Undergravel Filter For Sorority?

[JustKia]

I don't know much about undergravel filters but the tank I'm picking up today for my sorority has one.
It's a double hexagon tank.
I understand that bettas like less flow, although none of mine seem bothered by it, so I'm undecided on whether to leave the undergravel filter in place or ditch it and use a small internal instead.
From what I've been googling I can't really see where the bacs are supposed to colonise the undergravel filter, nor how I can "seed" it from my own mature media.
It also seems to be that plants don't do well with the undergravel filter and I want to have real plants in there... I guess I could "pot" them up but is it worth it?
I'm planning on black substrate in one side, white in the other. If I keep the undergravel filter I'll need to buy gravel (obviously), if I'm ditching it then I'll buy sand instead as I much prefer the look.

 

[kizno1]

im dont like undergravel fillters that much its so anoying cleaning the media. you can bu sponge fillters of ebay for a couple of pound

 

[JustKia]

Well in the end the wish for sand won over so bye bye UGF.
Running the tank with a small internal filter, if that looks too strong then I'll swap it out for something else.
Will post up pics tomorrow when I've got it all sorted.

 

[Rezatii]

With girls current isn't quite as much of an issue, they don't have such big fins dragging them down, but keep an eye on it anyway they still won't like it to rough lol

 

[pippoodle]

my female sorority is in my rio 300 with 2 external 1250lph filters and an internal 1000 lph filter - girls dont mind the flow at all - they play in it - even the longer finned girls - all the girls really need is plenty of plants , caves etc and nice clean water

got over 40 in there with some community fish

 

[JustKia]

Yep, they'll be getting lots of real plants (another reason I ditched the UGF). Thinking some coconut caves would go well too.
Looks pretty funky with black sand in one side, white in the other. Going to add some white pebbles to the black side and black pebbles to the white.
Now that it's running (minus fish atm) the internal filter actually blows water through the top tunnel and returns through the bottom one.
Can't wait to see it with fish in LOL - Oh and it needs moon lights too!

 

[ellena]

Do you mean the tank that's 2 hex tanks joined by a tube? Will 1 filter give water circulation in both sides?

 

[JustKia]

Two hexagon shaped tanks joined by 2 hexagon shaped tubes.
Popped the filter in and the outflow of the filter aims right down the top tube which in turn creates flow the other way through the bottom tube - worked out really well.
Each of the connecting tubes is about 3.5" diameter.