AquaView tanks

[Noana]

For those who have Aquaview tanks, are you supposed to leave the undergravel filter & bubble stone thing in there, or is it better to leave them out? I put my betta (Patrick) in a 1gal Aquaview today, but I only have a layer of flat marbles in the bottom with the plant that came in the box. Also with the Aquaview, do you do 100% water changes each week?

 

[Seahorse]

Take that blasted air stone out So much darn current and for what? They are air breathers anyway It'll give 'em more swimming room too.

And can someone please explain the purpose of the UGF? I never understood it.

(I have two of these as spares just in case)

 

[Kara101584]

I love my Aquaviews, I take that stupid UGF out!
And yes, weekly 100% water changes.

 

[riogal_11]

I have three and have left the ugf's in all of them. They don't bother the boys, so I don't bother with them. If they didn't like the current and acted weird, I would take them out. I don't think they make much difference, but either way would be fine.

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

I like my UGF's in the aquaview, although I do have a valve on it to knock down the bubbling. I find, personally, that it keeps the water clearer and I get a thin icky layer on top if I don't use it. So from seeing all the other posts, it seems like a personal preference here.

 

[tacofrano]

where can you gwt aquaviews and what is the price?

 

[Booboo puppy]

At WalMart - $10.99.

Because the flow was swift, I took the air stone and filter tube out. Unfortunately, poor Barracuda went under the filter through the hole for the tube and couldn't get back out by himself. I noticed he was "missing" and we searched the tank until we found him. All of the filter is out of his tank now and he is doing quite well.

 

[Saucy]

Yeah, I don't use either in mine. I figure it's just a gallon, it won't take me more than like 5 minutes to clean each week. All it does is take up space anyways...

 

[50000_tears]

hmm the filter doesnt seem strong to me all of mine have it and no problems. it takes a day for the betta to get used to it but mine are fine.

 

[Noana]

Well, Patrick loves his Aquaview tank! He's just been swimming around like crazy & made a new bubble nest last night. And he looks even prettier with the light on him!

 

[eudielynn]

I took them out of mine because my guys hated the current, even with the valve to slow it down. I'm glad I did because now I get bubblenests almost every day from one or the other of my boys. They couldn't do bubblenests with the UGF because the current was too strong.

 

[ravekiss]

I have 2 aquaviews but I took out the UGF on both. WIth that in place I couldnt but a little cave in and I think the boys prefer their caves than the current anyday! I also do weekly 100% waterchanges.

 

[BettaMomma]

When I had my 2 tanks like this, I pitched the UGFs right away. It was way too strong for them unless I somehow pinched off the airhoses - and then it was a teeny little bubbledrip. THEN.. (as someone said here already) I was terrified that with that little hole left in there, they would get curious and get stuck down there. So those things went in the garbage right away.

Really, with a betta when you're doing 100% water changes, these things serve NO purpose whatsoever except for surface agitation, and that's only to combat a slime buildup that gets up there - it's not anything sinister. The slime coat at the top of the tank happens on ALL my betta tanks regardless of the size, because with the exception of my little Jasper, nobody has a bubble stone at all - and no filters, either except in the 10G tanks.... Jasper's had a bubble bar since day one - it's a 4" bubble bar that has only enough air flow going through it to make one teeny tiny little bubble stream. He LOVES to hover over it and if I take it out he sulks.

So - if your betta doesnt' seem to mind the current it makes, they're fine. Just beware if you take part of it out, take it ALL out or you'll be leaving a little death trap in there for them.

 

[SRC]

I can't understand the purpose of a UGF. It offers no real filtration at all IMO, especially in a 1 gallon tank. Seems to me it's no different then no filtration at all...cleaning wise, it's next to impossible to cycle a 1 gallon tank.

I have 3 of these tanks...all 3 are without filtration by UGF..now I do have a sponge filter in there though. I made my own..has activated carbon in it to absorb ammonia.

But if you want bubble nests..no filtration in the 1 gallons...otherwise it's not ever gonna happen. Too much surfice aggitation/disturbance.

And I don't see how anyone could have this particular setup and the current not be strong..without having a valve clamp to regulate the current. These things have a brutal current when operated "as is".

 

[50000_tears]

this is strange iv kept the filter in mine they dont mind it at all doesnt bother them at all. i always test the water before i change it and after and iv never had amonia . i dont get it how its strong..it doesnt look strong at all it goes really slow on my tanks ..people have problems probably becuase the dont put the air stone down all the way you have to push it down to were it barely shows and its really slow and not as strong. it looks strong from my videos but its just the speed of the vid. it seems weak to me