Under Gravel Filters

[Trollfest]

I have a 63 l tank currently housing 5 neon tetras and a betta. I have ordered the betta his own tank due to not having much choice in what I can add and also I think the filter is a little aggressive for him. So, the tank I have ordered is 28l and comes with an undergravel filter. Do I have to have some kind of air pump to supply air to the underside of it? Also I was planning on a fishless cycle using some of the gravel, a couple of plants and half filling it with water from the 63l, is this sensible? I also have ammonia to add and a test kit. Do undergravels cycle in the same way as normal filters?

 

[arobinson1984]

To be honest I don't like undergravel filters, they are old technology. Although they work well enough, they are a pain to maintain.

I'd recommend taking the undergravel filter out and getting a small internal filter such as a fluval 2+ or a fluval U2, both are fairly cheap and much better than an undergravel.

Andy

 

[Trollfest]

Ok, would that be gentle enough? I have read about people modifying their's, which I don't really feel up to being quite new to this.

Also, what maintenance do they require, the undergravels that is?

 

[Trollfest]

Have just found out about sponge filters. They look ideal for my new 28l betta only (possibly a couple of shrimp also) tank. Would people agree? Are there any peculiarities with sponge filters I would need to know?

 

[drobbyb]

Sponge filters are great The only maintenance they require is a squeeze in old tank water once in a while. You do need an air pump to run one unless you are planning on putting a powerhead on top.

 

[rebrn]

hello, I have been told that under gravel filters are not the best and a pain to maintain. As previously mentioned a sponge filter or a small internal filter would work great. I personally have a aqua clear 20 on my 5 US gallon tank (I believe that is approx. 20L), I love it. It has a controller on it so you can control the amount of current from the output. At high it runs at 100gph at low 33 gph (per the box), I personally believe it runs a little slower, because when set to low, it has virtually no current. The AC 20s in the US run about $25, the replacement media is dirt cheap, also because of the way it is set up you can really customize what type of media you use (you don't have to use AC replacements if you don't want). It is a great little filter, easy set up and maintenance and fairly quite (even on the high setting).

 

[Trollfest]

hello, I have been told that under gravel filters are not the best and a pain to maintain. As previously mentioned a sponge filter or a small internal filter would work great. I personally have a aqua clear 20 on my 5 US gallon tank (I believe that is approx. 20L), I love it. It has a controller on it so you can control the amount of current from the output. At high it runs at 100gph at low 33 gph (per the box), I personally believe it runs a little slower, because when set to low, it has virtually no current. The AC 20s in the US run about $25, the replacement media is dirt cheap, also because of the way it is set up you can really customize what type of media you use (you don't have to use AC replacements if you don't want). It is a great little filter, easy set up and maintenance and fairly quite (even on the high setting).

Sorry to be a bit dense about this I've had a look at the powerhead on a couple of websites and it says it's for undergravel filters or just to create a current. Do you have it attached to a sponge filter? Am I right in thinking it sucks in water through the sponge and then spits it out at the top?

 

[drobbyb]

Yep, it sure does. It makes a sponge filter a super sponge filter. But for a betta tank, just an airpump would work fine.

rebrn has a good point here. The aquaclear 20 does have a flow adjustment, and might make a great option to an UG or sponge filter.

 

[Trollfest]

Yep, it sure does. It makes a sponge filter a super sponge filter. But for a betta tank, just an airpump would work fine.

rebrn has a good point here. The aquaclear 20 does have a flow adjustment, and might make a great option to an UG or sponge filter.

Do you mean have the aqcuaclear instead of an UG of sponge filter or use that with a sponge filter? I'm a bit confused, what exactly is a powerhead?

Oh, just found the aqua clear filter, which is different to the powerhead, yes? It does look very good but the tank I have ordered comes with a hood. Do you think it would fit under the hood? Can't find the dimensions anywhere.

 

[rebrn]

Sorry to be a bit dense about this I've had a look at the power head on a couple of websites and it says it's for under gravel filters or just to create a current. Do you have it attached to a sponge filter? Am I right in thinking it sucks in water through the sponge and then spits it out at the top?
[/quote]


I don't actually have an under gravel filter. I have never owned one, only because many people told me that they are a pain to clean/maintain. Don't quote me on this but I think that the power head somehow attaches to the under gravel filter to allow better water circulation. But again I really am not sure on that. From my understanding you do not attach it to a sponge filter. The sponge filter is a type of filter you can use instead of the under gravel filter, if you want.

Too be honest you are probably better off getting a cheap sponge, internal, or hang on filter, and not using the one that came with the kit. Most filters that come with the smaller tank (or cheaper) kits, usually aren't that great anyway. I mean try the under gravel filter and see, you might like it. It is just that everything I have ever heard about them says they are a pain to deal with. You can't really clean it completely without tearing down your entire tank, I have heard that frequently debris gets stuck under the filter and just sits at the bottom of the tank and rots away, causing water problems. Like I said, I have never owned one, never used one, so everything I know about them is hearsay. I mean try it if you want, you never know. But if it were me, I would start looking/pricing filters for smaller tanks, just to have a back up plan. Like I said I have the Aqua Clear 20 (I believe it is by Hagen) in my 5 gallon and I absolutely love it. It is a relatively inexpensive filter, it is small, quite, has an adjustable output, flexibility with media, it is a great little filter, I adore it and wouldn't use anything else on my small tank. But look around at your LFS or on-line. You can pick up filters for smaller tanks for fairly cheap, I have seen them for as little as $10 brand new on-line. Just bear in mind you do get what you pay for. But just look around for something that you like, just remember if you get a hang on type filter make sure it has a way to turn down and/or redirect the output current for the Betta, this may be something you want to check on with internal filters as well, don't know for sure I have all external/hang on filters.

Good Luck.

 

[drobbyb]

Undergravel filters can be run using an airpump or powerheads. Sponge filters can be run the same way. Yes a powerhead can run a sponge filter just as it can run an undergravel filter.

Look halfway down the page in this link. They sell sponge filters with powerheads attached.

 

[Trollfest]

Great advice Fishaholic and drobbyb thank you

It's awful being so new to this; any new bit of information I get I have to go away and research more and end up getting really confused! Then I feel like a pain when I ask stupid questions.

 

[drobbyb]

No such thing as a stupid question. I'm just glad I can be of help.

 

[rebrn]

No problem, I am new to fish myself, I only just started in September of this year, and I knew NOTHING when I started, and I mean nothing, I thought fish, tank and water that was all you need boy was I wrong . This forum is awesome, you will learn a lot, everyone here is super helpful. I can't believe how much I have learned in just 2 short months all from this site

 

[waterdrop]

Very much agree with the advice given. I really feel undergravels are not at all easy for beginners. The concept works fine and an experienced aquarist can make it work but internals and HOBs would be much easier for you as a beginner. I'm running an AC20 on a 5.5G Q-Tank that's cycling currently and was able to take advantage of the big plus of AC filters which is that the media area is just a simple box space, so I was able to easily add some ceramic gravel from the cannister filter on my main tank to help spur along the fishless cycle. I also, however, think the Fluval internals are great little filters. I've studied them and listened to the many great recommendations for them among the members here. On small advantage an internal would have over the AC would be if the tank were in a bedroom or such where I suspect the internal filter might be a little quieter due to less water noise. HOB filters tend to make the most water noise sounds. On the other hand, internals of course take up some of the volume of your tank and make the aquascape scene a little less natural, so that's also a consideration. Internals are, though, a little less noticable in the tank than a sponge filter.

~~waterdrop~~