Just wondering how many people use undergravel filters for their larger tanks. I'm picking up a 72 x 18 x 20 tank Wednesday. I'll be putting a few SA Cichlids and maybe a couple catfish in it. Any suggestions?
Undergravel Filter
- Thread starter RTCfan86
- Start date
Hello; Yes I have been thru this issue on other threads about UG filters. They are very old aquarium tech. I had them in my first tanks in the 1950's. They do however work and are very reliable. the only issues i everr had with them was the air pumps that supply them with bubbles. If you want to see some of the posts from the past about this, a search should bring them up. I used them for decades with good results. They do not remove detritus from a tank, so I began always using some sort of external filter to collect this sort of material.
Go sump, I always liked how flexible kinds of media you can put in there. Also makes good place to hide your heaters, thermometers and stuff. But yeah I wouldn't do UGF with diggers.
Hello; One note about the substrate. Substrate with particles fine enough to pass thru the slits of an UG filter will eventuall fill up the void under the filter somewhat. Fine sand may not be the best choice of substrate with these filters. I like to use a quartz gravel over them. Sand can be used if the very fine material is sifted out and discarded. I also like the air operated UGF's as this provides the bubbles that aggitate the water surface. I have not used the type operated by a power head, so can not comment on them.
Being outdated has nothing to do with why I choose to not use them anymore. Sponge filters are about the most outdated type of filtration going, but they still work well and are easy to use. Ugfs can work extremely well and I've used them on salt and freshwater systems. It's the ease of use part that is the deal breaker. They clog easily and are a real big PITA to clean. And if you have diggers, it's basically a deal breaker as well. Thin spots, dead spots, channelling and LOTS of dirt.
It's just more trouble than it's worth IMO. They work, but other types of filtration are much easier to use.
It's just more trouble than it's worth IMO. They work, but other types of filtration are much easier to use.
Hello; That UGF's are hard to clean has been mentioned by others in other threads. This is a bit of a puzzle to me as I never tried to clean one while in a running tank. I have cleaned them when breaking down a tank. I always put them under the gravel and left them alone untill the tank setup had run it's course, which has been several years in many cases. I have taken tanks down after a long setup and usually found the area under the filter to be largely clear. They often had healthy crypt roots that had penetrated the slits if the tank was planted with them. How do those who try to clean them go about it and why do so?
The ones I tried with sand did tend to clog as sand has a lot of very fine particles which will make its way thru the slits. I would either use sifted sand with one or not use an UGF with sand. I have not used sand in a few years as I like planted tank lately and the gravel seems to work better for me.
The ones I tried with sand did tend to clog as sand has a lot of very fine particles which will make its way thru the slits. I would either use sifted sand with one or not use an UGF with sand. I have not used sand in a few years as I like planted tank lately and the gravel seems to work better for me.
I use a 4 stage canister with a 9w UV bulb for my 55 gal marmorkreb tank. Its fed by a UGF and uses PVC pipe to get it to the canister. The flow rate is 575 GPH. It keeps the tank clear and doesn't require much maintenance.