AquaView tanks

[OohFeeshy]

Ah, riigghhtt..... But TBH I much prefer the 3g Kritter Keeper things I get- Just for reference, the round small tank on the left is a typical 1 gallon tank in the UK. The pics a bit squashed, but its about 12'' long, 8'' high and 8'' back. But I can't remember exactly.

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

The bigger, the better. I would definately go that route over 1 gallon anything.

 

[daudy_dojo]

i ahve one aquaview and the UGF got stepped on ... so i would be using it right now but its uuhhh not avalbiable!!

 

[50000_tears]

lol id have to say that is unavalilble

 

[SRC]

If you change your water when you are suposed to..the water isn't going to look dirty. I have no gravel in mine and the waste always floats to the bottom...it never waifs around up at the top..unless I don't change the water when I'm suposed to..then it may have some floating around in there.


Even though a UGF sucks waste into the gravel..it does nothing to eliminate Ammonia, Nitrates, or Nitrites..how could it? All it is ...is a air pump, a piece of silicon tubing, and a plastic tube. There is no biological "filtration" aspect to it at all. So if you have one and are using it and don't change your water when you are suposed to..regardless of if the water *looks clean* it really isn't if you over shoot your WC schedule.


So IMO it's better to just not use it. It's easier on you at WC time...as you don't have extra equipment to remove, clean, and put back. It's also much more quiet and saves energy on your power bill.

but hey..do what makes YOU happiest I say.

 

[Seahorse]

Also the large tube takes up valuable swimming space in the middle. They have to swim around it, as opposed to just anywhere. That in itself is worth taking it out.

 

[OohFeeshy]

There is no biological "filtration" aspect to it at all.

Actually,there is. The gravel becomes the home of the bacteria. So not only will it collect the waste, it will break it down and convert the ammonia to nitrate (eventually.)

 

[Seahorse]

Yes but what is the point in that with this tank?

I still don't really see a purpose.

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

It's just personal preference. I pulled out all my UGF's and went without them for a while from what I read here, but I have put them all back since. I still do WC's as often as without the UGF, but the water just stays clearer longer, and I don't get that film on top. The tubes aren't that big, and they don't take but an extra 30 seconds to clean during the WC.

 

[Noana]

Well, I'm starting to see a film on the top of the water already, so I don't know...Patrick appears to be trying to make a nest in each corner, though. I wouldn't want to deprive him of that.

 

[tacofrano]

i sdont understand... why whould you pull out the UGF?

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

This should dispel the myth that bettas can't build bubblenests with a UGF in the tank:

 

[abstract]

Even though a UGF sucks waste into the gravel..it does nothing to eliminate Ammonia, Nitrates, or Nitrites..how could it? All it is ...is a air pump, a piece of silicon tubing, and a plastic tube. There is no biological "filtration" aspect to it at all.

i dont see how you can even say that after i explained how it worked...all a HOB filter is is a pump, some tubing, and a sponge and it eliminates ammonia and nitrites...so why can't a pump, some tubing, and gravel do the same? lol

although i do agree they are pointless in that size tank, but fact is, they do work

 

[FrisaGirl]

I'm kind of confused here about the pros and cons of undergravel filters.

I have two 2.5 minibows that I use with their included undergravel filters. I use the filters because my LFS said they were necessary to keep the tanks cycled. I want my tanks cycled because I don't want to do water changes more than once a week.

But people here are saying that they do 100% water changes on uncycled tanks once a week. . .so does that mean that I could get away with taking out my undergravel filters and still doing weekly water changes? If so, wouldn't I have to worry about ammonia and nitrate build-ups?

I've been wondering about this for some time.

Frisia

 

[SRC]

Even though a UGF sucks waste into the gravel..it does nothing to eliminate Ammonia, Nitrates, or Nitrites..how could it? All it is ...is a air pump, a piece of silicon tubing, and a plastic tube. There is no biological "filtration" aspect to it at all.

i dont see how you can even say that after i explained how it worked...all a HOB filter is is a pump, some tubing, and a sponge and it eliminates ammonia and nitrites...so why can't a pump, some tubing, and gravel do the same? lol

although i do agree they are pointless in that size tank, but fact is, they do work

Because in a 1 gallon tank..you have to change the water before it becomes useful bacteria. So with that said..I don't see how there could be any benificial bacteria to remove/break down the ammonia, because you can't let the tank go long enough without doing a major water change without adverse reactions from your fish.

IMHO trying to cycle anything less then 5 gallons is silly and can be quite stressful to your fish (depending on your fish..some are more hearty then others)...as they have to deal with heavy amounts of ammonia constantly.

Personally I'd rather use a regular filter. I think it's gross to have all that waste in the gravel. Of course..I do use cream colored gravel in my tanks..so you can see how it would start to look..ermmm...grimey in short order. Plus I don't like the fact of when you disturb the gravel it send gunk up into the water....where as a regular filter never does that...IF you keep your gravel vaccumed.