Undergravel filter for Bowfront aquarium.?

[dougall]

I'm going to buy a stand and set up my 72g bowfront probably tomorrow or Sunday and was consifering trying a reverse-flow undergravel filter, but shopping around, I can't seem to find an undergravel filter for a bowfront.


do they exist ?

should I get something bigger and cut it down ?

Should I get something that I don't need to cut down that only covers the rest of the tank bottom except the bow ?


thanks for any suggestions.!

 

[Kasakato]

I have never seen one. I would try to get a big one and cut it down. But thats just me, I like DIY stuff. But why even use one? RUGF are good, but its more work that I would do, IMO.

 

[dougall]

it's something I'd like to try.. everything I've read makes it sound good, and I just figured it'd be easier to try on a new tank rather than an already established one.

DIY would be possible, I guess, but I think the time taken to cut it down, cut it down some more when it doesn't fit and then do something to the cut edge so that the gravel doesn't flow under the filter makes me just wonder if there's an easier way.


I have a 90g that there's no way I'm going to tear apart to put a UGF in (having a sand substrate doesn't help that) my next largest tank would be a 29g which would be possible.. I'd just prefer the 72g is possible..

 

[Jericho]

Some people have used the grated plastic guards used on office florecent light fixtures. You can get the 2'X4' pieces at home depot for a few bucks, then you can cut them to size and cover it with some screen door material so the rocks do not go through. Most people lift it up a few centemeters with small plastic blocks so the water will flow easily under it.

 

[Puffernewbee]

I recently bought a used 72 gallon Oceanic Bowfront myself. The previous owner had a UGF as well as a Eheim 2215. She bought the tank through one of these people that sell and then maintain the tank for you for a nominal monthly fee. They had two UGF's measuring 11 X 22 on the bottom (one of each half). He had the risers on the holes that were closes to each other in the middle and had an air pump that was running two airstones (one in each riser).

I removed it and do not use it. If you were in Houston, TX I'd let you have it. The lady had had it set up for 1.5 years and had never lost a fish.

Here is what it looked like.

 

[Kasakato]

If you don't have the time to cut it down, a normal one without the bow part is probably your best bet,

 

[dougall]

Yeah, I'm thinking that is probably going to be my best bet, ignore the bowfront and get the filter for the remainder of the base.

thanks all.!