Your UGF experiences

I just use gravel and use a HOT magnum w/ a vacum attachment to clean the gravel that way you can clean the bottom well and your water level doesnt drain, the water is filtered and returned back into the tank clear and no mess. then after i do a gravel cleaning i do my weekly water change very simple and easy method for me.
 
I always used to use UGFs until I got out of the hobby. When I got back in about 5 years ago, UGFs had acquired a bad reputation and I have found that sponges and canisters are easy to care for and do a good job of filtering my tanks. The only real down side I see in using a UGF would be that they are not designed to run with a sand substrate and I like the sand in my tanks. If a UGF was made with smaller slits to avoid problems with sand, I would probably be using them today. The supposed issue of not being able to use them with plants is artificial. I always had plants when my tanks were running on UGFs and they worked out just fine.
 
I have used RFUG and OE-RFUG. I'm not using them now, but I really liked them when I did have them running. The only downside I saw to the OE-RFUG was the 4" or so of tank space the whole setup took up.
 
Never had a problem with mine, I've got it running on a swordtail fry tank(10 gal). I dont mind using them on smaller tanks, get any bigger and that would just be a hassle to clean.

I think people just like buying new things.
 
I use a RUGF on my 65 gal hex. The tank is so deep it is hard for me to vacuum the back areas of it. I have it hooked up to a Mag 350. The mag pushes water underneath the plates causing any "debris" in and on the substrate up into the water where the mag sucks it up then clean water back under the plates. It makes my deep tank much easier to maintain.
 
They require more maintenance to prevent the many problems they can easily cause. If you are buying something spend your money on the newer and metter filtration methods out there.

If you had seen the tank when I took the UGF out of the 90 at my old work you would not use them.

They simply aren't needed. Most of the hobby has moved on to newer and better methods.

I have found sand to be the ideal substrate anyways, so no UGFs. See my blog for an article on sand in the aquarium.
 
I didn't do anything special with my tank with the RFUG...just weekly gravel vacs and water changes, and rinsing/cleaning the sponges on the powerheads. I will agree that with improper/non-existent maintenance, they can cause some pretty big issues, but that can be said about any filter.
 
But when life happens and proper maintenance is not done it is a lot easier to undo the damage with any other filter.

I think within 10 years most will be using sand and gravel in general will be viewed the same as UGFs, some people who have been using them since they were best will still be using them but others will have found them obsolete.
 
reptileguy2727 said:
They require more maintenance to prevent the many problems they can easily cause. If you are buying something spend your money on the newer and metter filtration methods out there.

If you had seen the tank when I took the UGF out of the 90 at my old work you would not use them.

They simply aren't needed. Most of the hobby has moved on to newer and better methods.

I have found sand to be the ideal substrate anyways, so no UGFs. See my blog for an article on sand in the aquarium.
Click to expand...


your "revelation" that sand is the "ideal" substrate may not apply in all situations, circumstances, wallets, ideas of aesthetics, etc.

perhaps the OP would LIKE to keep gravel in their tank.. after all, the topic here is (R)UGF, not the "ideal" substrate in which to remove the utility of a (R)UGF.
 
Kuthoht said:
Also bottom feeders LIKE stuff in the gravel to eat. What would be the point of a bottom dweller sifting through clean gravel???
Click to expand...
I am sorry but that is 100% wrong. Bottom feeders do not "like" eating poo. thats just outrageous. you need to feed bottom dwellers just like you would any other fish.

the only way all of the "junk" will accumulate under the filter plate is if the filter is not taken care of. the same can be said of any filter out there: canister, wet/dry, and HOB for sure. take care of the UGF as you would any other filter, by cleaning the filter media (i.e the gravel), and it wont turn into the "nitrate factory" that people that do not have experience with them fantasize about. vacuum the gravel every week, just as you should be doing with any other tank, gravel or sand. its not any "extra" maintinence, its keeping the tank clean. in addition, if your UGF has a huge buildup of junk under the plates, then you are not cleaning the gravel aqequately enough. if anything, UGF's are easier to take care of than HOB filters or canisters. the media is fully exposed and easy to clean, rather than being surrounded by a bunch of valves and seals.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom