Undergravel Filtration
- Thread starter fishieperson321
- Start date
It would work for goldfish, I dunno if there's any "best" method. Filtration is filtration, it more depends on what you're more comfortable with. Some people prefer canisters, some people like undergravel, some people swear by HOB. There's not really any "right" answer, as long as whatever method you use has sufficient water flow, and you keep up with vacuuming and water changes. No amount of filtration can supplant that.
fishieperson321 said:
Well, (as I say to myself, be nice now), hope you didn't get the floors wet. (reference to your other posts).
I've noticed the slots on UG's are equal across the panel. Would there be any engineering or hydraulics logic that they should gradually change and get larger as they worked away from the lift tube collars to help equalize the flow across the plate? Or would it be viewed as a negligible increase and it is just easier to manufacture in it's present form?
I'm sure there is some change in flow with regard to distance away from the source, because as some water flows out the nearer outlets, the pressure will be decreasing gradually, the further away from the source you get. So, I'm sure there is some sort of pressure gradient under the filter plate. However, once you start putting gravel at different thicknesses, plants, decorations, driftwood, castles, etc etc on top of the plate, this throws off the flow dynamic in ways that would be impossible to predict. Its probably easier to do it the way its done and leave the rest to chance. That is, assuming that the flow gradient is even great enough to actualy cause issues, which I'm not sure it is.
I had an impossible time trying to keep the reverse flow evenly distributed through the substrate, even in a 20g hex tank with a small footprint. And I had to clean the intake sponge 3 times as much as any other type filter (hob/cannister). I can see your perspective on driving the UGF with a cannister though. The huge cannister media is still getting the bulk of the particulate matter & is pushing perfectly clean water back through the substrate. Overkill maybe, but your gravel vacuuming will surely be minimized.
fishieperson321 said:
IMO, with messy fish like gold fish, the emphasis should be on mechanical filtration, with a biological filtration component. For you tiny tank with goldfish, and, given that you are new to the hobby, I do not believe that UGF or RUGF would be a good idea. A small Aquaclear would be good - they are workhorses and you can put all kinds of media in them. They are sold with biobeads now.
:OT: :OT: (I thought I'd put put those here to Save fishieperson321the trouble)
I use the Fluvals, and the Aquaballs, happen to prefer the fluvals of the two brands but both are good filters. I find the Aquaball harder to service, but it is more adaptable for flow direction.
I also prefer the penguins in Reverse flow, but with larger filter heat becomes an issue as well as aesthetics, I am currently trying to convet my big tank to an external pump system for the RFUg but have not found an acceptabley quiet pump in the 1800 to 2400 GPH range. I'm about frustrated enough to go back to the penguin set up. For now I have my Cannister stuffed into the RFUG Tube, but do not consider that a long term solution as it really defeats the purpose of one or the other when this is done.
dave
When I kept goldfish, they were all RFUG. But if you read the article, you noted that I never use RFUG alone - there are always supplemental internal canisters such as the Eheims for current and additional mech filtration. HOBs as mech only would work, but they make too much noise for me. For goldfish supplemental mech is absolutely essential IME. I also allowed 30 gallons per goldfish minimum each. Big bodied fancies got 50 gallons minimum each. Big messy fish such as goldfish, big Cichlids, and puffers all fall in the same category of big nasties.
IME RFUG is a bit harder to set, but many times easier to maintain. Ease of operation is one of its big things, plus it does such a nice job.
IME RFUG is a bit harder to set, but many times easier to maintain. Ease of operation is one of its big things, plus it does such a nice job.
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I know that with some power filters, you can put the intake tube into the uplift tube to power it better. The only thing is, if you don't have one on the other lift tube(s), the ilter will just pull water from the other lift tube(s). Tis wil cause the UGF to be just a plate holding gravel off the floor of the tank. So if you don't have reverse flow systems on all lit tubes, it is just filtering the water through the sponge and then, out the other lift tube.
Most kits come with caps so you can cover any holes that aren't using lift tubes. That way you make sure to draw water through the substrate instead of a hole in the gravel.
