is it worth buying a undergravel filter

[dawnmarie]

I don't think UGF/RUGF's are for everyone.
Certainly not if you are trying to keep up with the Jones's.
They aren't sexy. They don't have flashing lights or spinning flames.
They definitely are a poor option if you have fish that like to dig.

But to say they are all Junk is plain old ignorant.
It makes no more sense than saying all sumps are prone to flooding or canisters look cool but they are to hard to service. Like I said , Ignorant.

Walk in to any LFS and count the UGF's. I'm still waiting for a logical rebuttal to this thought.

A UGF is as suceptible to failure as any other filtration syustem IF it is not maintained correctly. I know that with sufficeint flow you can avoid the buildup under the plates that some have referenced. I know this first hand. Having said that I believe a Reverse UGF is a better option.

I think a well designed RUGF paired with effective mechanical filtration is hard to beat for low cost, simplicity and ease of maintenance. $.02

But Hey , If at the end of the day you choose a sump or canister or whatever, Great.
Opinions are like bellybuttons, everybody has one.

 

[xDCxSMOKE]

true
i got a submersible bilge pump that might do the trick 6000lph just have to do some DIY building

i did some thinkin about it last night doing a 3 20ltr bucket system 1st bucket mechenical media then bio media then maybe some type of other media and sealing each bucket
connecting them up with pvc and puting the pump on the intake side should be anough to pressurize the whole system

reason for so big of a system is becuase im wnating to upgrade my tank in the future to 8ft by 3ft by 3ft high

 

[Exodon Man]

Personally, I love undergravel filters, but I only use them in addition to my power filters, as they're meant to handle mullen and particulate waste, not giant fish terds and chunks of goldfish.

Underglavel filters do a pretty good job of keeping your gravel (not sand) surface tidey, but they cannot handle large amounts of waste.

 

[dawnmarie]

true
i got a submersible bilge pump that might do the trick 6000lph

You'll want to see if that bilge pump is rated for "constant duty", most are not.
Also bilge pumps generally are not designed to create pressure and will tolerate very little restriction on the return side.

edit: unless a bilge pump "down under" is not for your boat.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Opinions are like bellybuttons, everybody has one.

I like your the best.





...opinion, not bellybutton.

 

[vr6fan]

"Walk in to any LFS and count the UGF's. I'm still waiting for a logical rebuttal to this thought."

its because they are CHEAP...its not hard to figure that one out

 

[CHOMPERS]

Their useless.

what he said....
and of course old timers swear by them

its because they are CHEAP...its not hard to figure that one out

vr6fan, you aren't making a good argument. You jumped on the "They're useless" bandwagon and then provided two bits of evidence indicating that they have merit.

If old timers swear by them, that shows that they worked and still do. Therefor, they can't be "useless". And in defense of all the "old timers", there is a reason you frequently hear 'old and wise' together in the same sentence. On the same note, it's ironic that 'young and stupid' gets used together too. Don't discount those with experience; you could learn something.

And being cheap isn't a flaw, it is a benefit. If a $30 UGF will do the same job as a $300 canister, how can you say it is a flaw? I only see flawed thinking.

 

[CHOMPERS]

its just easier to get an HOB filter

And IMO UGF are worthless vs Sponge or HOB

Myself I use h.o.b. filters

get a hob

I challenge any of you to measure the actual volume and area of the bio-media in any of your HOBs and then calculate the volume and area of a UGF that would fit in your tank(s). Post the results here.

Warning: I already did this for HOBs vs. sumps. You will be disgusted at your HOBs and all HOB manufacturers, and you will begin to sing praises to UGF's. Other hobbiests will point fingers at you and call you an old timer.

 

[jevan7]

ive never had good luck with them 1. they never fit right in my tanks 2. like everyone else said you have to tear everything down to clean it up and 3. i had fish that liked to dig and they dug under it and got sucked up into it

 

[phillydog1958]

In my 55 gallon, I have a UGF with 2 powerheads and 2 Penquin 350 Bio-Wheel filters, which hang on back. I purchased the tank awhile back and the guy who sold it to me swore by the filtration setup. I've stuck with it and it works superbly. If one of the Penquins were to die, I'd probably upgrade to a AC110. Also, if one of my powerheads were to die, I'd maybe remove the UGF or maybe I'd continue to use the it and buy another powerhead. I'll decide, when I have to cross that bridge. My point is that UGF's do work and, "Yes," they are old-school. They're not very expensive, yet they do their job. My water is crystal clear.