I have an undergravel filter w/ a powerhead. Also I have a
penguin bio-wheel filter. The tank is 29g. Are the canister filters a better solution. also is there a worm or bacteria i can buy or grow to eat the debris in the gravel. So I don't have to clean so often?
2007-06-24 05:37:15 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
In my opinion you have a great combination of filtration for your tank. The two types you have now complement each other very well and provide the best of both worlds as the saying goes. I wouldn't change it at all.
There really is no replacement for gravel cleaning I'm afraid. If there were, everyone would use it LOL.
MM
2007-06-24 06:07:43 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As MM says most filters do exactly the same, under gravel filtration uses the gravel as the filter bed or medium where as externals of other filters use different mediums.
Back 30yrs ago it was pretty much the norm for aquatic outlets to use under gravel filtration, but I'd be very surprised in this day and age to see it.
Your problem with water changes has really very little to do with the waste at the bottom but rather the amount of toxicity building up as the water evaporates. If you fail to do water changes you will be forced to put water in to cover this evaporation at which point your toxic wastes are increasing.
So at some point in the future your fish will suddenly die, and an introduction of new fish will die even quicker.
To remove the debris from under the plate, just connect a pipe to the uplift and siphon off, don't blow otherwise you push it all out into the gravel this need not be done every year even.
As for fish never mind what the so called aquatic owner/worker says there are no fish which will subsist on (i want to call a spade a spade here) waste at the bottom of an aquarium, fish will eat the food that's collected in the waste but they're not going to eat the waste.
2007-06-24 13:48:26 · answer #2 · answered by andyjh_uk 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both undergravel and canister/foam filters work just as good as each other. I know this by experiance as i work in an aquatic shop where we have tanks with both of them. All you have to make sure is that with undergravel filters is that the gravel bed is thick enought (2-3inchs) as this creates a large surface area for the bacteria to colonise and therefore greatly increases your filtration. For the durt under the gravel i dont know of any worms/bacteria that will eat it away but there are fish which are called corydoras which are great and also for something diffrent there is red crabs. But just be aware of not to clean it too much as that is what harbers your bacteria that is used to filter the water
2007-06-24 13:03:39 · answer #3 · answered by Marshmellowman 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have a 29g tank and a penguin filter. Thats it. it works fine. all you need is the penguin bio wheel filter.
it works so well that i only need to clean my tank once a month sometimes even once every two months.
2007-06-27 22:48:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a "Regent Aqua-Tech 30-60" filtration system thats sold in Wal-Mart and is really good for reduceing the Bio-load in a 20 to 29 gallon tank, and to reduce cleaning the gravel feed them less about just put one pinch every meal.
2007-06-24 13:53:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You could buy a school of cory catfish to eat the stuff at the bottom of the tank.
2007-06-24 14:32:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a bio-wheel for my 20 and I don't have any problems with the amount of amonia or algae lvls.
2007-06-24 12:55:45 · answer #7 · answered by Broski 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
go get a PLECO fish hell keep your tank spotless...yes canisters are best if you can afford one...
2007-06-24 12:51:46 · answer #8 · answered by Betty 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋