135 gal

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
UGF's can be hassle. If you want to move the tank or change the filter, it's so much more hassle with a UGF.

Since I got BACK into fishkeeping, I changed my original tank from a UGF running on a very fast powerhead, to an eheim classic. Once the eheim was installed I had clearer water and lower nitrates.

UGF's also go bad quicker if there is a power failure etc, or if part of the gravel gets clogged etc

UGF's are not as good as modern filtration like eheim canisters and wet drys, sorry :)
 
I certainly respect your opinion on the subject, but my feeling is go with what works best for your personal situation. In mine the UGF does work well, that is not to say it would work well for other people, but they really don't know whether it works or not if they don't try it. As far as UGF going bad, not sure how you can say a piece of plastic that is covered by gravel can go bad. Sure the gravel can get clogged, but that is what the syphon and stirring takes care of. Power heads can go bad, but then again so do HOB filter systems. Neither of which happens very often.

I like these kind of debates, because even though my opinion is for UGF. I really do not think there is a definate end all answer to the filtration question. Which is ofcourse the same way for most of this hobby.
 
What I mean is, if a patch of the gravel gets VERY clogged, which is possible given the relatively deep gravel bed required, and the fact that you should not do TOO much siphoning in order to keep as much beneficial bacteria as possible.

And in this case, the clogged patch of gravel would stop getting oxygenated water flowing through, and all the good bacteria would turn bad. There would be no easy solution to this.

So although UGFs are cheap and provide a good biological capacity, having used these and almost every other kind of filter, I don't recommend them. They do the job, but they're a hassle, and if you have a good canister or 2 (eheim) with good media and polyfilter, you're going to get clearer water, lower nitrates, and less maintenance on your tank. Or a wet/dry with some good media and polyfilter.

I also like a thin layer of sand on my tanks :)
 
Wet dry all the way! Easy to service, cheap to build and very functional. And it'll cost you WAY less than a doing two ac500's and a fluval 404. I build my wet dry for my 135 for around 70 bucks. Most of that was the overflow box and the pump. And you can move your heater to the sump which, if you've got large fish that like to knock stuff around, is really handy.
 
I understand what you are saying about the potential for gravel to get clogged.
I do not beleive that has ever happen to me.

The sand is another point that we differ in opinions. I really do not like to try to clean it. When I do I create a sand storm. More than likely something that I am doing wrong, but then again maybe not. So I tried sand and gave it up because it did not work for me. It must work good for you because you still use it after trying it.

I am not trying to be argumentative about this, just making different points about what may or may not work for someone.
 
I am a new fish keeper, I been keeping various cichlids for about a year now. Even though I have never tried an UGF you are the first person I have ever heard endorse them :), especially when it comes to Oscars. From what I have heard about them they trap high amounts of nitrates and create many problems when it comes to "digging fish''. I'm not going just by what I hear on this site I'm also a member of OscarFish.com forums. Not saying your :screwy: just giving my point of view on them.
 
fair enough chuck, and if UGF's work for you, more power to you.

As far as sand goes, I only have a thin layer, so I never create a sand storm. I have just enough to cover most of the bottom. And the sand seems very easy to clean. The crap settles on top of the sand, the sand never seems to actually consume the debris. So I just hold the vac just above the sand, it sucks up all the crap and the sand remains more or less in place :)
 
Thanks everyone... I've decided to go with 2 fluval 404's. They are on sale right now.. saving myself $90 on each of them. Two large canister filters should keep the tank pretty clear l think.. there is only going to be 13 fish in the tank.. 135 gals.. Feeding once a day.. water changes every week.. I think I will make out just fine with the fluvals.
 
You'll regret it in the long run. If you need to save the money, go ahead, but eheims will do a better job and last longer.

Fluvals clog quicker, sometimes leak, don't prime as easily, and their output is not what they say.

I have a couple of 2217's and a 2215.

The output of the 404 is meant to be twice as much as the 2215 on paper, but comparing them in practice, the output of the 2215 is at least as much as the 404.
 
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