UGF to RUGF Conversion

[chuckster]

I have a 55g tank with UGF driven by two 200 gph powerheads. I was thinking of converting this to RUGF. Question is: If I convert to RUGF, are the powerheads going to be too strong that it will blow my substrate off the floor?

[Mgamer20o0]

it shouldnt.

[Derringer]

In reverse flow most powerheads cut their normal output by half - for instance the AC70s I use state 400GPH but just 175GPH in reverse mode. I imagine if they were both putting out 400GPH that might push some stone around.

[montanaxvi]

I had 2 UGF that I had converted to reverse flow when I had my oscar, and I had no problems at all with substrate etc blowing around.

[samsmom]

Okay folks, what is a reverse underground filter? Why would you need one? What are the benefits of a rufg as opposed to ugf? How would you modify a ugf to rugf? Thankx

[Derringer]

UGF pulls the debris down into the substrate & plates - RUGF pushes the water beneath the plates and up through the substrate.

With RUGF your entire substrate becomes a filter from the bottom up. Its easier to clean because the debris isnt down by/under the plate.

Soem power heads have a reverse switch - others have a coversion kit - most UGF are ran using airstones - so if you wanted an RUGF youre probably going to have to invest in a some powerheads.

[montanaxvi]

sometimes it is even called a spong pre filter kit, basically it is like a sponge filter that you place on the powerhead that goes in place of where your UGF riser tube used to go, with an elbow that connects the part that blows out into the tank now connecting it to the UGF riser tube thus reversing the flow into the UGF instead of the other way around.

[red devil]

If you are worried about your powerheads being too strong you should check the plates or whatever is being used below the rock. You can diffuse the force of the water by adding more plates or piping so that it covers a greater surface area.

[kmail5776]

I have a 55g tank with UGF driven by two 200 gph powerheads. I was thinking of converting this to RUGF. Question is: If I convert to RUGF, are the powerheads going to be too strong that it will blow my substrate off the floor?

no. If you're thinking your tank will look like a giant fluidized bed filter, think again, you'd need pressure with the flow from your powerheads. That's why those powerhead ratings drop so much, because they don't have a large pressure head, just flow rate. Besides, your UGF plates have a lot of surface area to distribute the flow.