean out with the brush and then stick my siphon hose in it's place and suck out the little bit of mulm. Had those tanks running for 15-20 years without any problems. With a strong siphon you could actually suck the little bit of mulm up from under the plate while vacuuming the gravel. I think people ran into problems because they would slack on maintenance. Just this old farts 2 cents!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Hey being an old fart too means that I really appreciate your experiences and I'm glad that your sharing them here. There are actually spacers under the egg crate to lift it up and help even out the flow. I'm a fan of UGs. The only reason I think they are less popular now is you can't sell people media or other things to go with it so the industry prefers to go with other filter types. This style, that covers only part of the bottom, has one perk that I should probably cover in an update video and that's that you can have rooted plants in the part of the tank where it's not. Thanks for watching. Much appreciated

[@James_Hande]

I was actually able to grow plants with the UGF. Amazon swords were a bit tricky as their root systems are quiet large. Glad to be here and share what I can. Thank you!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

@@James_Hande Cool! That was always the hardest thing to do with UG filters

[@James_Hande]

@@@FishmanEricRussell I usually had about 2" of gravel in the front and 3" in the back. That seemed good for most plants. I did try a hack for the sword plants that seemed to work okay. I placed a piece of that garden weed screen/blanket on top of the filter plate under the gravel. The root system couldn't penetrate through it so never got under the plates. The weed blanket lets water and air through it but not weeds so gave it a try and BINGO! LOL

[@FishmanEricRussell]

@@James_Hande What a great idea! When I do the update for this filter I will try and remember that

[@ag-yq6lr]

thanks for the vid. im trying to make a UGF for my turtle tank but I only have one small tank and I'm only finding egg crate and nylon screen in bulk sizing, any suggestions as to other materials. I'm thinking dish scrubbers but I don't know if those will get too dirty. Also what do you think of using a bubbler instead of the air tube?

[@SusanforSLCAquatics]

Nice job with everything. I love your plexiglass work and your personalized touches on old tricks and new uses. I would like to know how to place the airline and air stone in the uptake pipe etc. thanks dear.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Anytime Susan. It's always great when you come by. I just let gravity keep the air stone in place. I find when it is attached to a rigid tube it doesn't move around much

[@SusanforSLCAquatics]

Fishman thank you I appreciate it

[@routtookc8064]

wow, never realized how much water would through the UGF just from the air moving it! your getting ~3 inches of lift over the water line. I like it, think I would put more filter media in the pothos planter.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts. I didn't put media in the pothos section because I'm just using it to start them and then move them elsewhere

[@lewigy]

Another very good Raw Material, that is very very useful is the "White Mesh Sheet" that's in every sewing/yarning/knitting shop... you put colored wool thru the holes to make up a pattern etc. Great mesh thou easy to find in big Hobby Shops too.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Cool. Thanks for the tip. I will look into it and thanks for watching

[@lewigy]

@@FishmanEricRussell kzbin.info/www/bejne/m368dX6in9Fpps0

[@lewigy]

@@FishmanEricRussell this guy uses this mesh right at beginning of his vid. Brilliant way of feeding frozen worms

[@karolbadowski69]

Awesome 👍

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks!

[@dramad2974]

Pretty cool.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thank you for taking the time to come by. Much appreciated

[@5610winston]

Back in the day, I avoided build-up under the filter by siphoning water for water changes through the lift tube, and using a gravel washer attached to a siphon to back-flush the gravel bed. Astounding amounts of crud are eliminated, while you still maintain the bacteria that digests ammonia and nitrates.

[@cigarcityweymouth]

I used them all the time. Haven't used them in about 10 yrs

[@FishmanEricRussell]

They certainly have fallen off the radar. Thanks for watching

[@MELODYMUNRO]

That's close to what I was trying to describe to you the last time I commented. A cross between a HOB and a undergravel filter that ran along the backside or side of the tank. You could add some filter/polishing material to the last chamber. Now I know it would work.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Hey Melody! Glad you liked it. It's crazy the prices of things in Australia!

[@MELODYMUNRO]

It's why I like your channel, I am always trying to find ways to keep my hobby affordable. I am seriously considering swapping all my tanks to undergravel setups. Electricity is expensive too. Last winter my electric bill was $750 for just three months... I don't use a heater in the winter - but my fish tanks do. With an undergravel, there must be some way that a tank vac could suck out the sludge under the tray... maybe if the airline was swapped out for the syphon hose...hmmmm

[@FishmanEricRussell]

There were all kinds of tricks people came up with to get them to last longer. There is really no real problem with them as long as you don't have diggers or rooted plants. Let me know what you come up with

[@jeffalbillar7625]

@@MELODYMUNRO you can use a powerhead that has a reversible Elbow. Reverse the powerhead and turn on the air and watch bubbles come out of your gravel as if coming from nowhere. It looks cool and it keeps your plates clean and aerated.

[@myaquariumshow3203]

This was really interesting

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks and thanks for watching

[@myaquariumshow3203]

Fishman I left a sub. And I am looking forward to seeing more content

[@FishmanEricRussell]

@@myaquariumshow3203 Much appreciated. Thanks

[@tratos1]

so what do you use for the silicon i was thinking of making an aquarium since i have a bunch of left over glass. I am just not sure what silicon would be okay to use so that i do not kill the fish. any tips would be great. THanks!!

[@StefOutside]

Great stuff! So that thing at the end skims the surface of the water and you clean it from the end? Or am I mistaken? Anyways, keep up the awesome videos! 💪🇨🇦👍

[@FishmanEricRussell]

No it doesn't skim. It's just a spot for the pothos to root.Thanks for coming by and taking the time to comment.

[@chadanderson2798]

I started using an undergravel filter about 2 years ago. I run it with a strong powerhead at each end of the tank. I also use 2 marineland emperor 450 hob's. 1 on each end. Ive tried everything. The canister filters were ok but such a pain in the but to clean. My tank is a 55 gallon and my two hobs are rated for up to a 90 gallon tank a piece. Those powerheads dont let much detritus build up underneath the gravel filter. Ill never go back to a canister filter. This little 55 is running like a well oiled machine. U cant overfilter because theres no such thing. I will be using your idea with the mesh because no matter what i do somehow gravel tends to work its way under the bottom plate and the mesh will fix that. I thought of using filter floss but that would probably clog up pretty quick so im going to use your idea. Thank u.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much for sharing your setup with me and for taking the time to watch!

[@davidperrin1675]

I remember under gravel filters. Thy were concave and had sallholes. And we’re glazed tanks with metal frames which had to be painted. And had putty not silicone in The tanks or box filter.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

My first tank was a metal framed tank with the tar like substance to hold the water in. Thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts

[@colmblodget9157]

the intro always makes me hype.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

My daughter will be happy

[@ShaneZettelmier]

We used to put power heads on them and run the flow in reverse and you want to get as much gunk growing under there. I don’t know if that was good or bad but that’s just the way we used to do it. Lol

[@ShaneZettelmier]

I’ve often thought of putting little channels in there, kind of like a muffler design and running reverse flow forcing it to push the water everywhere, kind of like through a little maze. I think it would work because it’s constantly moving water through the gravel and with the upflow most of your stuff stays on top so it’s easy to vacuum.

[@jetjazz05]

Yeah, I have a SINGLE female Endler, once a month she has 15-25 babies (she has been in her own tank with adult spawn removed), she mated for a week when I first got her 3 months ago and she just keeps on having babies. From what I understand once they get pregnant they're kind of pregnant for life lol. I have noticed that while they SAY they have babies once a month there appears to be fresh babies in much smaller quantities every 2 weeks or so, almost like inbetween huge batches she's giving birth to an intermediary brood or something. Maybe these are just smaller because they're timid and don't get to the food first, but I try to overfeed because of the babies, it's hard for me to say if they're new or just small.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for sharing your experiences Jesse and for watching

[@kaduisaui4596]

Your fish sounds like my sister...

[@joecarnes9174]

Yeah I think they just constantly spit babys out once they start. Or it seems that way lol.

[@jimanast3593]

Joe Carnes it's so: they mAte once, they give birth for months!

[@dave5903]

Excellent video! What kind of gravel are you using?

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Glad you like it! It's natural river washed pebbles

[@MichaelsFishRoom]

Cool!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Hey Michael! Thanks

[@ursanbear]

Instead of using regular gravel or even lava rock, you can also use a sintered glass media which will do a much better job breaking down organics. Also, if you're concerned with organics breaking down and becoming toxic, you can put a reverse flow pump down through the uptube the flush out the muck prior to a water change. But I've been using Biogravel with my UGF and it's been great.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

So many options for sure. I'm planing some new setups so I can cover as many different possibilities as I can fit in. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts

[@ursanbear]

@@FishmanEricRussell Subscribed.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

@@ursanbear Much appreciated. Thank you

[@AussieAquatic]

I Love it...…:)

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Much appreciated!

[@AussieAquatic]

I also imagined a sheet of flat foam laying in the tray. Either way, sponge filter, box filter or tray filter, lots of options :)

[@FishmanEricRussell]

There certainly are many many ways to make these diy filters. Thanks for the comments

[@brianshleifer6602]

Old school indeed!!? Subscribed

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks Brian! Much appreciated

[@144928]

Great video. What glue are you using on the acrylic plates to hold them together with ? Is the glue aquarium safe ?

[@FishmanEricRussell]

The "glue" is actually methylene chloride and it melts both sides of the joint and then when it evaporates it forms a chemical weld. Nothing is left except the acrylic and is very aquarium safe

[@144928]

That is good news. I may come up with a project of my own someday, using materials like what you used in your video. Again , my compliments on a great video.@@FishmanEricRussell

[@cathyrobidoux9140]

Hi, I am new to building and I was just wondering how you attached the airline? Is it the same concept as a matten filter? Thank you

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Hi Cathy. Yes it's pretty much the same. Thanks for taking the time to watch

[@NYGOLD]

Filter / Aquaponics how cool is that??? Another nice, neat, well planned out job. With a twist. LOL

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Much appreciated. How's your summer going?

[@NYGOLD]

Still going strong, it finally cooled down a bit and we are all headed in to the country for the 3 day weekend. Have you been getting away at all?

[@FishmanEricRussell]

This break in the heat is amazing. I can finally do some work in the fish room without sweating to death. lol. Unfortunately I haven't got away yet. Maybe this weekend.

[@NYGOLD]

Well what ever you decide to do, ENJOY IT....

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Same to you

[@martynjohnstone6022]

I can remember when under gravel filters were the new big thing in aquariums.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Me too lol! Thanks for watching!

[@JESSEYHUES]

Love your videos..where do you buy the acrylic trays, boxes etc or do you buy sheets of acrylic and put them together yourself? If so, where do you buy the sheets? Ty

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks so much! I buy the sheets locally and then fabricate what I need out of them. Sorry it won't help unless you live near Ottawa

[@denisefriou7332]

@Fisherman, do you make these filters and aquaponic holders for others? I have a 20 gallon and would like this built for it.

[@scottmagowan9071]

I like your thinking and design.Do you make them for other aquarist?

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks! I make them for some of my clients

[@DebiSunset]

Have you ever run an underground filter backwards by using a waterpump to push water down and up through the gravel, like a spring effect? I am thinking of trying this; perhaps using lava rock as biofilter media...

[@FishmanEricRussell]

I have done a couple, but only on a larger scale. The ones I've done were for indoor ponds. They have the same kind of issues as the regular flow UG filters it just takes longer though that may just be the scale. Thanks for watching

[@jd3497]

That would be called a fluidized bed. It has been done using the output of a canister filter so that you don't have any large particulates and the resultant clogging of the gravel.

[@kmybitptys]

Should put some hydroton clay balls for the pothos for bio filtration and planting media

[@FishmanEricRussell]

The above planter is just to start the pothos which will then be moved elsewhere. Media would just get in the way. Thanks for watching

[@kmybitptys]

@@FishmanEricRussell will you be making that a filter or something else

[@FishmanEricRussell]

For the moment I'm just using it to start pothos

[@agzranz7285]

Do u have a video showing how to clean that cool underwater contraption?

[@FishmanEricRussell]

When one of them finally needs to be cleaned, I will post it. Thanks for watching

[@simplelife6827]

Great vid, how do you calculate what size is needed ( L x W x D) for a particular sized tank to be most efficient?

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks again! This is pretty much covered by my reply to your comment on the max depth vid.

[@simplelife6827]

@@FishmanEricRussell Thank you, I only asked again as I wasn't sure you would reply to an older vid. Your response was appreciated.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

@@simplelife6827 It's actually a good idea as KZbin is really bad at notifications and I don't go over these old videos looking for comments as there too many of them

[@010JRock010]

Nice vide, new sub. Think your channel will have a growth spurt. Keep it up.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks and thanks for watching

[@outoftheblueaquariums4831]

Cool vid Fishman. Question: i thought having anaerobic bacteria was desirable for denitrification, as the bacteria without oxygen uses nitrates as a food source. Long as its not disturbed you dont have it released into the water column causing a funk. Thoughts? Cheers!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

It's all about balance. The canister filters I make work on the principle your talking about. UG filters do too to a lesser extent. The problem with full bottom UG filters is when they get old and there is allot of mulm underneath. You pretty much have to reset the tank then. Don't get me wrong UG's are great filters, it's just that if neglected they can cause issues. I guess the same can be said for most filters lol. Thanks for watching

[@robertgroom4406]

Watch those fingers on that saw!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Safety is always on my mind thanks!

[@kjeldlarsen912]

Super build 👌 could I ask how many teeth are on your circular saw when cutting acrylic. Best wishes from kj Denmark

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Cutting acrylic is easy. The blade doesn't need to be special. Any general purpose or cross cut blade will do. Sharp blades are best. Just avoid using rip blades. Thanks for coming by and watching

[@kjeldlarsen912]

Thank you for your reply 👍

[@TheBobby416]

Nice. I love the idea. But can an overflow 1, primary be used.? And 2 emergency overflow secure their secure feeling. Just looking to see if any one has tried it. Thank you for your time.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

I have something like that as a viewer request. Should be getting to it soon

[@TheBobby416]

@@FishmanEricRussell Thank you. But don't worry about it. I have been thinking about a setup from glass cages. And I do not know what to expect from any of all the system. Thank you for your time and effort.

[@RealCptHammonds]

So, if I got the idea right, the bubbles create an upward flow, which will suction the poop up the tube. And, assuming I got that correct, one could make the tube end below the waterline, sending the poop up into the circulation off the aquarium that is then sucked into my canister filter. Does this sound solid?

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Most of the detritus stays in the gravel, but using the stand pipe as the intake for a canister filter and running the UG that way, is a great option. Thanks for watching!

[@TheRollingBear]

One pound fiiiisshhh! fw haha :P

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for coming by

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for coming by

[@tiangian6765]

for undergravel filter (UGF), the filter should have some gap from the bottom, otherwise, the water circulation will only limited by a small portion of the UGF. Simply lift up the crates by 1cm would do the trick.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

There is actually a spacer underneath the egg crate. Thanks for watching

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

with the substrate being 2 inches or less, I found that gravel cleaning was very effective in eliminating the pockets you describe. I do believe that UG filters are one of the best filters for Beneficial Bacteria, however that fact that the detritus gets sucked into the substrate and requires cleaning is a hassle in my opinion. I have gone to simulated rock bottom mats (from Aquadecor) and power heads that sweep the bottom of the aquarium, and keeps the detritus suspended until the overflow takes the detritus to my sump. Has eliminated gravel cleaning for me, which was my least desirable maintenance task.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Thanks for sharing your experiences and for watching