hi everybody! i got a 30gl rectangular fish tank with 3 medium size goldfishes. im having problems with my ug filter, i believe its the Lee's, used with hagen maxima pump. when i first set it up it, everything was excellent, a lot of small bumbles, but as times goes on, the pump is getting louder and the bubbles getting fewer but bigger. i think its clogging or something that i cant understand right now. this is my 2nd pump going bad. 1st one was the smaller version of maxima. so what is the problem? what is the solution? thanks.
Undergravel filter, almost no bubles...
- Thread starter pentool
- Start date
the air stone you are using is probably getting clogged , the best way to cure this problem is use a powerhead instead of the airpump . it will give a lot more circulation too . those goldfish are messy .
get creative. may need some siliconing, but well worth it. it'll be quieter than any airpump as well. not to mention no splasing from popping bubbles to get your aquarium light all dirty.
The power head can be used one of two ways with the UGF.
The suction end of it can go on top of the lift tube, which may require adjusting the length of it by cutting it. This will pull water from under the plates and back out into the tank. A down side to this is debri gets trapped in the substrate since it is acting as a mechanical filter in addition to a biological filter. It requires excellent and very routine gravel vacs.
Or you could get an adapter for the power head that connects the discharge of the powerhead to the lift tube. The powerhead then moves water down the tube, under the plates and back up thru the substrate (RUGF). The suction end of the powerhead is in the tank and protected by a sponge filter. This method minimizes debri being trapped in the substrate by pushing it into the water column to be removed by other power filters. It does not eliminate the need for gravel vac, but greatly reduces them and still utilizes the biological benefits of all your substrate.
The suction end of it can go on top of the lift tube, which may require adjusting the length of it by cutting it. This will pull water from under the plates and back out into the tank. A down side to this is debri gets trapped in the substrate since it is acting as a mechanical filter in addition to a biological filter. It requires excellent and very routine gravel vacs.
Or you could get an adapter for the power head that connects the discharge of the powerhead to the lift tube. The powerhead then moves water down the tube, under the plates and back up thru the substrate (RUGF). The suction end of the powerhead is in the tank and protected by a sponge filter. This method minimizes debri being trapped in the substrate by pushing it into the water column to be removed by other power filters. It does not eliminate the need for gravel vac, but greatly reduces them and still utilizes the biological benefits of all your substrate.
if you're gonna have a sponge filter for a powerhead for the RUGF, you may as well just nix the whole UG stuff and just run a larger sponge filter on a powerhead.
But then you lose the benefit of the substrate as a bio-filter. I'd supplement it with a good canister or power filter, myself.
the substrate will still be a biofilter. every single surface inside of that tank is going to be a biofilter. besides, regular gravel vacs and a powerheaded sponge will be fine.
I am well aware of where nitrifying bacteria grow and don't. I'm not saying the UGF is needed, but only the very top layer(3/4-1/2" depth) will be occupied by nitrifying bacteria without it. Since he already has the filter, I'd put it to use, personally.
are you doing gravel vacs every week, especially since you have goldfish?
make sure you vacuum the gravel very well before you switch over to RUGF.
is the UGF the only form of filtration? you should have some form of mechancal filtration, like a HOB filter, to go along with the UGF.
the sponge is there to protect the powerhead's impeller.
make sure you vacuum the gravel very well before you switch over to RUGF.
is the UGF the only form of filtration? you should have some form of mechancal filtration, like a HOB filter, to go along with the UGF.
the sponge is there to protect the powerhead's impeller.