Ok... so UGF's are old school, and they are the easy way out, but I have to disagree about the effectiveness of them. They are easy to maintain, as in no maintenance, but if you vacuum your gravel regularly, a good deal of the "mud" can be removed without disturbing the whole thing. They are also quiet an unobtrusive. A clear plastic tube with an airstone is easily hidden with a plant or other decor, unlike the hobs or internals, which are bulky and very obvious. To hide them away limits their effectiveness and can restrict the flow of water around them. The other option, external or sump carry a very high price tag in comparison.
Compare the cost:
UGF £10.00 + air pump £8.00 for a basic one
Fluval 2+ £30.00+
Ehiem External Filter £65.00 minimum
Sump ??? I've never had one, so you tell me!
Substrates:
true, UGF doesn't work with fine sand, period. But fine and medium gravel and even course sand can be used with UGF successfully. A mixture of course sand and gravel is no problem for bottom dwellers, it's what they find in the real world!
Maintenance:
UGF Vacuuming during water change occasional airstone replacement (Every three months or so, spend about 50p on a new one!)
Fluval 2+ Weekly rinse and replacement media as necessary. (This depends on how much work it has to do. See below)
Ehiem External Weekly? rinse and replacement when needed. (This depends on how much work it has to do. See below)
Sump Dunno
Efficiency is something that is totally dependant on the tank, what you put in, and all the other factors that we can or cannot control. If you overfeed your fish, as many beginners do, the HOB and Externals clog up very quickly, whereas UGF does not. A vacuum of the gravel and the problem is solved. Ever cleaned a HOB that has been subjected to overfeeding? YUCK! Not a pleasant job! Most HOBs have two filter media in them, so you can change one without disturbing the balance much.
Carbon: Can be added to all types of filters, including UGF, sorry, but it can, much to the annoyance of some!
When it comes down to it, it's up to the individual, as to what you want your tank to look like. If you are looking for a heavily planted tank, then a power filter or external filter or sump is far better, as there is less water surface disturbance and much stronger currents. If you want an ornamental tank, then UGF may well be the solution. A well stocked tank with good quality water is the main thing, however it is obtained.
One more point to mention:
Are UGF fading away because of shops making MUCH more money on the higher priced, higher maintenance options? Are we, the aquarists being conditioned to expect to pay a lot of money to support our hobby? Why? I have 8 tanks, 130 fish, air filtration and clean, healthy tanks. I would bet that my whole setup cost less than some of your fancy tanks with all your hi-tech and expensive equipment. £30.00 per filter, hehe, try £2.50 for an equivelent air box filter! Who's the mug?
/www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl36...avelfilter30x12
) that underground filters are used for deep sea beds for saltwater tanks if there isn't enough sand airation. This might be one reason why they are still alive. Personally I love external filters.
