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I am thinking about getting an undergravel filter. My tank is only 10g and i only have 2 danios but i'm getting more fish soon. Do they help? Do you use them with the regular filters or alone? Any input would help!

*Kristin*

I still use UGFs as well as many others do. I believe that with the proper maintenance of the gravel, by this I mean regular water changes and partial gravel vacuuming they are very effective. If combined with an HOB the filtration capability is excellent.

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Does it matter about waste..like are they better for an aquarium with alot of waste or does it matter. Right now I only have 2 fish so my aquarium isn't that dirty. What do you have to do to them as far as maintenance, if anything besides vacuuming? thanks for the reply

*Kristin*

Forget it....it's cheaper and easier IMHO&E to just buy a hang on back (HOB) filter.

UGF's work by sucking the waste thru the gravel and holding it under a plate...that builds up and if not removed will make a HUGE MESS....believe me I've seen improperly maintained UGF's and the water is not pretty @all. Unless you're the type of person that likes solid black water coming from your tank .

If you insist on a UGF you'll need to buy a reverse flow powerhead, I'm not aware of any that are small enough for 10 gallon tanks, along with a HOB. Every month or so you'll reverse the flow on the powerhead to suck the waste that's collected back into the tank (does that sound gross to anyone else!) where it's picked up by the HOB filter.

UGF filters cannot be used with sand, Most plants don't like UGF's as they get their roots all tangled up in it (harming the plant and the filtration). Additionally if you chose to remove installed plates they create a large mess when you pull them out.

^_^[hr width='40%']"I'm alright, I'm alright
It only hurts when I breathe"

Thanks! I just wanted some info on them. I wanted to know how they worked and stuff. Too much trouble and mess for me!

*Kristin*

As Babel said you can't use a UGF with sand, but have to use gravel.

I like Old Timer up above use UGF, and am quite fond of them. Yes, you do have to maintain them, but that is true with any filter system that you decide to use. You still have to do your gravel vacs, and water changes...but about once every 2-3 months, remove the uplift tubes and suck the water from there, and it will suck any nasties out.

I like them because they leave such a clean and clear tank so quickly, and honestly they are great...but, it is up to you which form of filtration you choose...so get your facts together and choose which you would prefer...

heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

They "work", if that's what you want to call it , by increasing the flow thru the gravel, increasing the ammount of biofiltration a tank can have.
However, if the filtration set up isn't properly maintained it goes bad rather fast and it's not pretty to clean up.

^_^


[hr width='40%']"I'm alright, I'm alright
It only hurts when I breathe"

As I said in the original post they work really well when properly maintained. I have tanks that have been seen up and running for over 5 years with a UGF and an HOB. In those 5+ years I have had no diseases and/or loss of any fish for anything other than old age.

My water remains crystal clear and my parameters are always good - so do they work, I would say so.

Just as an aside I have been using UGFs since 1972 and have never experienced the so called "black water" as Babel so eloquently put it.

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

I find the above posts to be wrong in most part.

It doesnt store the crap under the plate, all of the crap gets trapped in the gravel.

The one in my 55g tank has been going for 15 yrs now, and it is working fine.

I owuld suggest one to anybody.

GirlieGirl8519

Another UGF user. My last tank a 4ft had one never removed it in 7 years only then when the tank cracked.
I am now running the same UGF in the 5ft inconjunction with the Eheim Canister. I have an exremly heaverly planted tank all anubias and all either tied to wood or rocks. No plants in the base at all.

I can only deep clean the front 3-4ins of the tank. Each time I get the water tested about every three months never a problem.

Sorry Babelfish
UGF forever Mine is powered by two individual air pumps. I never change the air stones as they are plastic and occassionally I pull them apart clean them then back to full working order they are also adjustable.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Same here,been using them for over 11 years and i would not do without them,i tryed it without and couldnt keep my water clear,they are back in now and my tanks are perfect.I hook them to my canister filters and dont have that much build up.