DIY Aquariums Under Gravel Washers

Traditional undergravel filters consist of a perforated plastic plate placed on the bottom of the aquarium. A thin rim raises these plates slightly above the aquarium floor. One or more vertical pipes or ̶0;raiser stems̶1; connect to the plastic plate. The raiser stems, through which air is pumped, constantly remove the water in the space between the aquarium bottom and the undergravel filter. Although commercial undergravel filters are available for purchase, designing and building one using tubular electrical conduit pipes.is a lower-cost and accessible alternative

Things You'll Need

  • Thing That You̵7;ll Need
  • Four, 8-inch long pieces of electrical PVC conduit pipe
  • Four, 4-inch pieces of electrical PVC conduit pipe
  • Four ̶0;L̶1; shaped pieces of conduit pipe
  • Three ̶0;T̶1; shaped pieces of conduit pipe
  • Saw
  • 2.5-foot piece of plastic tubing, 0.75-inch diameter
  • Vibrator pump
  • 20-gallon aquarium
  • Aragonite or similar aquarium gravel
  • Chlorine neutralizer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut several horizontal grooves 1/3 the way through each of the PVC conduits.

    • 2

      Lay two 8-inch long conduits parallel on a clean and dust-free work surface. Place two 4-inch long conduits, one behind the other, between the two 8-inch conduits at their top end. Place two, 4-inch long conduits, one behind the other, between the two 8-inch conduits at their bottom end. The conduits should now form a roughly square shape. Place a single 8-inch long conduit in the middle of the square, parallel to the first two 8-inch pieces.

    • 3

      Ensure that the grooves are all facing the work surface.

    • 4

      Use four ̶0;L̶1; shaped conduits to join the ends of the conduits at each corner.

    • 5

      Use two ̶0;T̶1; shaped conduits to join the 4-inch pieces to each other and to the middle 8-inch long section.

    • 6

      Use the saw to cut through a section of pipe near a corner and insert the last ̶0;T̶1; shaped conduit unit. Ensure that the third arm of this ̶0;T̶1; piece is pointing vertically.

    • 7

      Push the last 8-inch long piece of conduit into this opening. This piece is the raiser stem of the undergravel filter.

    • 8

      Push one end of a 0.75-inch diameter, 2.5-foot long piece of plastic tubing over the nipple of an aquarium air stone. Place the air stone into the vertical raiser stem and push it down to the bottom of the stem.

    • 9

      Attach the free end of the 0.75-diameter tube to the outlet stem of a vibrator pump and place the pump on a ledge above the water level. Place the pump higher than the water level to prevent aquarium water from draining through the pump in case of power outage.

    • 10

      Place a 1.5- to 2-inch thick layer of gravel on top of the PVC pipes.

    • 11

      Fill the aquarium with tap water and add two teaspoons of chlorine neutralizer.

    • 12

      Plug the vibrator pump into a wall power source and turn on.