Tank birthday, 47+ years

[atoll]

So I saw a pretty effective idea to incorporate a reverse underwater filter. Use a canister filter return pipe, and put it into the tubes feeding the filter or filters and just control the flow by restricting the tubes with the excess spilling into the tank ? Opinion ?

I did this about 40 years ago using a Hagen (now Fluval) 403 or a 303 with 2 intakes and 2 outlets. I sealed the uplift (now down push) between them and the powrfilter outlet tubes with baby bottle teats with the end cut off to form a seal worked well.
Now I don't use UG filtration anymore but I do have sand ont he base of my aquarium.
Remember, water will travel along the least resistance and most water from the down tubes will exit close to it.

 

[Freenow54]

I did this about 40 years ago using a Hagen (now Fluval) 403 or a 303 with 2 intakes and 2 outlets. I sealed the uplift (now down push) between them and the powrfilter outlet tubes with baby bottle teats with the end cut off to form a seal worked well.
Now I don't use UG filtration anymore but I do have sand ont he base of my aquarium.
Remember, water will travel along the least resistance and most water from the down tubes will exit close to it.

Sorry I am having a hard time following you. I currently have a 407. I looked at a 403 I think that I understand. Is it designed with being able to have two inlets and outlets or are they just using the fittings that are available. If you have time a diagram might help me.

Regards Walter Dowrie

 

[atoll]

Sorry I am having a hard time following you. I currently have a 407. I looked at a 403 I think that I understand. Is it designed with being able to have two inlets and outlets or are they just using the fittings that are available. If you have time a diagram might help me.

Regards Walter Dowrie

We are talking a long time ago and the haven model is long since been replaced. I don't know if there are any powerfilter avaible like that anymore.
The hagen power filter had 2 inlets and 4 outlets. I used the outlets to feed the UG filter in reverse flow. In effect pushing water from the 2 outlets down into the under gravel tubes. I had an undergravel tube at each end of the aquarium. By pushing the water down the UG tubes youbare creating a reverse flow instead of the normal up flow UG filter.
Hope that makes it clear.

 

[Freenow54]

We are talking a long time ago and the haven model is long since been replaced. I don't know if there are any powerfilter avaible like that anymore.
The hagen power filter had 2 inlets and 4 outlets. I used the outlets to feed the UG filter in reverse flow. In effect pushing water from the 2 outlets down into the under gravel tubes. I had an undergravel tube at each end of the aquarium. By pushing the water down the UG tubes youbare creating a reverse flow instead of the normal up flow UG filter.
Hope that makes it clear.

Yes perfectly Thank You

 

[Paul B]

So I saw a pretty effective idea to incorporate a reverse underwater filter. Use a canister filter return pipe, and put it into the tubes feeding the filter or filters and just control the flow by restricting the tubes with the excess spilling into the tank ? Opinion ?

yes, many people did this when the hobby started, especially because we all used UG filters in our freshwater tanks then switched them over to our salt tanks. A regular UG filter won't work in a salt tank as they clog quickly.

I discovered in the 70s that the flow had to be reversed to make the thing run forever with no clogging.
No one uses them because they were not around then to understand the process, which seems to work flawlessly, but it is cheap and requires almost no maintenance, so there is little money to be made with it.

 

[atoll]

yes, many people did this when the hobby started, especially because we all used UG filters in our freshwater tanks then switched them over to our salt tanks. A regular UG filter won't work in a salt tank as they clog quickly.

I discovered in the 70s that the flow had to be reversed to make the thing run forever with no clogging.
No one uses them because they were not around then to understand the process, which seems to work flawlessly, but it is cheap and requires almost no maintenance, so there is little money to be made with it.

Harrrr yes not much money to be made says much.
However, we did have one company in the UK Hockney that made a system tank incorporating a reverse flow UG along with a bypass trickle filter or spiral filter all built built into the side of the tank. Some of our older UK members may recall them from the 90s. They were is direct competition with the Tunze system. Tunze are still very much around so I guess the big boys won.
The tanks were very good it was if a tad expensive.

 

[Paul B]

However, we did have one company in the UK Hockney that made a system tank incorporating a reverse flow UG along with a bypass trickle filter or spiral filter all built built into the side of the tank.

I built something similar in my tank and ran it for years. Eventually, I decided to remove the trickle filter but they do work rather well.

 

[atoll]

I built something similar in my tank and ran it for years. Eventually, I decided to remove the trickle filter but they do work rather well.

Yeah, lots of people copied the design or a variation on it. Some used small Tunze biopots trickle filters instead of the spiral filter or a simple spray bar over some filter media.

 

[Freenow54]

We are talking a long time ago and the haven model is long since been replaced. I don't know if there are any powerfilter avaible like that anymore.
The hagen power filter had 2 inlets and 4 outlets. I used the outlets to feed the UG filter in reverse flow. In effect pushing water from the 2 outlets down into the under gravel tubes. I had an undergravel tube at each end of the aquarium. By pushing the water down the UG tubes youbare creating a reverse flow instead of the normal up flow UG filter.
Hope that makes it clear.

Curious as to why you stopped using it?

 

[Paul B]

My Grand Daughter the Spy.

 

[Freenow54]

My Grand Daughter the Spy.

shaken not stirred

 

[atoll]

Curious as to why you stopped using it?

It was many tanks ago. Got a much larger tank and made my own sump. I had a plenum in the sump with caulerpa growing in it. I moved house ( 5 times in all ) and sold everything. My current tank is a D&D 1500 I have modified the sump and fitted an Algae turf scrubber and a skimmer. I employ an Oxydator.
I have 1 to 2" of sand in the DT. All works exceedingly well for me.

 

[MikeyZo]

How’s your bionic shoulder Paul? Have you gone all 6 Million Dollar Man on anyone yet?

 

[Paul B]

Hi Mikey. It isn't very painful any more as long as I don't try to move it. Pretty soon it will be as good as my other bionic shoulder and knee.
I am trying to work on my tank but with only my left hand, I can't do much. My friend just came over and cleaned the top of the skimmer and intake grill on the reverse UG filter which also feeds the UG filter and algae scrubber.

Everything looks very good and healthy.

 

[Freenow54]

Hi Mikey. It isn't very painful any more as long as I don't try to move it. Pretty soon it will be as good as my other bionic shoulder and knee.
I am trying to work on my tank but with only my left hand, I can't do much. My friend just came over and cleaned the top of the skimmer and intake grill on the reverse UG filter which also feeds the UG filter and algae scrubber.

Everything looks very good and healthy.

I can relate. If I don't move I don't hurt either lol. Unless of course if my wife finds me

 

[Paul B]

So this morning I got up when I usually do at 5:45 to go on my walk. I lost a few days while I was in the hospital and when I couldn't stop screaming from the surgery, so I wanted to take a long strenuous walk today.

I went into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and go on my fish forums to see what was new or interesting. Usually at about 6:45 it gets light enough outside that I can walk without a flashlight and I like to go to the beach to film the sunrise.

I finished all my coffee and forum nonsense, and it was still pitch dark outside.

I then figured that that comet that was heading toward Earh hit us and blocked out the sun just like the one that supposedly killed the dinosaurs.
(I don't believe that and know that ich killed them)

OMG, i didn't even hear the big bang and wondered if my fish were OK.
As I was looking at my computer, I saw that it was really 5:45 and I forgot that that old clock doesn't have a clue about daylight losing time so I had to set it.

So, I waited an hour and took a really long walk most of which was mostly upstairs.

Then after I finished that I came home and baked left handed muffins for us and my neighbors next door.

 

[MikeyZo]

Do the left handed muffins taste different than the right handed ones?

 

[twentyleagues]

Do the left handed muffins taste different than the right handed ones?

Yup just like Twix.

 

[Paul B]

Do the left handed muffins taste different than the right handed ones?

Slightly, because I normally smash a banana or apple in the mix, and that is difficult one-handed. But they were pretty good.

 

[Freenow54]

So this morning I got up when I usually do at 5:45 to go on my walk. I lost a few days while I was in the hospital and when I couldn't stop screaming from the surgery, so I wanted to take a long strenuous walk today.

I went into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and go on my fish forums to see what was new or interesting. Usually at about 6:45 it gets light enough outside that I can walk without a flashlight and I like to go to the beach to film the sunrise.

I finished all my coffee and forum nonsense, and it was still pitch dark outside.

I then figured that that comet that was heading toward Earh hit us and blocked out the sun just like the one that supposedly killed the dinosaurs.
(I don't believe that and know that ich killed them)

OMG, i didn't even hear the big bang and wondered if my fish were OK.
As I was looking at my computer, I saw that it was really 5:45 and I forgot that that old clock doesn't have a clue about daylight losing time so I had to set it.

So, I waited an hour and took a really long walk most of which was mostly upstairs.

Then after I finished that I came home and baked left handed muffins for us and my neighbors next door.

should have bought a Rolex with auto change over