Under Gravel Filter

[zavitar]

hiya, I am new to the fish tank game but have been donated two tanks, one 10 gallon and one 20 gallon, the 10 gallon is all set up so have no questions about that. My queries are with the 20 gallon tank, we have an under gravel filter and I wasn't sure how we would go about cycling it as it has no media or area for sponge? Does this need the full fishless cycle?

Any help/recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[doresy]

Best thing really would be to remove the UGF completely and get a suitable internal and cycle it (fishless) Much better in the long run. An internal filter would not be expensive and there is always Ebay if funds are tight

 

[OldMan47]

When you are using the UGF, the gravel is the filter media. You want a nice even layer of gravel at the right depth across the top of the filter plate. I no longer remember back that far accurately, but it seems like it was 4 or 5 cm last time I did it. If you want to try cloning the filter, lay the clone material on the gravel surface and let the flow through the gravel seed the filter. A full fishless cycle is still not only possible but is a good idea. All ammonia additions, etc. will be done just as if the tank were using a canister or hang on back filter. The testing results during the cycle will also mean the same thing.