Under sand jetting system? A terrible idea, or a possible solution?

[Passedyouby]

Okay so i have an oddball tank (see below) and the biggest issue obviously is maintenance. Its nearly impossible to gravel vac, and when i do i can only reach 30% of the sand anyway really making it not worth the tremendous mess.

Currently the tank has been emptied for a few modifications and im debating drilling a 3rd hole in the bottom for a .5in bulkhead, then installing pipes all along the bottom with holes drilled in them and connect it to my return pump. The idea is every couple of weeks instead of grvel vacuuming open the valve running through the lines to push water up through the sand to get clean water into the stale areas, and to remove detritus etc. During this time i would drope my gravel vac into the tank near the bottom to pull the debris right out of the tank instead of letting it flow all around the aquarium.


Has anyone sucessfully built and used an undergravel jet system? I only hear about them on beginner tanks, and havent heard experienced hobbyists say anything good or bad on the subject.


Thanks for the advice!
Andrew

 

[EmdeReef]

Bad idea unless you do it daily and have really good mechanical filtration in your sump. If you do it weekly or so you’re likely to experience ammonia spikes or something bad.

Get some bristle worms, nassarius snails and let them do their job in your sand. No need to vacuum. You can even get some ordinary clams that will burrow in sand.

 

[Passedyouby]

Bad idea unless you do it daily and have really good mechanical filtration in your sump. If you do it weekly or so you’re likely to experience ammonia spikes or something bad.

Get some bristle worms, nassarius snails and let them do their job in your sand. No need to vacuum. You can even get some ordinary clams that will burrow in sand.

Thanks for the reply!
I had it running for 2 months without a cleanup crew without any obvious issue except for it looked unattractive. I agree it will become an issue long term though!!!
Plan is to get a few snails etc, but was worried it wouldnt be enough (sand is and needs to stay approx 2 in thick). You think a snail or two will be enough?

Fyi dimensions might help here. 20in wide 12in deep and 52in tall.

 

[skihard1234Anth]

Sorry for my ignorance here, but have you considered bare bottom here? Once you do it, you’ll never look back. In this case I wouldn’t do anything other than that

 

[Fin]

Definitely wouldn't drill a hole in the bottom of the tank and hook it up to your return pump. Pump goes off line and tank drains to the very bottom. You could use a check valve, but they are not 100% dependable. What you are talking about is a very old method, known as a reverse flow undergravel filter. Circa late 70s - early 80s. But those used an undergravel filter plate and uplift tubes with powerheads blowing down into the uplift tubes, instead of airstones moving water from the bottom of the plate to the top of the aquarium. Not really practical in that kind of tank. I would opt for what the above poster suggested - bare bottom.

 

[Passedyouby]

Sorry for my ignorance here, but have you considered bare bottom here? Once you do it, you’ll never look back. In this case I wouldn’t do anything other than that

Thanks for the reply here! I do like the look and ease of bare bottom. Unfortunately in this build i need 2 inches of sand for cosmetic reasons. The insert didnt go together perfect so without the sand it looks messy

 

[Passedyouby]

Definitely wouldn't drill a hole in the bottom of the tank and hook it up to your return pump. Pump goes off line and tank drains to the very bottom. You could use a check valve, but they are not 100% dependable. What you are talking about is a very old method, known as a reverse flow undergravel filter. Circa late 70s - early 80s. But those used an undergravel filter plate and uplift tubes with powerheads blowing down into the uplift tubes, instead of airstones moving water from the bottom of the plate to the top of the aquarium. Not really practical in that kind of tank. I would opt for what the above poster suggested - bare bottom.

Theres already two holes deilled through the bottom haha so too late for that! One is the overflow, but one is pressurized from return pump. If i were to do the under gravel then both from the return pump will have check valves. Those stupid $50 ones from BRS. Plus both would only run at rare times when i am in front of thw tank. 99% of the time the manual valves would be off.

So with all this said... will snails turn this sucker up enough for 0 gravel vac to take place?

 

[Passedyouby]

Bump

 

[Butuz]

Diamond goby will turn that sand 3x over daily.

 

[Passedyouby]

Diamond goby will turn that sand 3x over daily.

I would love one, but im running a crushed coral bottom. :/ wont work with a goby

 

[skihard1234Anth]

If you’ve fully explained the real issue at hand here, your original post makes me think you’re planning to fly a tank into a knife fight. If I could try reframe your problem, I might ask it like this:

“Does anyone have any creative ideas on how best to disguise an unflattering assembly point within 2” of the tank bottom at the base of this coral pole I’ve created?”

To that much more simple issue, I might answer “you could try some pukani rubble placed around that area?”.