I had an underground filter on a 20 gallon years ago. I loved it. Never had a problem, just did a water change maybe once a year. So easy to maintain.

Crazy how clear that tank became in the same day

Tank looks great. It'll take a few months to truly break in, but I have been converted to the anoxic filtration system and my tanks are so much lower maintenance now. FYI, the best thing to use to keep sand out of the undergravel filter is the 'weed barrier' plastic sheeting you can get at hardware and yard stores. It's thin, but strong, plastic sheeting with tiny holes in it.
Also, that brand of kitty litter doesn't bake their clay anymore, it's just dried, so it will break down quickly. I got the stuff for picking up oil spills at Autozone, they still bake that clay (it's literally the same stuff as baked clay kitty litter, just marketed differently).

I stumbled across Dr. Novak about a week or so ago.  I used undergravel filtration back in the 70s. Why it gets such a bad rap is a mystery to me  I plan on setting up a plenum in one of my tanks in the near future.  Thanks for your video, muchly appreciated.

I thought the kitty litter went first on under gravel filter then you cap it 🤷🏼‍♂️ I’ll have to watch more videos 🙏✌️👍🇨🇦

I believe undergravel filters went away because of marketing to sell new filters that used disposable cartridges.  It was intended to make a constant money flow for cartridges. They had existed since the 1920s and worked perfectly fine.

I have used undergravel filters for decades. First air only.... then with powerheads.... then attached to external filters like canisters. My choice follows the following reasoning. I take water from the bottom of the tank and return it to the top. The water is pulled through the entire water coloum as it gets filtered. Also, the entire bottom of the tank becomes the input for the filter, not just some dinky tube opening.

Fish room go brrrrrrrrrrrrr! It's like an A-10. An angry A-10. I love it! My neighbors would kill me, but I love it!
Great video, I just had my speakers too loud when I started it.

the tank lookis fabulous George,   really nice hardscaping idea.

Thank you for showing how to set up a plenum from the very first stage!  I just purchased 6 of them and plan to set them all up this weekend.

Nice video

Yeah. I just got a free under gravel filter. I was going to try to install it.

I'm very grateful for your video! ❤

I set mine up a while ago I've had great success with it but it did take me a minute to get the air at the right amount.

Great video. Anyone espousing Plenums and the great work from Dr. Novak certainly deserves my subscription. I'm an old salt who used to use baked special kitty litter, but the quality has degraded greatly. I have been using Safe T Sorb from Tractor Supply for many years @ $8.49 for 33 Lbs. It is calcined 100% natural Montmorillonite clay and I cap it with a substrate of my choice, according to the types of fish I'm keeping. Through the years I've learned, the flow in the plenum isn't quite as important as the depth of your substrate. It also has a very high CEC value, sucking nutrients and ferts down deep to the roots. I use the EI fertilization method and my plants are thriving.

Nice work!!

What a great video very educational I like it keep it up keep it coming

very nice, great job :goodvibes:

Thanks for clearly explaining this

Beautiful tank! Those Killifish are amazing 🥰  Fingers crossed for lots of spawning in the new setup 🤞

Another excellent video, hope they reproduce in the new setup.