IS and underground filters

[dwarf-puffers]

i am starting aa bredding tank and i need to no if an undergravel filter is a good idea i have been told it is not if so y and is this true ?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I don't have much experience with UGF's, but i wouldn't see why they'd be bad, although in my experience sponge filters are good for fry tanks and i have always had them in my fry tanks and they keep the tank well cycled and filtrated .

 

[vantgE]

They are bad in most tanks and I just used it in a breeding tank for maylandia lombardoi, And have to suggest the commonly used sponge filter. Fry get lost in the gravel and it is harder to care for them then in a bare tank, UGF's also results in a dirtier tank then glass bottom and sponge which is definately the way to go, plus a sponge filter is only like three dollars

 

[guppygirl]

Yeah, don't get a ugf. Very inefficient and dirty, plus you have the danger of your fry getting sucked under!!
I would think a sponge filter would be best.

 

[Bignose]

I copied and pasted this out of a reply I gave a few weeks back:

Undergravel (UG) filters did revolutionize in-home aquaria. Before their common use, one had to have a heavily planted tank and stock extremely lightly by today's standard. Effectively, the filtration was performed by the plants. UG filtration allows the entire gravel bed to become the home to all the beneficial bacteria. Lots of surface area, a significant amount of flow, and some mechanical filtration is perfomred as the larger particles get sucked down into the gravel and kept there.

But they can probably be considered obsolete too. You had to gravel vac part of the tank consistently. If too much gunk built up in one point, the beneficial bacteria are blocked from the flow. Bacteria blocked from the flow are in a low oxygen zone, meaning they become anaerobic, and may excrete harmful chemicals. On the other hand, the gravel bed could 'rathole' in that a channel could form where in the water could bypass the gravel bed -- and the ammonia would not be reduced to less dangerous wastes. But, you could not over clean the gravel, either, as you might disturb and/or vacuum up too much beneficial bacteria causing a mini-cycle. So, you have to clean the gravel some, but not too much.

There is nothing inherently wrong with UG filters, I just think that there are better alternatives out there, such as the revolutionary idea of the filters with a bio-wheel. The great thing about the bio-wheel, you know exactly where the beneficial bacteria, so you know where to keep safe from dechlorinated water and medications. So long as you keep your bio-wheel safe, no mini cycle.

I also agree with the above comments about sponge filters in a fry tank. Very little current, and you cen keep the sponge filter running in your show tank to keep it seeded with beneficial bacteria until the fry tank is needed.

 

[boxman]

I have an UG filter and run it with a fluval 204 canister - absolutely no problems.

I can understand this could be a bit of a mess on it's own and I definately wouldn't run an UG filter in a fry tank!

Saying that, my LFS which is also the aquarium on Guernsey uses UG on all it's tanks and the fish are all really healthy.

I guess it's down to good cleaning and using what works for you!