How to put a UGF in an 8' Tank?

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SgtMajWiggles

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 18, 2011
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Grand Rapids, MI, USA
I am 100% brand new to undergravel filters, but I am thinking of using one in a tilapia tank; footprint is 8'x30". I'm exploring ways to give them substrate but actually keep it healthy/clean. Can I buy 8 29g filters and hook them together somehow? I've never actually seen one of these set up before (complete n00b), so I don't know if that's a really stupid question or not. :rolleyes:

I was thinking of pumping the UGF water into a fluval FX5. I will also be pumping water into a 50 gal aquaponic grow bed. I'm just not sure how to manage solid waste... I'd plan to vacuuming the gravel weekly, bi-weekly max: I really don't want to have to do it more often if I can help it, so I am very open to other poop management solutions.
 
Why do you want to use UGF?
 
Hmmmmm.. depending on what substrate you use, the UGF may not actually help with the clean up... since it may still possibly sit on top of the substrate?

Not to mention, if the substrate is too fine, it may end up getting sucked up into the filtration unit...
 
With all the avenues open for filtering gunk out of a tank, a UGF is one I wouldn`t take.
Even hooked to the mighty FX5 you end up with a poorly functioning system.
Bare bottom or sand would be a better choice.
Gravel is the least attractive because of it`s ability to trap what you want to be rid of.
Even with power heads for debris movement to your filter`s intake, your still going to get some areas that the crud settles.
No end all solution to having to vac out crud.
With some trial and error you can end up with a tank that only needs a vac in a few places, on a schedule that can work for you and the fish.
Ditch the UGF idea and think a substrate that won`t trap the crud and a water movement method that will get as much into the filter as possible.
$0.02
 
Agreed. UGF's not going to solve problem. And if they collect a lot of crud, imagine cleaning them out every couple months. Major p.i.t.a. Go with more flow and try to get as much into water column and eventually into outakes as you can.
 
Have you looked into a reverse undergravel system, where a powerhead shoots water through a network of pvc pipes laid out under the gravel?
 
UGF will just make your filter run way less efficiently. It'd be better worth it to give a little bit of your time to just use a gravel vac.
 
KaiserSousay;5067090; said:
Bare bottom or sand would be a better choice.
Gravel is the least attractive because of it`s ability to trap what you want to be rid of.
Even with power heads for debris movement to your filter`s intake, your still going to get some areas that the crud settles.
No end all solution to having to vac out crud.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the $0.02 :) I have had a tough time cleaning sand in the past - how do you do it?

I've read just a little about deep sand beds (which you don't clean?)- is this what you have in mind? I was worried that there might be too much waste infiltrating the sand and it would get funky (and not in a good way).
 
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