Undergravel filters

[Eutopia]

I used under gravel filters and they dont seem to do much but move water and the settament i try to get to come up just stays at the bottom. i have a power head on it but it still just sits there am i doing somthing wrong or do they just not work very well???? ​

 

[guppy]

An undergravel filter works by sucking your sediment into the gravel bed which must be deep enough to catch it and coarse enough to allow the particles entry, there the detritus is broken down and eaten by bacteria. It works much like a overside filter but without the pre sceening floss or pad. Many people wreck the utility of the process by cleaning the substrate to thoroughly. Simply siphon off the loose particles from the surface of the gravel and try to disturb the gravel bed as little as you can. They are admittedly less efficient than other types of filters but once established they work well.
I prefer to use them with an additional over side filter as well. the two compliment each other and if one fails the other gives you time to fix it. Together they polish the tank water nicely.
By the way, hello and welcome to MFK.

 

[FlammingWoodChuck]

I told u we should have not cleaned it that night

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

IMO i dislike undergravel filters! they do an ok job that can be way done better by a more efficient filter system. just my 2 cents!

 

[sohfatfish]

I agree as well... most of the time they are very difficult to maintain and if not installed properly can just be a storage place for crap to rot. Get an OHF or a cannister.