everyones thoughts on undergravel filters.............

[johnnynoxville]

the title says it all.......
i would like to hear everyones thoughts (good or bad) on undergravel filtration........
pros vs. cons? etc etc etc.........
any and all comments welcome!
thanks!

[ChilDawg]

My roomie uses his improperly and he's still kept the tank alive for 7 years. I don't use them, and I've lost a few fish (but, then again, he's lost a larger proportion per unit time).

Here are two sites with my position:

http://www.bestfish.com/ug.html
http://www.bestfish.com/ug2.html

[mogurnda]

As with everything, it depends. Live plants won't like them. Digging fish, like cichlids, will render them useless. On the other hand, if you are just keeping fish and plastic plants, they are fine. I used to run systems for years with them. The keys to happiness, IMO, are proper depth, grain size and vacuuming regularly. About an inch, no more than 2" of #2 river gravel, vacuuming and changing water weekly to keep it from channeling and becoming fouled, will be a very workable system.
Frankly, though, I prefer hang-on-back power filters. Pull debris into the media, rather than into the gravel, so it's easier to remove. The only benefit I can think of for UG filters is that they're cheap.

[punch]

I used one for a while, I would think good only on small tanks.
When I used one I also used a hob filter. Think about it,
what are two little carbon blocks gonna do? So only small tanks
with a light fish load would I use them. Also the up take tubes get a little dirty and when you discont them to clean you get gravel in the plate that has to be removed to put the intake back in and its a real hasle. Canisters are far easier, even easier, hobs.

[TwoTankAmin]

1. RUGF (reverse undergravel filter) using sponged powerhead(s) is a much better route imo.
2. RUGF set up properly is likely the best bio-filter available.
3. RUGF can be used in planted tanks. However, you should not use it with sand or very fine gravel.
4. RUGF can be used in large tanks.
5. RUGF should be used in combo w/ other filters for mech and chem filtration.
6. RUGF will keep gravel cleaner than the same tank w/o one. It will keep particulates suspended in the water an allow the mech filtration to remove them.
7. RUGF/UGF wont work in sand bottom tanks or with fish that rearrange the substrate.

[125gJoe]

http://gordon.sourcecod.com/images/flagicons/american_flag.gif Just my opinion... I think they are an outdated method of aquarium "filtration".

The filters I use, actually remove debris from my tanks, and not 'store' drebis in the gravel for later vacuum removal. -And even worse, store debris under the plastic plates where it cannot be removed by vacuuming.

[ChilDawg]

Originally posted by 80gJoe
http://gordon.sourcecod.com/images/flagicons/american_flag.gif Just my opinion... I think they are an outdated method of aquarium "filtration".

The filters I use, actually remove debris from my tanks, and not 'store' debris in the gravel for later vacuum removal.

Amen! I can't imagine that it's a good thing to take debris and push it under the substrate...each year, having to remove the substrate and then clean the dang thing...risking anoxic conditions in the tank and killing your fish. That's if you do it right, from what I understand...if you just leave it, it's safer, but improper management...

[Tightdog1]

i think they are old and they suck, but i have them on some of my tanks. so i cant really be a judge i use them, jsut for the extra bio filtration in addition to canisters and HOBs. i am in the process of removing them tho. but for the beginner they can be an essential part of the aquarium because i know many people who just have a 10g and a ugf and they seem to be fine like that. u figure

[thom336]

Although they arent the most efficient, can be a hassle, and are outdated, I still think UG's have a place in the hobby today. It is possible to keep plants successfully with them, I have seen it done, although they are not the best option for a planted tank. I used to use an UG on a 10Gal, and it worked great. Admittidly I soon changed it to a fluval internal filter when I got the chance, but that was only for silence and ease of use. I wouldnt be so quick to put a UG down...

[Hebdizzle]

I just took mine out a week ago after having it in the tank for 4 months.... and remarkably 2 hours after my water was the clearest it was ever.

[brianfl]

We have had a 120 setup for about 3 months now. My wife wanted the ugf in addition to the Emperors (against my judgement). Well the water was getting cloudy so we pulled out the ugf's today and the tank looks horrible. There was tons of gunk. Never will I use these wretched things again. We do regular water changes and vaccuming. What a mess! For the cleanup, I have added a couple extra Emperors just to clean up the mess after a 50% water change.

[NickH]

With advances in power filter technology along with their relative low cost, I can't think of any reason to use one.

[rjl420]

in a messy tank (like puffer tanks or plecos) RUGF is almost the only way to go, of course you have to have a mechanical filter as well (like an hob or canister), but my maintenence as been reduced to mere water changes and a light vacume since adding the RUGF, and the debris doesn't settle under the plates like traditional UGFs, in fact if you have a sponge on a reverse flow power head, you have a decent mechanical filter for the debris (I just don't think it's addequate).

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by brianfl
We have had a 120 setup for about 3 months now. .......
brianfl, you may want to look into a good canister filter to help out those HOB's. That's a nice sized tank at 120 gallons! :)

[Heady]

I had UGF on my planted 55g for 8 years and no problems. Three inches of small rock/large gravel substrate, java fern, something called a "plastic plant" that is really a live plant, hygro, etc. They all did great.

I vacuumed out the gravel once a month. I vacuumed until the water coming from the gravel went clear, usually a 50% water change. With a Python this took about a half an hour total.

The fish and plants were perfectly happy. I'd say for $40 in power heads and $15 in filter plates, it is a highly efficient waste removal system. No ammonia, nitrites in 8 years of operation.

I recently took down this tank to replace it with a 100g. I'm using Onyx sand as a substrate. After talking with people on this and other boards, I set it up with an Eheim 2028 and an Eheim 2213, both with sponge prefilters over the strainer intake. The water is crystal clear and the fish and plants look pretty happy to me.

[Fisher Price]

UGF is an outdated relic from the 70's and like Disco, Polyester plaid pants, Jimmy Carter, and the AMC Pacer, I do not wish to see it return. ;)

[brianfl]

80gjoe,

I currently have two emp 400s on each of the 120's (I have two). So far I haven't had any problems, one is pretty well planted and the other is no plants. Both have been very clean (neither are over stocked) and the water always test out well for ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. If I do have problems, I probably would go to a cannister, however it is my thought that a turnover of 6-7 times an hour should be fine. I also run uv sterilizers on both tanks as well as small power heads.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by brianfl
80gjoe,........ I also run uv sterilizers on both tanks as well as small power heads. Sounds great, and also, good for you to use the UV sterilizers. They help.. :)