Thunderstorm Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 Hiya I need to find some suitable slotted or holey plates / sheets to use as under the gravel as an under gravel style filter. need about 10 sq meters, What can you suggest? I have thoought about laser cutting plastic but too expensive, have thought about plastic baskets from payless plastics joined together. any other suggestions? Thanx peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 Hi Peter, Clear plastic roofing sheet works well. Comes in rounded or square profile. Mark the slots where you want them, (suggest 12mm between slots).. then use a Skill Saw with a fine toothed blade to run across the profiles. Use 15mm Marley Pipe uplifts with airstones going down inside the tubes. Mount the sheet in your tank with several supports underneath so that the sheet is around 12mm clear of the base glass. Works great.. I have done quite a few like this. Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderstorm Posted April 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 hiya Bill Thanx for that, tiz a good idea, didnt think of using a skilly. I can modify your idea to suit. I need the sheet about 60 - 100 mm off the bottom with about 500 KG of gravel sitting on it. proberly can support the plates with many tubes standing on end. Instead of air uplifts i will be using a 5000 liter an hour pump connected to a 50mm pipe and that goes up over the edge to the heater filter etc. The idea is taking the water from underneath the gravel to prevent fish babies from getting sucked up a 50mm pipe and getting munched by the pump, had thought of an overflow box but babies can still go "over the edge" lol Thanx heaps peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 Or you could use sponge filters like everyone else has found to be the most effective method? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 Hey Thunderstorm, what size tank or pond are you talking about?? Dimensions?? Thanks. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderstorm Posted April 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 Alan Its a odd shape, a parallelogram, but its around 10.000 litres in volume. The smaller one is around 3000 or 4000 liters. I'll draw diagram later tonight when i get home from work to show shape and size. Thanx peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 I used to have plans for a thing called a spider, which was for filtering ponds and large tanks. Really simple but a good idea, basically a bunch of lengths of pipe with end caps on one end, and joined at the other end so to made a star or spider pattern, holes drilled down the lengths for water to enter, connect the pump to the center and dump gravel over it all. Works the same as a UGF but with out all the mucking round with panels, and the biggest bonus is you can remove it for cleaning then just sink it back in the gravel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderstorm Posted May 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2006 hiya's been busy and havent been here for a while, thanx for the idea suphew, i could use that black drainage pipe with the holes already in it then make it like you suggested Alan - I still havent made the diagram yet but will get there. Can you suggest a CAD/3D type program for giving artists impressions? trial or full use shareware will do as i will prolly only use it the once lol Thanx peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted May 6, 2006 Report Share Posted May 6, 2006 Thunder, hope you weren't asking me!! I have only just figured out how to turn my puta on, having a bit of trouble turning it off, but guess with practise I'll hopefully get it. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandWilly Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 Looks like your still learning how to spelling it too lol, these old timers with their "new technology and new words" lol :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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