undergravel filter

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
years ago, along with my 55g, i purchased an ugf from a guy who sold it to me as a package with a tank and stand to me. it included a ugf and 2 hob's . it's a great combination. i've used it for years on that tank. many says that ugf's are out of date. i'd never buy one today, but i still use one on my old tank and i just have never upgraded to a canister. it works.
 
i read all your posts buddy ;)

youre right, with the pad in place, it will not be under the trays, it will be in the pad. the system as a whole is just as useless.
unless of course you are regularly moving the gravel, removing the pad for cleaning or replacements... in which case you have nothing more than a glorified internal filter.

the point is, once established, youre just as well off with no UGF as you are with a UGF.
 
phillydog1958;3623964; said:
years ago, along with my 55g, i purchased an ugf from a guy who sold it to me as a package with a tank and stand to me. it included a ugf and 2 hob's . it's a great combination. i've used it for years on that tank. many says that ugf's are out of date. i'd never buy one today, but i still use one on my old tank and i just have never upgraded to a canister. it works.
Click to expand...

if you use a UGF in conjunction with a HOB (for example, an ac110) the bacteria will establish itself in the HOB rather than the UGF as it provides a better habitat for the bacteria (higher flow rate. more oxygen etc) at which point the UGF isnt really doing anything initially. and then once the media in the HOB is established, the bacteria will continue to colonize elsewhere as the ammonia levels in the tank rise.
as the system runs, the UGF will trap rotting debris under the tank raising the amount of available ammonia for the bacteria to convert, and the system will continue to balance itself out to the amount of "food" for the bacteria. but now your biological filtration is running based on the amount of crap under the plates, instead of the daily bio-load of the fish themselves.
the system will run just as well with only the HOB, and the biological filtration will balance out with the bio-load of the fish, rather than the added ammonia from the detrius trapped under the UGF.

(feel free to correct me if im mistaken)
 
this is quiet the lil debate. honestly it would prob. just be cheaper to get an emperor but i thought it'd be a cool idea to check out. if its really not worth the effort i won't try it but i thought in the long run it'd be cheaper not having to change filters once a month and only having to vac the rocks.
 
bitteraspects;3623991; said:
if you use a UGF in conjunction with a HOB (for example, an ac110) the bacteria will establish itself in the HOB rather than the UGF as it provides a better habitat for the bacteria (higher flow rate. more oxygen etc) at which point the UGF isnt really doing anything initially. and then once the media in the HOB is established, the bacteria will continue to colonize elsewhere as the ammonia levels in the tank rise.
as the system runs, the UGF will trap rotting debris under the tank raising the amount of available ammonia for the bacteria to convert, and the system will continue to balance itself out to the amount of "food" for the bacteria. but now your biological filtration is running based on the amount of crap under the plates, instead of the daily bio-load of the fish themselves.
the system will run just as well with only the HOB, and the biological filtration will balance out with the bio-load of the fish, rather than the added ammonia from the detrius trapped under the UGF.

(feel free to correct me if im mistaken)
Click to expand...


I do plan on eventually changing out the ugf and going with a fluval 305 and one of the hob's. Thanks for the advice.
 
zpetrichko;3624280; said:
this is quiet the lil debate. honestly it would prob. just be cheaper to get an emperor but i thought it'd be a cool idea to check out. if its really not worth the effort i won't try it but i thought in the long run it'd be cheaper not having to change filters once a month and only having to vac the rocks.
Click to expand...

go with an AC110.
the AquaClear system will cost you a little bit more than an emperor, but in the end it saves you a ton of money, and its a much better filter.
no expensive cartridges to change. just rinse the sponge, and youre good to go.
plus it holds more media, and has a higher flow rate.
AquaClear filters are better in every way . :naughty:
 
i hear that they are kind of bulky and you have to move your tank out further from the wall, in order to compensate for the bulkier body of the ac110.
 
unless the back of the current filter is flush against the wall, replacing it with an AC110 should not be a problem.
it is a bit larger due to the high volume of media it holds, but were not talking about moving the tank a foot forward or anything. even if you had to scoot the tank forward, it would be an inch or so. (dont recall the exact measurements of the emp). or you could just hang it on the side of the tank.
 
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