Reverse flow UG Experience?

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

AtomixIGN

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 20, 2006
382
3
18
45
Pohatcong, NJ
I'm stuck with Undergravels in the 55 I just set up(and lots of decorations on top of lots of gravel) so i'm probably going to throw two reverse flow powerheads on the up towers to reduce the detrius as much as possible to reduce vacuming the tank out.

Specifically These

Any points or suggestions?
 
that is a very old way of doing things it works but ...i don't recomend it
it's not gonna keep your gravel cleaner.. i don't know many ppl that use that way thease days
 
it will work great in your 55.. add a good HOB filter and you will never need more filtration
 
I have two reverse power heads on my 55 and the gravel still gets filthy. Not what I expected. The power heads even have sponge filters on them but it doesn't help.
If you don't like cleaning the gravel how about getting rid of it and adding a canister fileter.
 
the principle is not to keep stuff out of the gravel but a constant oxygen enriched water flow through them its almost like a huge fluidized bed filter but without the pressure mine works awesome you still need to vaccum but it will keep bacteria thriving in you gravel just make sure that you dont have anyfish that dig otherwise it will defeat the purpose if any is exposed and definatley use the sponge prefilters first then all you will need to do is clean these once amonth i do mine once a week another thing tis thati cut the down tubes on my undergravel filters down so the powerheads sit upsidedown right on top the gravel bed easier to hide them behind cover then
 
overfeeding can lead to filthy gravel as well
 
Imo reverse flow is a gimmick it wont keep your gravel any cleaner.Maintain a ugf by doing weekly gravel vacs and youll have the best most stable biofilter for the money.
2 things
1 digging fish will disrupt the flow if they constantly expose the plates
2 rooted plants will interfere with your ability to completely vac the gravel
 
i built an UG for my 180 gallon pond and it keeps the water pristine but it is also the last part of a huge filtration system, 29 gallon sump that the outflowing water is used to reverse flow it 1100 gallons an hour talk about huge biological surface area thats what i use it for and i always vaccum my gravel you have to and i know those two things thats why i only have UGs on the pond and my 110
 
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