Undergravel Filter Unnecessary?
- Thread starter wietgr
- Start date
Hang On the Back(HOB) power filters with enough room for media or bio-wheels, and Canister filters allow you to run an aquarium without an UGF. Any filter will work provided it has enough room for bacteria to grow, but if you do go with an UGF, make sure your gravel bed isnt deeper than 3/4", unless your trying to grow plants.
i find undergravel filters to be gross and build up a lot of dirt. i have removed all the ugfs that i had(came with the tanks). they are outdated and should be replaced with newer, more efficient and cleaner filters. canisters and hob are 2 examples. they may be good for doing planted tanks though, i'm not sure.
I did away with my nasty undergravel years ago. Use a hang on power filter. I have a sand substrate. I gently stir it occasionally with my fingers (with filter off to save impeller) to release deep dirt. However the corys keep the surface stirred and cleaned.
HOB (Hang on the back) filters are much more popular these days than the old school UGFs. A drawback of the undergravel filter is you have to strip down the tank when it eventually comes time to clean it out. It is also hard to grow plants with an UGF under the substrate.
undergravel filters are a great source for biological filtration, but work best when used with a HOB or canister filter.
i wouldnt call them outdated, especially when they can be run reverse flow that pushes water up through the substrate.
i have never had any problems with junk accumulating under my UGFs. i just gravel vac over the entire substrate bed twice with each water change.
i wouldnt call them outdated, especially when they can be run reverse flow that pushes water up through the substrate.
i have never had any problems with junk accumulating under my UGFs. i just gravel vac over the entire substrate bed twice with each water change.
:iagree:
I use to be a UGF "hater" until I learned about RUGF. If properly maintained UGFs can be very stable and effective biological filtration.
Actually, I have never seen a UGF clog up unless the owner failed to maintain it properly. Many folks on here have never maintained tanks with them and are just repeating falsehoods.
If you ar going to go UGF, you should use a substrate of 2-3 inches, not a thin layer.
RUGF is a better way to run though. I have never had to break down a UGF/RUGF for cleaning and have several tanks with them that have plants.
If you ar going to go UGF, you should use a substrate of 2-3 inches, not a thin layer.
RUGF is a better way to run though. I have never had to break down a UGF/RUGF for cleaning and have several tanks with them that have plants.
i like undergravel filters myself. the reverse undergravel system is really awesome. i like to even connect an air pump in the undergravel stem pipe and run the powerhead through that same pipe. its really nice.
and yes, like mr bishop above, i too have kept plants in undergravel systems.
and yes, like mr bishop above, i too have kept plants in undergravel systems.