under gravel filter

It is like using the power head but you can use polishing pads along with the UGF to save getting a second power head for the other plate.

I had a 33gl flat back hex that had a UGF and I used a CBM hob that had hoses and valve setups to run both sides of the UGF @ a 100 gph each side using the Gravel for bio and hob for polishing worked great.

Plus when I did gravel vacs right down to the filter plate any waste that it stirred up and was sucked into the UGF went into the hob and was cleaned out with just a power head any muck stirred up would get put right back in the tank.
 
Hello Kynto...

I've used UGF's in my first years of fish-keeping as well.

To answer your questions:
1. The gravel is your filter-medium! The water-flow in this setup is from the top to bottom, through the gravel (filter-medium with bacteria growing on it) under the plastic plates and then flow to the clear plastic tube up to the Powerhead which then spits it out into the top-level of the tank again.

So in this scenario, the gravel has 2 functions:

1. Mechanical filtration. All coarse dirt will get stuck between the gravel and only clean water passes through.
2. Biological filtration. The gravel has a lot of surface on which bacteria will live. They will break down nitrates/ammonia and so on.

Now, the problem with UGF's is that all rubbish gets into the gravel.
This means that if you not vacuum/clean your gravel on a regular basis, there's more and more dirt stuck there and it will eventually block the water-flow.
That's why cleaning your gravel regular is a must! Not only the top layer, but as mentioned earlier, with deep gravel vac's!

Now, since you have only 1 Powerhead, instead of buying another powerhead, you could consider an air-pump connected to the other uplift tube if you have the right cap to put on the bottom and the top.
This air-pump would just pump air in the bottom of the uplift tube. The air would flow up of course, and as a result create an upward flow of the water as well!
This works the same as with your powerhead, but with less efficiency.
Additionally though it would add extra oxygen into your water.

Buildup of toxic materials is almost as certain as with any other type of filters if you don't maintain your tank regularly. It's maintenance that prevents it and for this type of filters it is deep-vacuum your gravel. Simple as that.

As a positive, UGF's are typically clearing up the water much faster from any free-floating rubbish. As a mechanical filter, it's very hard to beat by any other filter I know except maybe Fluidized Bed Filters. (But those operate on the same principle of having a sand/gravel filter with water being pumped through anyway).

Hope this answers your questions.
Good luck, keep sending those questions.

Luc
 
ok well thankyou everyone =)

im about to set it running and tomorrow ill try to take pics and show what i got =)
 
I would use a reverse flow kit on your powerhead so that it pushes water up through the gravel. Keeps the bio filter advantages but less risk of tank crash.
 
thats a great idea, i will definately have to get a reverse one

funny thing is i actually had a reverse flow head last month. i bought it on ebay thinking it was a filter lol i sold it to someone as i didnt think id ever find a use for it >.<

o well as soon as my bank recovers from buying the tank ill just buy another =)

>> after i get some endlers.....possibly snails......and some plants.......o somebody STOP me!!!!!!!
 
I set up a 75 about two months ago with UG filters. I would suggest you use four of the uptakes with four airstones, providing you equispace them the gravel will sure to be filtering at aproximately the same rate across the bottom.

For air supply I used a Rena 300 which gives very good flow, and as mentioned, keep the top of the discharge tube below water level. HINT>>>>when you fill the tank and the heads are about 1" above the water line turn on the air (single supply to a four gang outlet valve) balance the water flow out of each one using the valves on the manifold. Easier than doing it now than when they are submerged.

I will be fitting a Rena XP3 filter for polishing and extra filtering as I usually run a grossly overstocked tank. Another hint, plenty of plants....

Good luck...
 
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I use power heads for either RFUG or UGF..
no need for air lines if you use them.
 
For me (just for me....) I prefer to use air:

1..I like to limit the amount of electrical equip gets near the water.
2..Additional airation
3..Power heads may give too much water flow for some.


Up to you...
 
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