Undergravel Filter questions

[FTD]

Well, I'm currently running a 10-gallon tank, and I finally got around to putting in an undergravel filter. It also ought to be noted that I'm a bit of a n00b when it comes to fish tanks.

Then, tonight, I started reading some posts around here on them, and got kinda concerned that this wasn't really the best of ideas. So I figured, "Hey, self, might as well make up a list of questions to ask these fine folks, in order to avoid the possible death of my beloved aquatic community." The concept of unearthing a pocket of ammonia is truly frightening, as I believe that something like this killed 2 of the 3 balloon mollies I had in my tank a month or two back. So I present to you, a tiny list of questions!

Firstly, was this the right decision for my tank? Should I be running the UG filter alongside some other type of filter, or just take out the UG filter and use a different kind completely? What kind of other filter would you reccommend?

Secondly, assuming I keep this filter... what of the black carbon cartridges? On various websites, I've heard that these could be harmful, or that they're pretty much unneccisary. What's your take?

Thirdly, I have a live plant and a fist-sized rock. Could these cause me any problems?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Matt_Didg]

Im new here but i've learnt a thing or two

the rock you talked about should be fine as long as you cleaned it thoroughly

in my tank i hav an under gravel filter AND a second filter wich sits outside with pipes goin in, it seems to make my water alot cleaner, two filters is good.

keep the black carbon cartriges in, so that it actually cleans some of your water.

and finally, take care of your fish, when your ready for them

 

[freddyk]

Firstly, was this the right decision for my tank? Should I be running the UG filter alongside some other type of filter, or just take out the UG filter and use a different kind completely? What kind of other filter would you reccommend?

As good as UGF's are for biological filtration, they have the opposite effect on mechanical. Debris traps under the filter plates and turns to sludge. The only way to clean it out is to upset the entire tank. Long term the sludge builds up and begins to affect the water quality. With so many cheap and efficient power filters on the market that are very easy to clean, UGF's have become old school - they work, but there's better alternatives.

Carbon is certainly not bad - usually it doesn't do much of anything. After about 2 or 3 weeks it becomes ineffective anyway. You'll find many people including myself have abandoned carbon and never looked back.

 

[boxman]

I have an UGF and I gravel vac weekly and syphon bi-weekly for my water changes and I've had no problems at all.

Yes, it really does need good filteration - I'm running a Rena +2 canister in my 22gal with my powerflow head.

Rocks, yes, make sure they're clean - try to avoid stuff from the beach as it'll have a salt content. Boil, scrub, soak until you're happy. There are tests people do with vinegar and I've even heard people cleaning stones with coke!! (Wouldn't suggest that, although it does clean coins well!)

If I was starting my tank again I wouldn't have an ugf - only my gravel level is lifted up by the plates and so looks a bit silly, plus yes, one day I will have to remove the plates which I'm not looking forward too!

I guess removing the fish into buckets or something, syphoning out most of the water and then cleaning it out - once finished you can put the old tank water back in and top up the rest - you'd still have the bacteria from the filter and in the water.... there's a possibility.

 

[KeddyPie]

*waves to FTD*

 

[Lateral Line]

I used ugf's for years, like over 20 years. For most of that time they were the best thing available. They are good biological filters, and as long as you vacuum your gravel reasonably often, can run for ages with trouble, certainly years.

I used to put a pipe on the uplift tubes and connect it to a serious pump once a year or so to pull any crud out from under the plates without tearing the tank down.

As for anærobic build ups, you are less likely to get these with a ugf as the ugf is constantly drawing O2 rich water through the substrate. This kills off the anærobic bacteria.

Ugf's are old fashioned now though. I haven't used one for more then 10 years.

Live plants generally do not do as well with ugf's as they would otherwise. The O2 rich water does not mimic the pretty anærobic conditions their roots grow in in the wild environment. Many plants will grow, just not as well as they might.

Carbon can be useful for removing medicine surpluses and the odd discolouration due to tannins, but is inactivated very quickly, and I do not use it. There are better media for bacterial growth then dead carbon granules.

Stones, as long as they are well washed, have no sharp edges and are non-calcareous or ore bearing are okay in tanks. If a stone/rock/gravel/sand fizzes when you put vinegar on it, it is calcareous and should not be used in freshwater tanks except rift tanks. Rock/stones that are overly heavy for their size often are metal ores and again, should be avoided.

 

[fatguppy]

The first tank we bought had an UGF but we soon changed it and added the side filter. As previously mentioned the UGF was a beggar to clean.

Advised (as ever) by the lfs that UGFs are good - what can I say?