Does anyone have experience of UGF's?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
R

rumblesushi

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2005
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having got back into fishkeeping for the first time in like 11 years, I got an undergravel filter and a really fast powerhead (2500l/h).

So far so good, tank's been running for a month and my wolf who's been in there since day 2 is fine, as are his tankmates.

There's been no cloudy water, no fish gulping for air, the tank cycled quick. I've been changing the water 25% twice a week, and lightly vacuuming the gravel.

But the thing is, because it's been so long, I hear negative things about the UGF.

Is it worth changing?

People also said you can have TOO much waterflow through an UGF, I wasn't aware of that.

I like fast powerheads for the current they create and they fill the water with oxygen.

What better filters would you recommend for a 4 or 6 foot tank?

Cheers,
JR
 
I dont really like ugf's because it makes all the debris get in the gravel and the water isn't really filtered..I recommend going wet/dry or a h.o.t because they provide better filtration and doesn't leave you gravel all dirty. well thats just me because with all my experiences with it all the rearrangements in my tank the water all ways gets cloudy.
 
undergravel filters can have nitrate spikes...never really had one myself but I've heard from the "old timers". The new filters are inexpensive and much more effective.

I like aquaclear 110's...500gph and seem to be trouble free..I also like wet/drys.

When I got my 265 I bought an undergravel filter...ran it 2 weeks and took it out.

I like to turn the water in the tank 8-10 times an hour....have any pics?

here are some of my 125gal

cichlids 002.jpg

cichlids 004.jpg

cichlids 005.jpg

cichlids 009.jpg
 
is your powerhead not connected to anything?

The powerhead I bought also came with a clip on filter, like a canistor with a sponge and bioballs.

Would I be better off using that?

Would it be simple enough just to rip out the UGF plate and put the filter onto the powerhead? And give the gravel a thorough vacuuming? Or would that cause problems?
 
rumblesushi said:
is your powerhead not connected to anything?

The powerhead I bought also came with a clip on filter, like a canistor with a sponge and bioballs.

Would I be better off using that?

Would it be simple enough just to rip out the UGF plate and put the filter onto the powerhead? And give the gravel a thorough vacuuming? Or would that cause problems?
Click to expand...

You can run the powerhead, but you should also run another filter. You can't go wrong with Aquaclears. UGF's are obselete, IMO.
 
Use a stackable overhead filter. Easy to maintain and lots of space for filter media.
undergravel filters are not very useful and also difficult to maintain. Its like sweeping all your dirt under your carpet.... :)
 
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