whats the deal with undergravel filters
- Thread starter jaydubva
- Start date
Id use it aswell as another internal filter, never used an UGF so im not much help here, id like to hear peoples opinions though.
UGFs are the perfect place for bits of debris, fish waste and uneated food to decay generating ammonia and phosphates. Ammonia is eated by bacteria and converted into Nitrate that can only be removed with regular water changes. Phosphates encourage algea growth. In my opinion the only reason you could want an UGF is if you enjoy cleaning your tank. I removed the UGF on my mother's 35g goldfish aquarium, which already had a bio-wheel. The water stays cleaner and algea is less prevelant. I give the gravel a stir every other day to release the bits that her Cory doesn't eat and get sucked into the bio filter.
I'd highly reccomend reading the link that RTR posted. you may also want to run a search on UGF's here, and you can see the many huge debates that have been had on this subject. I will probably never run a tank without a UGF plate under it. Any filter format has it's good and bad points, limitations, and exceptional qualities. Gather the info and decide. I absolutely love UGF systems and would not live without one.
dave
dave
my 2 cents
I won't run a tank without one. I am not an expert by any means, but i've had the best of luck with them. I run 2 powerheads on them, and if nothing else I've found my fish like playing with the flow from the powerheads. It's pretty hotly debated. The two people I trust most for advice both use them, so I follow suit. Hope this helps
I won't run a tank without one. I am not an expert by any means, but i've had the best of luck with them. I run 2 powerheads on them, and if nothing else I've found my fish like playing with the flow from the powerheads. It's pretty hotly debated. The two people I trust most for advice both use them, so I follow suit. Hope this helps
I've never had a tank without one.... I honestly can't say if I'd see a difference if I took them out, but given my personal history with successful fishkeeping, i'm not gonna try it!
While UGF's are a valid option, I personally don't like them. They do a good job of biological filtration, but they collect an enormous amount of debris and detritus. I used them for several years before I become comfortable with biowheels and since changing my nitrate levels are much lower and easy to keep down, there's no difference in biological filtration, bio wheels do a great job. Also if you keep cichlids like I have their digging habits ruin the effectiveness of the UGF. Also everytime you move a tank or even vacuum it agressively it releases lots of debris into the water. UGF's do work, but biowheels are much less maintenance and cleaner without any loss of effectiveness in bio filtration.
SA14mars
Go Dallas!!!
we use them in our turtle tank primarily as a collection grid for waste. we clean it out by attatching a shop wetvac to each riser. great way to drain a tank or change out water. beyond that, not much experience with them...