Removing UGF

[my_fallen_angel]

How would i go about removing my UGF???

I know its going to be messy, but whats the quickest and easist way of getting it out.

Should i move the fish out while doing it??

Will i have to recycle my tank again??

thanks

Kellie

 

[ChriX]

Best thing to do would be to add your new filter and run it alongside the UGF for a while before taking it out, that way you would not have to cycle the tank again.

I'd imagine that it will be a very messy job if you've had it running for quite some time, so may be better to stick the fish in a bucket until the dirt clears a bit.

 

[my_fallen_angel]

ive already had another filter running with the UGF for a couple of weeks now.

But the UGF is still there and i want it out.

i was thinking buckets aswell to keep the fish in but i just wanted to knw if any body has done it before??

and how long it took??

i'm talking about my 55 aswell

 

[Genki_Pie]

I did this about a year back with my UGF in my 30gal tank, it wasn't too bad. I left the fish in the tank, I thought it would be way too stressful to chase them around with a net, put them in a crammed bucket, then repeat the net hunt when moving them back to the tank.

Take a gravel cleaner sucker hose thing (I know, nice scientific name there) and give the gravel a good cleaning to lessen the load of junk you're going to get coming up with your UGF. Once done with that, just slowly sift all the gravel off to one side (if you've got more then one plate in your tank take a break inbetween them to let the water clear up), if your water starts to get really really bad, halt your mission and let your other filter get some of the stuff cleaned out and settled back down, and do a bit of a water change, then proceed on. Once you've got the gravel shoved over to one side, pull it out slowly so you don't give your fish a heart attack.

Try and suck up some of the water, mine did get pretty nasty with everything all stirred up, but it should clear out pretty quick.

Oh, and to as how long it took..it was a year ago so I'm not certain, but I think it was several hours. With a 55gal it might tank longer, but you aren't doing something the entire time, since I waited for awhile between each plate. (I cleaned house while I let water settle )

Hope that helps.

 

[cutechic]

I just took the UG filter out of my 4 gallon a few days ago. Here's what I did:

1. Run new filter in tank for 2 weeks to establish bacteria
2. Put the fish in plastic covered cups (they're small fish) and unplug equipment
3. Siphon as much water as I could into a bucket (99% of the water was removed from the tank)
4. Take out gravel and UG filter
5. Put the gravel in nylons, and stick in bucket of old tank water
6. Add all water, gravel, and decorations back into tank
7. Let filter run for 1-2 hours, until water is clear
8. Add the fish

To do the 4 gallon, it took me less than an hour.

I would definitely remove the fish when doing this. It can't be healthy for them to swim in water with all the gunk from the UG filter.

If you run the new filter for a few weeks before taking out the UG filter, and use the same gravel, your tank will not need to recycle.

 

[my_fallen_angel]

thanks guys

i have had the other filter running for nearly 2 weeks now.

i guess i'll try and do it this weekend

 

[R3GG]

I removed mine yesterday, didnt use another filter along side it as i was removing that water aswell, yup its messy alright. I removed all the gravel also and then pulled it out while my fish were in another tank.

 

[Angry_Platy]

I took out my UGF a few months ago now....it was nasty....the water ended up the colour of coca cola.....EWWWWW.....theres no way I would have wanted my fish in there while I did that.....during the process I had to clean the filter media about 4 times each (I had two other filter....a HOB and a canister filter)....the whole process took about 6 hours (including time for the water to clear up again)....since I did it, my fish have been SOOOO healthy and no illnesses (fins and ingers crossed)....

 

[my_fallen_angel]

chook
where did you keep your fish whilst you were doing it??

thanks