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View Full Version : Using an undergravel filter with a powerhead



bigstorm
07-01-2005, 4:48 PM
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.

XSeaNX
07-01-2005, 4:58 PM
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

cyberbeer65
07-01-2005, 5:00 PM
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?

Holly9937
07-01-2005, 5:00 PM
Do you have the actual numbers for your nitrite, nitrate, and amonia?

Raskolnikov
07-01-2005, 5:22 PM
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.

zazz
07-01-2005, 5:56 PM
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.

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.

RTR
07-01-2005, 8:03 PM
Unless the ammonia went up even higher as it was not being processed to nitrite.