I have undergravel filters in my 125g. I would like to go to sand but I'm not really sure if I should. How much are the undergravel filters helping me? Note all my other tanks don't have them, just the 125.
please help, thank you!
If you dont want to spend that much money (believe me these two options are worthy and not so expensive) you can always do your own DIY filter, and just install one ot the mentioned above.
Now regarding sand, IMO I do not recommend you to use it because it damages some filter systems when it gets sucked inside, I know you can ubicate inlet far from the sand surface but then sucking the dirt becomes less efficient.
Anyway, it is up to you only if I were you I wouldnt use sand, I have used it before and the good point of it is that you can syphon the dirt easier because sand always keep the dirt at the top of it making the porcess of syphoning easier, but on the other hand sand gets in everywhere very easy and can damage your filters and clog them over and over.
Ok what results did you see? I'm planing on getting a canister once the hang off filters die, they came with the tank so ill just use them. All my other tanks seem just as clean as this one.
UGFs are hotbeds of biological activity, they do great jobs of converting ammonia and nitrites to less toxic forms.
want proof? take out the fish and water, pile the gravel in a corner and fill the tank with cold water wait a 2-3 minutes and shove your hand in the pile and feel the warmth from all that bacteria.
Ok what results did you see? I'm planing on getting a canister once the hang off filters die, they came with the tank so ill just use them. All my other tanks seem just as clean as this one.
Undergravels promote the formation of the denitrifiying bacteria colony in your very same gravel thus this bacteria decompose the nitrites and the amonnia your fish produce keeping your fish healty, however you need another system such as a HOB, you can get away with it using only these two systems as long as the bioload is reasonable.
