What exactly is RUGF??

sapphire384

AC Members
Jan 20, 2009
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16
Buffalo, NY
the title pretty much says it all.

i mean, like how does it work? is it more efficient than a power filter?



also, how is it setup?

i saw it mentioned while running a search on msn and came upon the word, and a hazy description, but it did'nt give pics or any details on what it is!!!

thanks!!!:)
 
RUGF, or alternatively, RFUG, is reverse-flow undergravel filter. A normal undergravel filter uses air or a powerhead to pull water and particulate matter down through the gravel, basically using the gravel bed as mechanical and biological media. It uses a raised plate that provides some space between the tank bottom and the gravel, and a uplift tube that uses either an airstone or a pwoerhead to pull water out from under the plate, thereby drawing water from under the gravel and pushing it out above.

A reverse-flow setup, you guessed it, works in reverse. The powerhead (can't use air power with these) pushes water down through the tube, under the plate, and up through the gravel. The powerhead usually utilizes a sponge prefilter to catch particulate matter to keep the substrate from getting clogged up, effectively using the substrate for biomedia only.

The idea has been around for a long time - some people love them, some hate them. Like most filtration methods, I think they have their own place and usage.
 
I have a RUGF set up attached to my magnum 350 canister filter. The outtake tube is attached to the tube that forces the water down underneath the plates and forces the debris up into the water so that the intake on the canister can also mechanically filter the water.
 
Sploke is dead on. A great filtration method IMO, but it's not for those who slack on maintenance regularly.
Id say it is better than slacking on maintenance with a regular under gravel filter.
 
Id say it is better than slacking on maintenance with a regular under gravel filter.
Either way, miss a couple weeks here and there and your gravel bed becomes a mess. Not fun IME.
 
i like what snoopy does! that is good thinking.
 
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