Filtration Question

[CichlidFan]

After several years away from the hobby, I've recently purchased a used 50 gallon acrylic tank. It has a biological filter built on the back. The pump that sends the water back into the tank, forces the water thru a channel that appears to be sub substrate level, meaning that the water will be returned to the tank under the pea gravel that I intend to use as a substrate. I'm wondering if the water will encounter any resistance from the gravel? And, is this typical for water to be returned from the bottom? What effect on filtration will it have? Thanks for your comments ....and a hello to any old friends, best wishes from Indiana.

CF

[ptran]

The flow will slow down I think because of friction with gravel. It sounds like a "reverse" under gravel filter. This is okay if you have other mean of filtration in the tank. The reverse flow would blow up debris from the bottom. The debris will get picked up by other filters, so you don't have to clean the gravel too often.

[ptran]

BTW welcome back!

[jughead]

just who I was expecting to post today.the gravel gonna slow the flow I would think.lets see a pic of this contraption

[Austy16414]

just who I was expecting to post today.the gravel gonna slow the flow I would think.lets see a pic of this contraption

+1 for reduced flow and pics