Planted Tank With Ugf?

[hakisuma_chan]

Does anybody have a planted tank with an undergravel filter? What substrate did you use? Gravel, then Flourite? Or vice versa? Can you send me pictures?

I'm going to turn my 10 gallon into a planted tank, and currently have an undergravel filter. I didn't want to buy another filter/powerhead, because they're expensive and take up room, so I researched a bit and found a few people online that have planted tanks with undergravel filters. The pros seem to be that they're inexpensive and easy to set up (and I already have one going); the cons are that the plant roots get clogged and stuff, and get damaged on the process of removing them to clean.

I want to try to make a planted tank work with an UGF, and am wondering if anybody here has one with an undergravel??? Pictures would be nice And can some one give suggestions on gravel/substrate? I'm kinda confused about that part... Thanks!

 

[DevUK]

I'm sure it can be done I'd be worried of a few things though (just thoughts off the top of my head). If you're anything like me you'll want to be swapping plants around trying to achieve that perfect look (I'm nowhere near!). This could have a few issues tied in with it. One is the roots as you've mentioned, they could block the UGF, and also make it hard to uproot a plant.

The other concern would be again if you're uprooting plants, would this disturb the biological filtering capability of the gravel that a UGF relies on?

I've never used a UGF so I can't really give you a definate yes or no I'm afraid

 

[Underwurlde]

At a pure guess, you'd HAVE to use gravel no? UGF's rely on gravel, no? Any 'proper' substrate you put down would just get washed around the tank! So, thinking about gravel then, the roots of the plants, as they grow would clog the gravel and inhibit the filter - so you'd be looking at uprooting & replanting every (guess) 1 year. Gravel is next to useless for growing plants IMO - it can be done, but you'd have to use root tabs and / or dose the water column with ferts. Just my thoughts, but then again I have never used an UGF....

Andy

 

[nry]

AquaClear HOB/hang on back filters are pretty cheap, especially for a 10-gallon - I think other companies such as Azoo (?) make them aswell, the one for my 5-gallon cost me £12.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I would say a UGF in most cases is more hassle then it is worth. a Hang on back filter or small external canister filter is normally more effective and less hassle. They can also be picked up pretty cheap so a UGF really has nothing to recommend it.

 

[hakisuma_chan]

Well, I read someone put down around two inches of gravel first, then the substrate... I was hoping UGF would work, but it sounds like external filters are the way to go in the long run. Will they interfere with a tank hood?

Thanks for the input!

 

[DevUK]

depends really. A HOB literally hooks over the side of the tank so they might not fit properly if you have plastic mouldings around the top of the tank and no gaps in your tank hood. Might require some "alterations" with a junior hacksaw

Alternatively you can get hold of cheap Eden copy filters from China. I have one made by Boyu. It cost me about $25 shipped (shipping was more than the cost of the filter). Search ebay for "External Filter" and trawl through

Failing that, you could go with an internal, something like a Fluval 1+ or 2+ depending on how many fish you've got. The 1+ is rated up to 40litres which, if you're 10 gallon tank is US gallons (which judging by your location I assume it is), would do the trick They're quite small and discrete but you don't get any flow control like you do with the 2+ and in my opinion are a bit basic. But it would do

 

[nry]

Wow, cheap! E.g. UK/IE eBay item - 320156467136

Shame the splash on high postage but it works out at £20 for a small 200lph external filter which is not bad at all!

 

[DevUK]

Wow, cheap! E.g. UK/IE eBay item - 320156467136

Shame the splash on high postage but it works out at £20 for a small 200lph external filter which is not bad at all!

Thats the one I have

 

[nry]

Wow, cheap! E.g. UK/IE eBay item - 320156467136

Shame the splash on high postage but it works out at £20 for a small 200lph external filter which is not bad at all!

Thats the one I have

Not bad, is it me or is that the same one that AE sell for £37?

 

[DevUK]

Its a chinese clone essentially. It feels a bit cheap but it works

 

[nry]

Not bad, though my TetraTec EX600 was only £42 delivered from zooplus.co.uk, bit overkill for a small tank though, the £20 is likely a better option for small tanks.

 

[DevUK]

I was going to use it on my new tank, but decided to experiment with a HOB. Its a little noisey though (HOB)

 

[nry]

My HOB rattled until I put an elastic band around the media cover. A bit of bluetak on the point where it rests on the tank can help too.

 

[DevUK]

My HOB rattled until I put an elastic band around the media cover. A bit of bluetak on the point where it rests on the tank can help too.

Genius I'll try that. Its sitting on folded bits of paper at the mo. First thing that came to hand Might try some sticky foam pads.