Need help removing UFG

[oceans0516]

I know this question was asked before in this forum. I tried reading most of the search results but can't seem to find a good answer. Bascially, i'd like to remove my UGF and was looking for steps to take it out without harming my fish and good bacteria.

I have a 10 g and it has been running 3 months cycled. I only used the UGF because it was my friend's unwanted tank and it just came with it. It did a fairly good job but I don't want it anymore because i realized that it is catching alot of dirt and debris. Its starting to drive me crazy >_< that i cannot clean it even though i siphon the gravel twice a week. Plus i think that is the reason why my tank is beginning to have little white worms(seems to be good snacks for my fish) and hydra(fish avoid them). I don't over feed my fish but i have fry in there so some crushed flakes just goes right under. Plus, some gravel might be stuck under the corners of the UGF too cuz i tried to pull the tube off to clean it but all it did was lift up the plate........which i think made things worse because siphoning from the uplift tubes won't get the gunk off those gravel.For some reason the tube is clicked/locked onto the plate but anyway,

can anyone please help me take this ugf out doing the least harm as possible?

[plah831]

you can just take out the gravel, put it in a bucket with dechlorinated or tank water, remove the UGF and put the gravel back in. then siphon the gravel to remove poop and worms. this won't harm the bacteria, or at least you shouldn't really notice a difference. just in case, though, monitor your ammonia and nitrite and prepare for a mini-cycle.

i don't like UGF's either because they get so gunky under them. i used to have a 55 gal with a UGF and had to take it apart every couple years, and remove all the gravel, just to clean out all the crap under it. but i'd completely move the gravel around and never notice any kind of break in the biological filter function.

just out of curiosity, what kind of filtration will you be running now?

[myfishandi]

I would just like to add that if you dont have a new filter (HO or whatever) thats been running for a few weeks that you should get that set up first to cycle the filter before removing the UGF.
This way a mini cycle might be avoided, or at least reduced.

I've never done it but what about converting the UGF to a RUGF?
Can that be done without removing anything?

:coffee2:

[Cathy G]

Hi,
I did this and just want to add that you should take the fish out before you pull the thing. Put them in the largest container you can find with an airstone and heater in their own water. Pull the filter, dump out as much dirty water as you can, let it settle. Do a light gravel vac and add your fish in their own water back. (Assuming you have about 5g's or so...) Then top off the tank with your regular water change water... If you are careful, you shouldn't loose any of your good bacteria.

Cath
Ps Other comments about seeding your new filter first for a couple of weeks are excellent advice!

[oceans0516]

Thx for all the help! I just pulled the UGF out. MAN there was alot of gunk in there. Phew! glad i took it out.

I had a HOB(whisper i think) running with the UGF but the HOB never had filter cartridges. So i just bought some replacement filter cartridges and thats going to my be filter for the tank. However i didn't run it in advance for bacteria to settle in the filter media....hmm. i hope thats not gona mess it up. I figure if i had a UGF, the bacteria should all be in the gravel...i'm hoping they are looking for a place to stay and stay in my filter media quickly.