Reverse Ugf

[CallMeJoe]

I have been running a 55 gal freshwater w/ UGF on powerheads for years and am considering going reverse flow (tired of the periodic deep gravel syphon to get out the gunk from the plates). Has anyone here used a RUGF for any lenghth of time?

 

[blue_ram]

I have been running a 55 gal freshwater w/ UGF on powerheads for years and am considering going reverse flow (tired of the periodic deep gravel syphon to get out the gunk from the plates). Has anyone here used a RUGF for any lenghth of time?

I've used RUGF for about a year. I've stopped using it since I've planted both of my aquariums. For the most part, it keeps the gravel vac routine to minimal, if you have a good flow rate. You still have to do some gravel vacuuming every 6 mos. or so, and more often if you have lots of dead spots.

However, you need a good mechanical filter to go with it. Otherwise your aquarium will be full of "stuff" floating around. With proper substrate and air injection mod (I've never done it), it can be one of the best biological filter available. There are two instance where you RUGF is impractical. One is in a planted aquarium, and the other is in a tank with a fish(s) that likes to dig/redecorate.

 

[anvil63]

I used one succesfully for many years in a livebearer tank. It was a 55gal with a Magnum 350 canister. The only drawback to this design was that occasionally fry would get sucked up and somehow make it through the Magnum (there must be considerable media bypass but don't really know) only to get stuck underneath the UGF plate. Strangely enough, they stayed alive and grew to about 75% of the size of their upper tank compatriots (kind of reminded me of the Morlocks from "The Time Machine"). I ended up getting a sponge to cover the intake as a felt a bit guilty for this occurence, but was not about to tear up the tank. It was about a year before there were no morlocks left.