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Undergravel Filters
Here we look at saltwater aqaurium filter systems in more detail, first we will discuss Undergravel filters. Undergravel filters have been the most efficient saltwater aquariums filters for many years and most successful saltwater aquariums use them.
But since there are a lot of improvements in the efficiency of filters, less and less aquarist use it because more and more new technology is available.
The Original under gravel filters
The basic undergravel filters have a perforated plastic plate that goes on the bottom of the aquarium under the gravel.
Each rear corner of the plate is a lift tube that extends up into the aquarium. Air is pump to the bottom of each lift tube and bubbles that come right back up the tube creating a water vacuum.
The water in your aquarium gets pulled down through the gravel and the filter plate and out the lift tube. Water circulation is then formed from the aquarium down to the gravel.
Your gravel acts as a media when you use this kind of filters. Debris and other particles gets trapped into the gravel and provides mechanical filtration. As bacteria that breaks down harmful ammonia from in your gravel, it provides an excellent biological filtration system and we have use certain kinds of gravel for this type of filtration system.
The only problem when you use this kind of filters is that it will usually get clogged from the debris that were trapped in the gravel. Therefore we need to routinely siphone the tank.
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Cleaning can be difucult if your aquarium has lots of corals and live rocks sitting on the gravel. This is the reason why this kind of filter is not really suited for a reef aquarium. Other problems can be the noise generated and can be not strong enough for the water circulation in your salt water aquarium specially when the gravel clogs.
Reverse flow
Reverse flow of water in the gravel means that water is pumped though the gravel and will prevent clogging and the efficiency of the media will also be maintained.
How do you reverse the flow?
The common way is by adding another filter. Pump the water from the output of a canister filter down the lift tube of the undergravel filter. This can easily reverse the flow of water. Canister filter will also take care of the mechanical filtration for you.
The reverse flow gravel filter provides an excellent biological filtration without the dilemma connected with the original system.
Powerheads
This is one of the major improvements to the undergravel filters in the market as it replaces the less efficient air-driven system. The powerhead is a small pump that is sitting on top of the lift tube and it pulls the water through the gravel.
It improves filter efficiency and water circulation in your saltwater aquarium.
What about aeration? It comes now with a ventura aerator , which introduces air into the outflow.
Reverse flow powerheads are readily available and you can have a reverse flow undergravel filter without adding a canister filter.
The downside - they don’t really provide filtration. They just move the water efficiently.
Saltwater aquariums with fish only are the ones that will benefit this type of filter the most. It is not that expensive and provides good biological filtration.
If you are going to use undergravel filters, I would say that the reverse flow is the most efficient. You can use it with powerheads if you’d like or with a canister filter for added filtration.
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
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