under gravel filter under ADA soil
 

Hi all,
I am in the process of setting up 6 foot fish tank – I plan to set it up with a few plants and models (I want to create an under water village).

Anyways the reason for this post is that I plan to use ADA/gravel substrate and was thinking it might be a good idea to put an under gravel filter under the ADA soil.

Thought was:
Under Gravel Filter
Weed control mat (Nylon matting used in root control and should become a barrier between under gravel filter and ADA soil)
ADA soil
Gravel

Has anyone tried to put an under gravel filter (to increase soil oxygenation) under their soil substrate (Redsea or ADA).

I would not use an undergravel filter in a large tank with plants and any substrate but gravel. The water has to be free to pass through the undergravel filter plate, and any soil or sand will block it; you cannot have any sort of preventive barrier that will still allow complete water circulation, so the effectiveness of the UG filter is gone.

An UG filter is not necessary to increase oxygen to the substrate. This occurs naturally through the roots of the plants. Bacteria live in the substrate, a combination of aerobic (requiring oxygen) and anaerobic (requiring no oxygen basically), and the balance is achieved naturally according to the plants, water parameters (including temperature) and fish load.

also.. you can add Malaysian trumpet snails to your tank for maximum gravel oxygenation, they dig themselfs in the gravel thus providing water flow and oxygenation. No one ever installs undergravel filter in planted tanks.. and I would not recommend to install under gravel filter in any tank for that matter.