underground filter, worth the money?

Question

I've tried gravel cleaners in the past, and they just dont cut it after the first few uses. Is there a gravel cleaner that works, or should I just resort to the underground filter. I've heard + and - things about it, so I'm unsure about what to do, Please help

Answer 1

Of the 8 tanks I'm running now half have U/G filters, they are very re-assuring,providing a back-up to the other filters. They are inexpensive and very reliable as a bio-filter. I run mine with power heads,but airlifts are equally reliable. As far as negative aspects,they do require gravel cleaning,and you can't grow plants directly in the gravel. Plants that don't require buried roots(Java Fern is one of my favorites) will do OK with U/G. As far as gravel cleaning goes,the Python "No Spill Clean and Fill" system is the best way to vacuum your gravel. It's a little pricey(actually,more than a little if you only run one tank),but it does work. There's a little learning curve,but if you try it you'll like it. ------- One other thing about plants, you can grow substrate rooted plants in containers, and just hide the containers behind drift wood and rocks in a U/G tank.----Good luck.------PeeTee

Answer 2

Never heard of an under ground filter. Perhaps you mean an under-gravel filter? I don't like them,they kill more fish than help the tank stay clean. The under the gravel "filter" just keeps the bacteria under the gravel,and MUST be vacuumed with regular water changes without fail on a regular basis.

Answer 3

I am not sure what kind of undergravel filters anyone here has ever run, however, I have yet to have a problem with mine. Even ran one on my salt tank.

Undergravel filters should first off never be used alone. they need to be run in tandem with another filter, like a back pack filter. Either way, you still need to use a gravel cleaner or a siphone to vac the bottom of your tank. An undergravel filter doesn't keep you from doing this. An undergravel filter is designed to pull particles from the water to the bottom and return filtered water to the top. It is for circulation not Filtration. A properly running UGF does not accumulate stuff beneath the plates. You also do not have to rip them apart to clean them.

TEE PEE is correct when saying either powerheads or airlines can be used to keep them working properly. Most people who do not like UGF have never understood how to used them correctly. The filters themselves do not kill fish, it is the improper reading of the directions that did.

As for the cost, they are fairly inexpensive. (for a 30 gallon they run less than $10) If running power heads that is where your cost will comein.


Either way, you still need to vac your gravel and provided weekly maintenance.

Answer 4

this is an opinion based answer.... under gravel filters are not all that great in the first place , you have to have very Little gravel covering them for them to work correctly (around 1 inch) i find this isn't enough really to be able to put plastic plants in the tank even, much less real plants which help with fish tank cycles.
nothing works better in my own opinion then a good old gravel vacuum, and bucket, along with a decent filtering system, not over feeding , and regular water changes..

Answer 5

The problem here is that you seem to think the undergravel filter is going to save you from having to vacuum. Quite the contrary, undergravel filters suck waste into it and you certainly need to vacuum just as much as before - UGF's are for biological filtration only, and are actually counter-productive when it comes to mechanical filtration - the waste gets trapped under the filter plates where it can't be reached, and it builds up into a disgusting sludge that can only be cleaned by tearing apart the tank, and over time it adds more and more nitrates to the tank. UGF's are old school, much better to go with an easily cleaned power filter.

Answer 6

Personally I don't like UG filters. Haven't used them in years. They create a nice sceptic tank below your substrate just waiting to cause problems. I have been considering trying a reverse undergravel filter in a small tank though. It works like an UG but reverses the flow to push the water up through the gravel. I want to find out if they become the toxic mess a normal UG filter becomes. I've heard ok things about them but like I said I haven't tried one personally.

Answer 7

A Xbox 360

Answer 8

it seems in addition to my Python Gravel Cleaner and my undergravel filter my tank is amazing!! the only thing that i hate about it is you have to replace the filter every 2 weeks or so. but they do work amazing, its worth the extra money!!

Answer 9

i like them they pull the crud to the bottom below the grates and essentially creat a great biological filter

gravel cleaner will still need to be used during partial water changes