How to Assemble an Undergravel Filter

Your aquarium is a source of pleasure and relaxation in your home. Maintaining a sparkling clean home aquarium can be frustrating at times. Proper water filtration and the correct amount of fish food for your aquatic pets are essential in the set up process and ongoing maintenance. An undergravel filtration system is designed to create bacterial and chemical balance in both fresh water tanks and salt-water tanks. The right set up from the establishment of your aquarium will save you time and the annoying problem of disease and cloudy water in your home fish tank.

Things You'll Need

  • Undergravel filter system
  • aquarium gravel
  • air tubing
  • air pump
  • air stones (2)
  • large clean bucket
  • sieve or piece of screen
  • scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase your undergravel aquarium kit at your local pet store or fish shop. Kits will have the essential parts to assemble your undergravel filtration system. An undergravel kit will include a plastic grate that covers the bottom of your aquarium, lift tubes, two short pieces rigid air tubing, two small air stones and two charcoal filters.

    • 2

      Buy your gravel at the pet store or fish shop. Your gravel will need to be washed before using it in the undergravel filter. Use a clean bucket that has never had soap in it. Place the gravel in the sieve or screen positioned over the bucket. Pour water over the gravel until it washes clean and no sand is left in the gravel.

    • 3

      Place the plastic grate in the bottom of the aquarium. Your plastic grate should fit the entire bottom of the aquarium.

    • 4

      Attach each lift tube by pressing it into the holes that are at each end of the plastic grate.

    • 5

      Attach the air stones to the rigid air tubes by pushing the tip of the air stone into the rigid air tube in the lift tube. You will use one air stone rigid tube assembly for each of the lift tubes.

    • 6

      Place the hard plastic caps over the lift tubes at each end of the plastic grate. Insert the charcoal filters into the slots of the plastic caps.

    • 7

      Connect the lift tube assembly to the external air pump. Cut air tubing long enough to reach from the lift tubes to the location of the air pump. The air pump sits on a shelf (purchased separately) that hangs from the back of the tank. The air pump has metal tips from which the air flows. Connect the ends of the air tubes to these metal tips.

    • 8

      Place the washed gravel in the tank over the plastic grate. Use enough gravel, spreading it evenly over the plastic grate, to equal one pound of gravel per gallon of water that you will put in your aquarium.