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Aquarium Co-Op Easy Undergravel Filter System
Sold in-store only. Visit us at 1885 Braselton Hwy, Suite D, Lawrenceville, GA.
The Aquarium Co-Op Easy Undergravel Filter System is a modern, modular take on the classic undergravel filter. Interlocking plates sit beneath your gravel and, powered by nothing more than an air pump, gently pull water down through the entire substrate bed. That turns your whole gravel layer into a giant biological filter while keeping water moving so detritus and dead spots never build up. Browse more of our air pumps and accessories.
How It Works
An air stone inside each uplift tube creates a column of rising bubbles. As the bubbles lift water up and out of the tube, fresh water is drawn down through the gravel to replace it. Beneficial bacteria living throughout the substrate get a constant supply of oxygen and waste to process, giving you powerful, silent biological filtration with no filter box hanging on the tank.
Features
- Fully modular: Connect the plates with dovetail tabs to build a grid that fits almost any tank footprint, then add or remove plates as needed.
- Whole-substrate biofiltration: The entire gravel bed becomes living filter media for a huge boost in beneficial bacteria.
- Air powered and silent: Runs on a standard air pump, with no motor or intake box inside the tank.
- Extendable uplift tubes: Easy Flow uplift tubes can be stacked taller for deeper aquariums.
Setup
Start with a bare-bottom tank. Lay out the modular plates to cover the footprint you want, connecting them by sliding each dovetail into the matching tab. Before connecting every plate, slide the uplift tubes onto the row you want them on and fit each air collar with an air stone using a short piece of airline tubing. Finish connecting the plates, then cover everything with 1 to 2 inches of gravel.
Tip: the included air stones ship with an extra spacer disk, so remove one disk per air stone for the best fit. Use a gravel of at least 5mm grain size. Undergravel systems are not designed for sand, soil, or other fine substrates.
Specifications
| Brand | Aquarium Co-Op |
| Type | Modular air-driven undergravel filter |
| Plates Included | 20 plates (covers 11 x 27.75 in) |
| Plate Size | 2.75 x 5.5 in, 9/16 in thick |
| Uplift Tube Height | 19 in, extendable |
| Power | Air pump required (sold separately) |
| Substrate | Gravel 5mm or larger, 1 to 2 in deep |
| Availability | In-store only |
Recommended Pairings
- Aquatop Breza Air Pump to drive the uplift tubes.
- Aquatop Premium Airline Tubing to connect the air pump to each air collar.
- Hikari Bacto-Surge Sponge Filter to add even more biological filtration on the same air pump.
FAQ
Do I need an air pump?
Yes. The filter is driven entirely by air, so you will need an air pump (and a length of airline tubing) to run it. The kit includes the air stones.
Can I use it with sand or aquasoil?
No. Undergravel filters need water to flow freely through the substrate, so they require gravel at least 5mm in size. Sand, soil, and fine substrates will clog the plates.
How big a tank does one kit cover?
One kit includes 20 plates covering about 11 by 27.75 inches. For larger tanks you can combine kits, and for deeper tanks the uplift tubes can be extended.
Is it good for a planted tank?
It works best in gravel-based community, fry, and quarantine setups. Heavily root-fed planted tanks usually prefer a nutrient substrate, which is not compatible with undergravel flow.
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