Celticwraiths Aquarium Forum - DIY-UGJ filtration system...

Subject: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:28 am

this is my MINI DIY-UGJ write up... i can't find the full one i did a wile back...

first you start drawing up the blue prints...

LOL...

yeah... i don't want to get into the details of every cut and such... but you could pretty much see in the "blue prints" it's pretty much a standard square with powerheads and jets...

next you make the jets...

cut PVC to the length you want the jets to be... get a small sauce pan, fill it up with water... then when the water is boilling dip the PVC end into the water... i used some pliers to flatten the tip of the PVC... then i filed it down to be nice a smooth... you don't have to but i like doing stupid pointless stuff like that...

now you assemble it... i made the jets spray out at aBoot 30 degrees upwards... they rest about 3/4" off the sand... i had alot of sand, but i also used egg crate...

here it is assembled...

here it is being test fitted into the tank with egg crate...

and that's it... pretty simple...

here's the tank at 2 weeks old...

here's one of the jets with a piece of rock glued on it...

actually those are two jets...

any questions...???¿¿¿

great...

now discuss...

Subject: Re: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:26 pm

Good job, gumbii! The only question is, why use the jets on a cichlid tank? Those jets would have been really useful in your SW tank.
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Subject: UGF and Jets Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:02 pm

A new former employ of mine and I were just discussing how to set up a 55gal tank w/ UGF w/ sand substrate for a brackish water system. Estuarial environment with mollies and green spotted puffers (I have not seen a scat for sale in years, but that might ought be in there too some day.)

This kind of hand built stuff would end up saving her several hundreds of dollars. This is absolutely beautiful. We could do all kinds of stuff with that kind of system

We all discussed sand UGF screen, that I passed on.

There is the idea that a gravel substrate over top of the UGF plate with the sand layer on top. Gravel acts as sceening for sand.

Questions:

Does this work?
Will cleaning totally disrupt this system?
Will this end in a mess?
Could the finest mesh be much better?
Would a cetain amount of crushed coral play a part in this?

Subject: Re: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:00 pm

Subject: no jack, they're off the pier in FL Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:49 pm

No, I just got goin' building on it. What are the possibilities here.

The methodology with the hand job, or dealing with sand at all, is totally new to me. I can only hope I can relate that to my little buddy.

SO you think this can not be done BUT you then tell me how to do it.
This is a 55gal, 12" wide tank, front to back. Is this do-able or not?
I really don't see why not. Yet.

This is a tall long tank. Jets could be aimed longways and filtration placed anywhere side or back.
We could put circulation pumps in cabinetry under the whole thing with some sort of pre-filter for sand before the pump impeller, if we want.

This is raw set-up here.

Subject: Re: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:44 pm

oh shnapples... i missread your post... i guess i was still asleep...

yes this works really well... it's the best system if you want to go with fine sands as substrate...

i wouldn't put a layer of gravel under the sand 'cause the sand will sink below the gravel and you will see nothin but gravel...

there's a better DIY on www.cichlid-forum.com that's where i got the idea for my setup... they are also pro's when it comes to these setups...

Subject: Re: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:24 pm

That's a pretty awsome system as well as the final tank Gumbii. You really get the job done.

Subject: Re: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Thu May 01, 2008 7:42 pm

Subject: Re: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Fri May 02, 2008 2:00 am

I seriously doubt you're as poor as me. I make regular visits to aquarium store dumpsters, and I bought a Fluval filter for $5 at a garage sale. I wish I was able to have all the stuff you have. I'm having my respiratory therapy applications trashed because I'm not able to keep up with the child support payments and the lic board is putting restrictions on my RT licence. Catch 22. I can't pay child support if I can't use my RT lic to work. I'm going to see about getting a judge to clear it tomorrow, and I'm going to try and get hired by a proffesional health-care workers temp agency where I might make $500 a day. That would be nice.

I'm going to try making one of those UGJ's somettime. It seems like a great idea as a way to keep crud off the substraight.

Rank2 Member Age : 32 Joined : 20 Jan 2008 Posts : 57

This may be a stupid question, but what exactly does this do? I have never heard of a UGJ before.

Subject: just plan will doc Fri May 02, 2008 5:24 pm

Planning is not everything, but it is a lot.

Put together plan for my park project. This uses everything all of you put forth on this forum.

It goes jet-pump drawing water, stop valve, 20# pressure tank, two sealed top in-out sedimentation tanks, mech. filter, biofilter, charcoal filter, very consricted waterfall port and multi-jet underwater ports.

Then go out and add native Dace and some suckers and what ever else the kids can catch.
Last time I did something like this the kids came back with a bunch of baby snapping turtles.

In this place they may come up with a water snake.

Subject: Re: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Fri May 02, 2008 9:10 pm

I think I get the idea. Sounds pretty fun. I had a baby snapping turtle once I caught during a flood as it was floating down the stream. I had it for a few days in a plastic wash basin. I fed it earth worms and it was cool to see it eat. I let it go after a few days when I'd had my full of watching.

Subject: Re: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Sat May 03, 2008 3:10 pm

Rank2 Member Age : 32 Joined : 20 Jan 2008 Posts : 57

Very cool thanks for the answering my question.

Subject: Pumps Sun May 04, 2008 2:05 pm

Ran this by my local vendor and he said I would have a 600foot fountain and an extra $35 on my electric bill.

He directed me to www.dannermfg.com for a middle of thier line pump with the same sedimentation tanks etc...

I'll get an even water level that way, too.

Celtic, perhaps you could make a link to this site.
They seem to have a corner on the pond filter and pump market.

And to all you dumpsterdivers out there, I will keep an eye out for an old swimming pool pump.

Subject: Re: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Sun May 04, 2008 2:57 pm

Subject: Re: DIY-UGJ filtration system... Sun May 04, 2008 9:14 pm

I don't know about a swimming pool pump, but a hot tub filter would be a perfect high volume aquarium or pond filter. It looks like a capsule about 3 foot high with some pipes running into it and a pressure manometer on top. I saved the damn thing along with the pump and the separate leaf prefilter for years and finally dumped it.........I think. I still have the pump cause it was easier to store.

As for pumps that produce too much flow, if you direct the flow into a large diameter pipe it'll slow the flow-rate down quite a bit.

I used to have some really nice (or I thought) pumps that were submersible, had a shiny stainless steel housing and a brass impeller end, and were filled with oil. They would start leaking oil after about a year or two. I forget the name, but they were supposed to be really good pumps. I guess I changed my mind about them after they started leaking. Don't they have high volume pumps that have magnetic impellers like powerheads do? It seems like you can't go wrong if you don't have to have a bearing that seals.

Subject: pumps Tue May 27, 2008 8:25 pm

Have been shopping for hardware store and pond type submursables, I am debating between one of each type. The epoxy seals on the pond version seems to look better to me after you saying "oil leak".

I'm totally scaled down from original concept. (The old pump can sit forever for all I care.)
90% of cleaning will be manual. Small detritus, charcoal, and bio-filter in a flowthru box that leads to a 2" overflow to tank. (bigger pipe was your'se there too)

Simple easy maint. Kids can put whatever in the tank. Leave a skimmer handy for leaves. Like that.

Have you got me thinking in a reasonable manner yet or what.

The weather is getting me out there more and more and I'm get stuff nicer there, too. Electric for the pump is one of my next items.