noob question!
- Thread starter cheebang
- Start date
I run a powerhead on the UGF in my 35 hex, drawing through the gravel. You could also run it in reverse, pumping through the gravel.
The power head goes on the riser/lift tube.
The cone part goes in the top of the riser. Some models are reversible for RUGF operation.
The cone part goes in the top of the riser. Some models are reversible for RUGF operation.
I will never run an UGF again. I had an old set up that ran off an air pump. One day my air pump failed, the bacteria came out of the gravel and killed nearly all my fish before I could get a new air pump!
I run a UGF on my 55 gal and never had any issues. I bought the tank via a newspaper ad many years ago and the guy who sold it to me had a UGF and 2 HOB's, so I've kept it all of these years. Today, I continue to run 2 HOB's to support it. I've always felt that UGF's need additional support.
LOL and with all due respect, this makes no more sense than saying " I'll never own a powered canister filter again 'cause I had an FX-5 once that quit and all my fish died before I could get another." Or " I'll never do a sump again 'cause my Quiet One 4000 quit and all my fish died before I could get another one."sunvalley aquarist;4144043;4144043 said:
Your UGF didn't kill your fish. A faulty air pump did.
The most likely cause of your fish's demise was a lack of oxygen not the death of the BB.
If anyone knows of a stand alone man made aquarium filtration system that will absolutely, positively not fail and potentially kill your fish, by all means share it with the group.
When dealing with a "Mission Critical" system such as aquarium filtration
maybe a spare part or two might be a good idea.
I also had to learn this the hard way.
Nothing personal S. A. but this is how misinformation on any type of system is propagated.
100%The bacteria didn't actually "come out of the gravel" and wreak havoc in the tank. The beneficial bacteria (nitrostomas, nitrobacter, etc.) in aquariums is harmless to aquatic life. It is also throughout the aquarium at any given time. The filter, regardless of design, is just a place that offers an ideal location for lots of it to grow.
What actually happened is that when the air supply was cut off, the bacteria consumed the oxygen in the gravel and began consuming it in the tank. When the O2 in the gravel dropped considerably, the bacteria switched from aerobic respiration to anaerobic respiration in order to survive. At this point the bacteria start producing hydrogen sulfide (very toxic) and ammonia (also toxic). While this is going on, the fish are also consuming oxygen and producing ammonia. High levels of ammonia causes damage to the gill membranes, reducing gas exchange. This in addition to the lowered levels of oxygen is a recipe for a tank full of dead fish.