UnderGravel Filters

[robroy]

Interesting link Oddball. Bitteraspects obviously had it in for UGF. I remeber periodically removing my Powerheads and shoving my siphon hose down the uplift and didn't get much crap up at all. Blimey, the more I read this the more I wonder why I never used UGF again

 

[tcarswell]

Interesting link Oddball. Bitteraspects obviously had it in for UGF. I remeber periodically removing my Powerheads and shoving my siphon hose down the uplift and didn't get much crap up at all. Blimey, the more I read this the more I wonder why I never used UGF again

He had never used them before.....

 

[phillydog1958]

i still use an ugf on my 55 gallon, because i purchased it with the filter many years ago and it's still working fine. i also use 2 hob's on the 55. i'll continue to use the ugf, for the time being, probably until one of the hob's dies. then i might upgrade to an AC 110 and remove the ugf.

 

[benray4fun]

i still use an ugf on my 55 gallon, because i purchased it with the filter many years ago and it's still working fine. i also use 2 hob's on the 55. i'll continue to use the ugf, for the time being, probably until one of the hob's dies. then i might upgrade to an AC 110 and remove the ugf.

Seriously no need to remove the ugf's at all if you're still running them and they're working for you. They work great and look cool with powerheads.
The only thing that will kill an undergravel filter is too much gravel or a pet digger, other than that they're reliable and considered stand alones meaning they don't need any cartridges, polyfill, carbon or anything else ever...you gotta love it.

 

[gomezladdams]

I set one up just recently using the method oddball suggested.Its a 75g planted showtank and so far the plants are doing great and the tank is beautiful.
A mod on another forum once suggested painting the bottom of the tank so you aren't tempted look underneath then try and clean out the goo that collects.The mulm down there is more or less inert and complete harmless by the time it breaks down in the gravel and collects down there.Even when I looked though I rarely saw much under there.Well set up lift tubes don't allow much to collect.

 

[scorp]

The keyword is biological filtration: a lot of people tend to forget the importance.

I've never used ugfs, but remember my father using one for 20 odd years in his tank.

Besides the mentioned issues with certain fish that dig as well as sand and other obvious reasons, you have the most amazing volume for biological filtration in coarse gravel, which can be used properly by bacteria due to the flow from the ugf. Just calculate the volume of a standard (not so sure about the American measurements, thus in litres) 100 litres (25g) tank with 5 cm (2") of gravel: Thats about 16! litres (4g) of pure usable media.

No common power filter used for that size of tank can offer this.

Again, I've never used one myself, but there are worse ways to filter your tank, especially your small tank.

 

[Red_Belly_Pacu]

Undergravel filters are my primary filters. I also use a Rena XP3 and Aquaclear 110s HOB as my secondary filters in my fish tanks. Personally I would chose the undergravel filter as the best filter for my tanks. For a undergravel filter, a person has to vacum the gravel to maintain it. The surface area of a undergravel filter is the size of the bottom of your tank which is very large.

A lot of people will say negative things about undergravel filters for some reason. But in my personal view, I think they are excellent filters.

 

[MobaKing]

I get flamed for using them whenever someone comes over. But thanks guys, I think I'll keep using them as they keep my water crystal clear

 

[thezombiesarecoming]

i have one in my 29 gal, 55 gal, and 93 gal. have powerheads on the corners (both in the 55 and 93, one on the 29). my water always seems to be in awesome shape, and the water's generally super clear. i like the powerheads there too cuz they help with water circulation, it seems. and the ones i use are very quiet; don't bother me at all. i don't have a lot of technical know-how or background on these sorts of things, but ugfs have always seemed to work well for me, so i've stuck with them.

why argue against extra filtration? (in my opinion... )