Why does everyone slam undergravel filters and their effectiveness?

[Asian_Redtail_Catfish]

This is true...of older LFS. To redo their system would be cost prohibitive with most LFS' profit margins, so it it's not broke why fix it. You don't find UGF's in new LFS'...why? for all the above reasons.

Just remember 'what an LFS owner says and what he does are two different things as he is profit motivated' , don't believe it...try buying 2 FX-5's Foe $600. for 150g tank and see it he steers you to a $30 UGF.

UGF's have their place in the aquarium world, as do the other filter systems.

This thread seems to have hit an impasse so if nothing new is to be posted soon, it shall be entombed for all posterity rather than going up in flames.

Dr Joe

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I have to disagree with you..One LFS near me opened up 8 years ago...And it uses UGF..You are wrong about the price..Power heads for 110 gallon cost about $40 a piece and a UGF for a 110 gallon cost about $75.00..I use 3 powerheads in my UGF so that $30.00 you quoted is way off..

And why are you compraring it to a FX-5? A lot of people cannot afford that thing for one tank...A LFS has about 50 tanks running..

 

[greengiant]

My 2 cents My LFS has 1/2 his tanks with UGF 1/4 with HOB and 1/4 with W/D Sump I asked him why he said the UGF's where already set up but as he adds tanks he uses HOB. in his store the turnover of fish is rapid so ick and other diseases break out so he uses HOB so the tsnks are isolated and he can stay open. all the tanks on sumps or FX5's are show tanks and te fish are not for sale. I think that says alot. he recently purchased the store area adjoining him and will be taking out the wall between them which is all UGF and he said he will be putting HOB filters on them all when they get set up again to me that says it all in a quarantined environment its HOB but for his personal use its either FX5 or W/D SUMP

 

[12 Volt Man]

The way I keep my fish tanks, other filters in my opinion will not control the ammonia and nitrites in my tank and the tank will crash and recycle meaning high ammonia and high nitrites and 0 nitrates

then you are either overfeeding, overstocking, or not doing enough water changes..

seriously - have a look at the photo section of this site

you would be very surprised at what members on this board can keep in their tanks with proper aquarium management.

with zero ammonia, zero nitite and no UGF's...

I am just saying that you don't need to have UFG's to have big tanks with big fish and big bioloads.

most of have maintain zero ammonia and zero nitrite with these huge loads all the time and not very many of us have UGF's.

it is very easily done without them.

 

[12 Volt Man]

You are missing the point about UGF..The way I keep my fish tanks, other filters in my opinion will not control the ammonia and nitrites in my tank and the tank will crash and recycle meaning high ammonia and high nitrites and 0 nitrates...If a filter is handling keeping ammonia and nitrites to 0, it is doing its job, period!!Like I said, I do not change my water that frequently and I don't know what will happen if I used another filter..Will I use another filter, why should I?

agreed about the filtration - if your ammonia and nitrites are zero then the filter/bacteria in your system are handling the bioload.

but please be careful:

nitrate build up is not the only problem with infrequent water changes.

you run the risk of 'old tank syndrome' which is a gradual drop in pH over time due to excess fish wastes building up over time.

I have had this problem before - trying to keep big fish while busy at University - lack of water changes was a bad idea. pH begins dropping..and by the time you realize it - you have major pH shock issues..


your ammo is fine

your nitrites are fine

your nitrates are fine..

but if your pH hits too low of a level your fish can be in trouble..

found this out the hard way.. a long time ago..

 

[pdsmith]

i don't like ugf simply bc they arent nearly as effective as good canisters or hob. i have never used a ugf with a high bio load only with smaller bioload tanks. the amount of media that a canister can hold wont compare of an ugf. obv all the gravel wouldn't fit in the canister. but with biomax or substrat whatever bio media you like will have lager surface area

 

[DigThemLows]

when I switched out my ugf for cannisters when I pulled the ugf (which I vacuumed regularly) I took this photo. The amount of sludge built up under the tank was disgusting. I'll never go with UGF again....

 

[BushFishRox]

ya UGF's are known nitrate factories...

 

[12 Volt Man]

yup. sludge build up is unavoidable.

no matter how well you vacuum or what powerheads you have attached.

you can't get it out everywhere..

 

[Dr Joe]

I have to disagree with you..One LFS near me opened up 8 years ago...And it uses UGF..You are wrong about the price..Power heads for 110 gallon cost about $40 a piece and a UGF for a 110 gallon cost about $75.00..I use 3 powerheads in my UGF so that $30.00 you quoted is way off..

And why are you compraring it to a FX-5? A lot of people cannot afford that thing for one tank...A LFS has about 50 tanks running..

2) http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/204193/product.web
1) http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/214762/product.web

FX-5 comparison was lost on you.

An rather than have a flame fest we will bid this thread a due.

Dr Joe

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