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Are there any potential problems, useing UGF or reverse UGF in a planted tank? Is it good/bad, or just indiferent? I am planning on supplementing with a HOB or canister (or maybe I should say useing the UGF as the supplement) but I'm not sure if plants would like the extra movement around their roots, or if it would kill them. Any thoughts/experiences?

UGF can become clogged by the roots, if you have enough plants to do so. If you are going to use an HOB or canister, I'd skip the UGF.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hi,
I've never used a RUGF so I can't address them. However, I
have used UGFs in my planted tanks for over 45 years with
absolutely no problems.

There was some concern years ago that you mention, that
some plants might not thrive with that type of filter.
Some of the suggestions to correct the problem and still
use the filter were:
1. Take some silicone and run a bead along every 3rd opening
in the filter plate.
2. Use low pressure air on the airstones, or now a days
use a smaller power head and direct the output under the
surface
3. Do not use all of the uplift ports. Cap them off and use
only one uplift tube on tanks less than 45 or 50 gallons
and only two on the larger tanks.
4. Place a small plate or piece of plastic between the plant
and the filter plate, that creates a "dead" area around the
plant with no or very little movement across the roots.

I chose to silicone the filter plates, use only one uplift
tube, with a small power head, and I run the output of the
power head through my CO2 reactor and then out into the
tank. I don't like or advocate any "dead" or very slow
areas of circulation around the plant roots. That can
create anaerobic areas and other problems.

Frank

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