Using an undergravel filter with a powerhead

B

bigstorm

AC Members
Jun 26, 2005
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southern WI
I was using an undergravel filter and my normal filter on the top of the tank. After about 2 weeks of having fish in there, my nitrite levels spiked causing me to lose a few fish. It seemed like everything i tried did not bring the nitrite level down until i turned of the undergravel filter. Why is that?

I would think that having an upper and lower filter would make the water even better but i guess not. Anyone have any experiences like this?

Note - I am not running the undergravel filter anymore, just the top filter (whisper) and my levels seem to be normal.
 
out of curiousity was this a new tank? with no established bio filter at all?

it sounds to me like your tank was just cycling and the UGF causing the problem was just a coincidence
 
Yeah ditch that undergravel filter.Is your tank cycled? What are your water params now? How many gallons is your tank,and how many fish?
 
Do you have the actual numbers for your nitrite, nitrate, and amonia?
 
I've found my current RFUG filtration system to be excellent at biofiltration. It sounds like you're to the point in a fishy cycle (~2wks) when nitrite tends to build up. I'd be curious more to the history of this tank before ditching a valid method of filtration.
 
Raskolnikov said:
I've found my current RFUG filtration system to be excellent at biofiltration. It sounds like you're to the point in a fishy cycle (~2wks) when nitrite tends to build up. I'd be curious more to the history of this tank before ditching a valid method of filtration.
Click to expand...

I agree.
I haven't used Rugf. But I quite like the UGF.
I can't imagine how running a ugf would possiblly contribute to nitrite increase.
I say perfectly normal for nitrite to ^ 2 weeks after adding fish and
coincidence that it V with stopping the ugf.
 
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