Undergravel filter system

[blakwidoe]

I had one and threw it away after the 2nd week I dont feel they do a good enough job but thats only my opinion

 

[lucky62]

Any rooted plant would not grow well in a UGF setup.

I've had cryptocoyne growing in mine since 1998 , and for the last 4 years I really haven't done anything speciel to keep them growing other then water changes , every once and a while I add Seachems Iron , and carbon suppliments[once every other month or so ].I use no speciel lighting either , Maybe they would grow bigger an faster in a tank with plant lights and no undergravel filter .mine grow just fine for my liking , I also have many floating plants , as well as plants attached to rocks , pvc pipes ect. Maybe the snails in my tank keep the roots from rotting

 

[Adrinal]

No way.

ANY of the new ways is better IMO.

 

[crazie.eddie]

UGF is great for tanks that contains ZERO plant life.

I would have to disagree. I know some people who have UGFs with plants for several years and they had no problems. I also remember going through a fresh water aquarium website own by vetinarians who have several tanks, all running UGF's only and with plants for several years and had no problems. Unfortunately, I cannot find the link, but still searching for it.

They are worthless. I had one on a 2 and 1/2 gallon hex that I was going to put in my kids room with a betta .... BUT, after watching the tank it just wasn't worth it at all!! It didn't filter anything. I threw the brand new tank away and went and got a 10 gallon tank with a HOB filter and my bettas thank me for it everyday. All my other tanks have HOB filters and that is all I will buy.

Of course on a small tank they have no benifit. In a 10 gallon or so using a powerhead is when it shows it's effectiveness.

A UGF ONLY offers biological filtration. The substrate supports a colony of bacteria that converts the ammonia from fish waste and excess food, into nitrITEs, then into nitrATEs. It does offer very little mechanical and of course no chemical filtration. This is why you have the clean the gravel, which is part of a regular maintenance schedule anyways, no mater what type of filtration you have.

With any type of filtration, it is only as effective as the person who maintains it. I'm sure my $300 filter wouldn't work that well if I overfed my fishes, never performed my weekly gravel cleanings/water changes, etc.

Depending on the size of tank, HOB filters would not be that great of a filter as well. I own an Eheim 2128 (on my 55 gallon), Emperor 400 (on my 37 gallon), Emperor 280 (on my 37 gallon). The Emperors are HOB filters. The media in them barely holds enough for my tank. This is why I plan to switch to a canister filter on the 37 gallon tank, and move the 400 on the 10 gallon tank.

 

[Adrinal]