What is the point in a undergravel filter? It just traps all the gunk off the day under them? As were as an external or internal filter you can take the sponge out and rince them in water, I dont see the point in UG filters.
2007-06-27 07:09:18 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Also if 'MAGICMAN' answers this question could you look at my previous platie fry question, i added details, Thanks
2007-06-27 07:14:11 · update #1
Ditto to GHapy, they are excellent biological filters and properly maintained won't cause a significant problem with accumulated waste.
That said, I wouldn't use them as the sole source of filtration for a tank, but only in conjuntion with a power filter or canister filter.
MM
2007-06-27 07:30:29 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I maintain fish tanks for a living (and I'm hardly getting rich). About 1 out of 4 to 5 customers use UGF's. They do work great. They do require a lot of work (maybe that's why they pay me to do it for them?)
About half use a power head and half use an air pump. As others have stated, they have fallen from favor by most.
Only a few times in the past 4+ years of doing this have I seen tanks totally messed up by them. I used to do 50% water changes after scooping up half the gravel. Then a week later, another 50% change on the other side. Lately, I have not had such an extreme mess.
As for being used only in smaller tanks, I've had them in 20-29's (I rarely see a 20 or smaller, unless it is a 2nd tank) but I see them in medium sized tanks to about 90 gallons too.
I don't mind them, because they mean extra work ($) for me. I do have one on my personal tank as well.
I suggest using them with a power filter. So do these folks...
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/c103filtration.htm
2007-06-27 16:33:02 · answer #2 · answered by Democrat with 5 Guns 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make for exceptional biological filters that cost little to buy and nothing to maintain (since the gravel is the media). But, as mentioned, it does trap waste and over time creates a nitrate factory of nasty sludge under the plates. Its old school, and while some still swear by it, it's pretty much a thing of the past or for tiny tanks.
2007-06-27 14:26:41 · answer #3 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
UGF(under gravel filters) are really horrible filters. RUGF(reverse under gravel filters are real good on the other hand. I always have canisters and foam filters on all my tanks.
2007-06-27 17:02:03 · answer #4 · answered by Pat W 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
im with pat, rugf are the best bio filters ever just make sure to have some mechanical filterationas well (canister, HOB, internal power, etc)
2007-06-30 04:22:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They are obsolete, you are correct with your assumption. Dirty nasty fish killing so called filters.
2007-06-27 14:12:46 · answer #6 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋