UGF removal procedure

[daveedka]

am a bit confused as to why adding another filter before hand would be a concern, but I was told (and researched) that most bacteria is in your filter and not gravel.

aquariumfishguy O.K. I worded that very poorly, my concern would be removing the ugf without already estabilishing other bio-filtration, just as you reccomended another filter should be added for a few weeks beforehand as a cautionary. This is what I was trying to say it just didn't come out that way.

In the case of gravel and bacteria, on a UGF set-up, the bacteria levels are very high, and this is the largest bio-filter in the tank in most cases. In a conventional set-up (no UGF) the bacteria in the gravel is greatly limited by water flow and oxygen so as you said there is some bacteria, but the gravel isn't the primary bio-filter in place. Two different worlds when talking about bacteria in the substrate. My concern would be killing off high levels of bacteria, without enouigh other media to compensate for the existing fishload. If there are sponges or other pourous media in large quantities, it would probably not hurt anything but caution is always best.

Dave: Why I don't want the UGF anymore? Because a) I am thinking of dealing with live plants, and b) because I was shocked with what I found underneath my plates when I had to uncover the UGF in my original 20G. Maybe it was my fault (although I was serious in maintenance), maybe I was a beginner then, but I do not want to risk it again. Oh, and c) because, as others have mentioned, UGFs may be good in their job, but with today's technology I think I can do as well without them, and gain the extra space.

First let me say that in all cases what filters a person uses is as much a personal choice as what fish they put in, I'm just sharing info.
So in reply:
A, Plants will do just fine on a UGF plate, contrary to popular belief. I currently have plants on my ugf's and a couple of folks here whom I respect greatly for their knowledge have successfully planted UGF's.
B. This goes back to the personal choice thing, and I won't argue with your reasoning. UGF's can be easily maintained, but it does take knowledge experience, etc. My first UGF was far dirtier than my current ones, but none of them plugged off or caused me trouble. I like them not everyone does.

C. not sure how much more space there is, haven't had a non UGF tank for many years. And yes with todays technology it is possible to do many things as well without them. there are certain things that a UGF does that nothing else can (i.e. Prevent aneorobic pockets), as is the case with most filters. I think they are the best low cost filter with easy maintenance in existance, but you'll never hear me say that a tank can't be run well without them, or that there aren't other very good options. I'm just sharing my opinion and experiences.
Dave

 

[aquariumfishguy]

Originally posted by Seaman
...Also he isnt even considering removing the gravel.....

Isn't that what his first post said/implied?

"4. Remove some gravel and expose a part of the UGF in order to pull the plate up and insert the siphon to take care of what’s left of the debris

5. Remove gravel and disassemble one half of the UGF. Then perhaps stop for some time (maybe a day?) to let things calm down."

Perhaps this was worded wrong, but it sounded to me (when I read it) that they were removing the gravel from the aquarium. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[BillyHal]

I am responsible for the confusion, sorry...
When I wrote "remove gravel" I meant "moving it aside to the other half of the tank". Of course I would not kill all those beneficial bacteria by taking it out of the tank.

By the way, do you think that a UGF tank requires gravel vacuuming more often than a non-UGF or the opposite?

 

[daveedka]

By the way, do you think that a UGF tank requires gravel vacuuming more often than a non-UGF or the opposite?

IME, proper vaccuming for UGF and non UGF is identicle.
However in reverse flow UGF set-ups, vaccuming becomes far far less, and in some cases all but non-existant. While I like any UGF set-up I run virtually everything in reverse flow with powerheads, because I can be very Lazy and still have a clean tank.