New Filtration Setup for New Tank

[STCxB]

Hello,

I haven't posted in quite a while but now I have a couple questions. I will be moving to a much larger apartment in a little over a month (taking plenty of time to move and making sure one of the first things we do is move the new tank over and start cycling), and so the axolotls are moving from their current 29 gal bowfront to a 55 gal that used to house our blue tongue skink (she is in a 75 gal now). I have been having issues with water clarity and I feel like my filtration is not terribly adequate. I'm currently using a HOB rated for 30-60 gallons. I really want to try a canister or fluidized bed filter, and I have the equipment to also setup an under gravel filter.

My idea is to have a canister/fluidized bed filter fed from some powerheads that I have (two PetCo King 150s, I believe) but utilize an under gravel filter system before the canister/fluidized bed. I want to glue larger river rock onto the grates of the under gravel system, as well, with sand on top of these rocks to fill in larger gaps. I believe this will not only look nice, but also keep my sand from getting under the grate and into the powerheads and provide my plants a place to root. The other option is to have the canister/fluidized bed come before the under gravel system and run the under gravel in reverse so as to kick up any junk that may fall onto the substrate and help get it into a filter.

If this makes no sense, let me know and I can try to explain better. It's late and I know what I mean but that doesn't mean that I can type very well right now.

I guess I just want to know how terrible of an idea this is. Haha. I feel like it could greatly improve my filtration and I know a few members have mentioned that under gravel filters have worked for them and their axies (and granted others have their horror stories but I've personally always had good luck with them). Just sound off with some thoughts and we can all figure this out!

 

[LSuzuki]

My thought is that anything that can keep the sand out of the under gravel system will also reduce water flow through the gravel system too much. (I started with undergravel filters with fish, and have nothing against them.)

I agree that a larger filter would be better.

Best of wishes on the move. :happy:

 

[HermitMandy]

I personally wouldn't use under-gravel anything. Since sand is so fine-grained, it'll inevitably get into the grating in the UG Filter and ruin it. Also, UG filters aren't very good at pulling and removing debris, so I,too, would recommend either a HOB or canister filter.

 

[STCxB]

I do use a larger sand (~1 mm grains) whereas most people I see tend to have much finer sand than that. Most of it does not seem to pass through my under gravel grate. This is partly why a reverse under gravel system interested me. I figure if I put river rocks on the grate it will slightly reduce the area through which water can flow, thus making it move faster (obviously only to a point as the pump only has so much head), and turning over the sandy areas more and moving detritus out.

 

[birdsong]

If it's solely clarity that is your issue it most likely has nothing to do with " dirtiness" and more to do with bacterial blooms in my experience. I use API accuclear sparingly with great success but many others may take issue with it. If it doesn't bother you too much I would just live with it . Also the correct amount of salt added May help slightly (please do research before adding salt) under gravel isn't best and suggest a couple spong filters or a sponge and charcoal . With 75 gallons it would be more economical to run a sump set up .hope this helps your decision