How to connect Power Head to Undergravel Fliter?

There are two ways to connect a powerhead to an under gravel filter (UGF) 1) standard, and 2) reverse.

Standard is where the bottom of the powerhead goes into the UGF tube and pumps water up through the gravel and out the tube. Reverse is where the outlet of the powerhead is attached facing down the tube and water is pushed down through the tube and out through the gravel! Reverse UGF were an attempt to overcome the failings of the standard UGF while preserving the benefits. Mainly, the majority of debris is collected on a sponge on the powerhead, making clogging less likely and maintenance much easier. On a standard UGF, they get less efficient with time as the plate clogs, and cleaning something at the bottom of the tank under the gravel is not easy.

Air pumps can only do the standard UGF setup, which is very troublesome and limited as I mentioned above.

Standard:

to powerhead (on right): http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Images/ugfilt1.jp...

How it works: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/choosing-aquar...

Reverse:

To powerhead:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=reverse+undergravel...

http://www.cichlids.com/uploads/tx_usercichlids/us...

Here is a diagram of how it works, just in this diagram the reverse UGF is hooked to something like a canister filter:

http://jaysaquariumfish.com/images/tanksetuppictur...

Any particular reason for the under gravel option? They are quite outdated but still efficient. If the tank is lightly stocked a large airpump will do it. If it is fully stocked I would use a powerhead. I have a powerhead on one of my ug filter to run a river manifold in a hillstream tank. I was lucky as it was a pretty good fit and I just had to run a bit of electrical tape around the connection to hold it together. If the power head does not fit well you may need to look into using a few small plumbing adapters. Take both parts into a plumbing store and they will sort you out.

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

How to connect Power Head to Undergravel Fliter?

Instructions how to connecting power head to under-gravel filter. pictures would help if you could.

My tank is a 20g would it even need a power head for the under-gravel filter or just a strong air pump.

If it does whats a good power head for 20g?

Undergravel Filter Powerhead

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avzkm

Don't know how long your tank is but, this power head has the capacity of 295 g.p.h. so, if your aquarium is say 4' long one on each end will be good. Most under-gravel filters give you the option of blanking any of the tubes. I use two on each end of my 36" tank and blank the other stacks off in between them. I also have a HOB filter. I been using under-gravel for years and I don't care what anyone says, they are a great addition for keeping the organic waste cleaned up in the tank. Just blank off your two middle stacks you won't need them. the power head will provide enough current to operate the remaining two. It also gives you a good surface current for air exchange.

Powerhead Filter

power head or an airpump would be fine, if you use an airpump, you'd use two uplift tubes with airlines and airstones for each one, but with a powerhead you'd only need one.

as far as adapting, it's easy, the powerhead sits on top of the uplift tube, they come with an adapter to different pipe sizes.

If you really want to improve the tank though, you'd just get a Marineland Emperor filter, and not have an undergravel.

yeah