Few newbish questions

psionicfish

psionicfish

I can read your minds
Mar 19, 2005
28
0
0
40
West Suburb of Chicago
Being a long time aquarist with many small tanks, I finally decided it was time to get something larger... so today I picked up a 125 gallon fish tank setup for a steal at $200. Tank, stand, lids, lights, undergravel filter, 4 powerheads, uv sterilizer, etc etc. Apparently this guy had it running for two years with oscars/cichlids with only the undergravel filter and the uv sterilizer as "filtration" with little/no fish loss.

I plan to do fluorite substrate and be a decently (but not overkill) planted tank with community fish, angels, or cichlids. Would you recommend that I:

1. "Keep the setup, that's enough filtration."
2. "Get some hangons/canisters, there's never enough filtration."
3. "Scrap the undergravel and go all hangons/canisters."
4. "(Fill in this blank)"

Im leaning towards scrapping the undergravels and getting a Filstar XP3 (heard very good things about these). Am I right when I say undergravel = not good for plants? Input appreciated ;)
 
IME, you can never have enough filtration. I would say go with the filstar if u think its good. I am finding more and more that I need more and better filtration on my 10g.....
 
Undergravel filters are only useful if you use reverse flow and even then you have to vacuum the gravel a lot. I don't see why people like them. I have never vacummed any gravel ever and I am happy. :-P I have a Eheim canister filter (the best), and an aquaclear hang on back. They work amazingly well.
 
I'd scrap the UGF for sure, especially in a planted tank. Just too many potential headaches there! I'd go with a couple of good cannister filters, if you like one in particular, fine, go with that!

Emily
 
psionicfish said:
All four of my powerheads are reversable... would that make it so the plant roots stay out of the ug filter?
Click to expand...

If you want to combine UGFs and plants, you must use the reverse flow, however, that won't prevent the plant roots from growing into the filter,it will just prevent the plants from having problems with the water flow...

Emily
 
There's a really good lfs in my area, and the guy who owns it told me that UGFs aren't that great. I would keep the powerheads though, a lot of fish like current, and for the ones that don't really care, it's fun watching them play in it. I like to buy powerheads for any new tanks I get.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom