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Hello,
I have a couple of questions regarding Undergravel Filters. 1) Is it possible to grow plants with an undergravel filter? 2) Will an undergravel filter destroy eggs and ruin breeding? 3) Can anyone recomend a brand of powerhead and undergravel filter plate maker? 4) Is a 10g undergravel filter universal for ALL 10g tank or not all? Thanks.

Chris

yes u can grow plants with a ugf.

no, a serious breeder never uses anything other than a sponge filter in a breeding tank, all breeding tanks should not be community tanks and should be bare bottom.(for most fish, but for breeding neons and more importantly bettas, the tank should be a bare bottom with alot of live plants.

in a standard ten gallon most ufg are made for standard tanks. and there are all kinds of good powerheads.

Well I guess i am not that serious. When i breed I will definitely have a filter, but my question is will the undergravel filter DESTROY eggs? Also will plants clog the UGF? Also what are some trusted brands of filter plates and powerheads? What am I looking for in a powerhead, such as rotating head, bubbles or what? Also can i convert all powerheads into RUGF? Thanks.

Chris

Sometimes plant roots can get tangled in UGFs. Especially heavy rooting plants like swords and crypts. As long as you steer clear of those types, it should be fine.

If you have gravel on top of the UGF, it shouldn't be a problem for eggs.

If you are going to use the 10g for breeding, I suggest going bare bottom like bettachris suggested. Get an airpump and a sponge filter. That is the best way to do it and keep the tank clean.

What do you plan on breeding?

*Kristin*

i used to have an UGF on my 20g tank and had plants in there however when i finally decided to remove it i found so many plant roots that had gotten caught in there and were all gross and decaying. i personally dont recommmend them if you want plants as the roots sometimes go through the plates and get caught when removing the plants.

i bred cories with that filter and never had a problem. it doesnt ruin or destroy eggs.

if you are setting up the tank soley to breed then as bettachris recommended go with a sponge filter.

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Truth doesn't always win friends but it influences them

Well I am going to set up a Ram breeding tank w/ Cabomba, Driftwood and Anubias. I dont really want a sponge filter as they dont do as good of a job do they? Also what are some Powerhead brands? Thanks.

Chris

Go to Big Al's Online for different brands of powerheads. I have no experience with them, so I can't help you on that. I know Hagen makes powerheads. Their filters are good, so maybe their powerheads are also.

*Kristin*

u should have a sponge filter in breeding tanks.

as for ugf, on my tanks, my tanks have around 6-7 inches of gravel sitting on top, so i haven't run into a root problem. but again i dont use alot of plants in my tanks, just use more gravel, in a larger tank, with a 10 gallon you will need all the room you can get, so it isn't going to work in a small tank like that with alot of gravel.

The UGF will not destroy eggs. I would recommend using 3 inches of gravel. Plant your anubias on driftwood or a rock and that lessens the chance of the roots clogging an area of your UGF. There is no reason to place the anubias(or java fern) in the gravel.

UGF's work very well, however, regular gravel vacing is a must, or your nitrates will end up way too high. Plan on gravel vaccuuming at least once a week. I have bred(for fun, not in an industrial way) many fish with a UGF.

I don't plan on industrial breeding. I hve driftwood curing right now to be planted with anubias. I will siphon the gravel regualaly. I am also going to have Cabomba. I am planning on putting an UGF in all of my tanks. Thanks.

P.S. How many powerheads should be in a 10g and a 30g?

Chris

Ughh... A lady on the phone told me that UGF are useless and very Out of Date. IMO They are still very helpfull and good at being Biological filters and clearing water, right? Also Doesent the buildup under the UGF cause nitrate? Thanks.

Chris

Alot of people still love ugf filters but I find them pointless. I want to be able to remove the junk from the water easily not have it trapped under the gravel where it's harder to get to. I also have absolutely no reason to increase the biofilter in my tank beyond what bacteria survives in my substrate, on decorations, and on the filter pads in my power filters. In a normally stocked tank it shouldn't really be an issue especially if you add any plants. I just don't find a ugf does anything better than a power or cannister can do and it's harder to do maintenance on. I also like using sand and other such substrates which will not work with a ugf. My personal opinion is that they are nearly worthless but many people will disagree. It's a matter of opinion and in some ways something you have to try out for yourself or do the research and form your own opinion from that.

In most breeding tanks you really should use a sponge or possibly small internal filter that has very little current. Otherwise the fry will be sucked up or have trouble swimming and finding food.

So no powerheads or UGF on my two 10g breeding tanks? (Rams and Kribs)?

Chris

Hi,
Personally, in a Hosptial tank, or a Breeding Tank, I would
not use any kind of filter that has a tube extending down
into the tank as an intake. I would use only an internal,
sponge, filter. With any other filter, you run the risk of
sucking the fry into the filter.
The grid on the intakes of most filters would prevent
most of the live bearer fry from that demise, but
not block most of the egg layer fry from getting
sucked into the filter or plastered against the grids
to die.

As far as UGFs are concerned, I've used them for decades
and love them. IF the brown detritus really bothers you,
then simply turn off the filter, and dig down into the
gravel to expose one of the capped off riser ports.
Remove the cap. Then stick a siphon down the riser port
and siphon off the accumulation. Recap the unused port.
Redistribute the gravel over it, and turn the filter
back on. Done!

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

IF the brown detritus really bothers you,
then simply turn off the filter, and dig down into the
gravel to expose one of the capped off riser ports.
Remove the cap. Then stick a siphon down the riser port
and siphon off the accumulation. Recap the unused port.
Redistribute the gravel over it, and turn the filter
back on. Done!

I didn't know that. I am going to do it right now. Also you have convinced me to get it. Thanks to Everyone!

Chris

The problem I had with the UGF in breeding tanks was that the mulm underneath deactivated the medication i was trying to use for velvet. I'd use them on a grow-out again, as they are far superior to many other biological filters around, but I'd not use them with a fish susceptible to parasitic illness or with egg scatterers.



For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Hello, I know this is an older post but just wated to add that Penguin Powerheads seem to be pretty good. I have a RUGF system on a 20g tank and use 2 660R units. They are pretty good priced and from what I have heard can last for years. I like mine, they don't cause alot of heat or noise setup as a RUGF system. Also the 660R's include the prefilter and all attachments needed for a RUGF system.

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