Undergravel filter and Plants a bad mix?

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BumBumBee

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Mar 9, 2003
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I have a 45 gallon tank with 4 36" fluorescent lights. I have an undergravel filter and I'm thinking about getting a wet-dry (just because they are so cool). I want to have Discus and as many plants as I can. Will the roots plug the filter?

Thanks
 
The roots will definitely find their way into the filter, making their way into the holes. Depending on how many plants you'll have and your set-up depends though. I have live plants and an undergravel filter (UGF) but my setup is a bit different. I don't have the UGF flush acrossed the entire bottom of the tank. I have a 55 gallon, (which would normally take 4 squares, not sure of the names) but use only 2 squares of the UGF placed in the center. I have my plants placed in the areas where the UGF isn't. It might seem like "what's the use", but it does my tank fine and everything and everyone seems as happy as can be. My filter hasn't been clogged yet. I also have a HOB filter though, as even if I had the full 4 squares, I wouldn't depend on the UGF to carry the full load of filtration for the tank.

HTH :)
 
I used to have a 10 gallon with a UGF. I took a hybrid anubias (the flimsy kind) and planted it in there. It took STRONG root, and could never be removed. The plant finally died after i beleive 2 years when a system collapse (a Clown Loach introduced ich and I had to go away for a week. Collapsed the system.).
 
So the question still remains: will plant roots plug a UGF so bad as to make it useless?

BTW, Dangerdoll, I have 1/3 of my tank filtered by a RFUGF (See Tank Specs, below) much the same as yours and it is an excellent system IMHO. It doesn't create any water surface disturbance, which is beneficial for keeping CO2 in a planted tank.
 
Originally posted by Matak
So the question still remains: will plant roots plug a UGF so bad as to make it useless?....
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Not much "use" in the first place.... IMO... And, yes, I would think roots would hinder it's ability to suck and hold debris in the gravel and under the plates. :)
 
Well Joe, we all know your love of UGF's :rolleyes: I'm not concerned about the debris under the plate as the water entering under the plate is pre-filtered.
 
Originally posted by Matak
Well Joe, we all know your love of UGF's :rolleyes: ......
Click to expand...
I'm sure about everyone knows of some gadget or device they despise... :D
 
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