Undergravel Filter?

DJ ArKaDaRkA · Feb 4, 2009

will a undergravel stop most of the poo and crap building up on my gravel?

im vacing everyday and getting loads up would a UG filter help with this?

should a normal filter stop this ive got a juwel internal atm but thinking of upgrading to exteral in a few months

all info welcome

rabbut · Feb 4, 2009

I tend not to have the issue with exturnals on sand TBH, but a lot of that is down to how I use flow. There's plenty of it over my substrate, so all the rubbish gets picked up and into the water column for removal. Sand also doesn't have as larger pits in it as gravel, so dirt doesn't get "trapped" as easily, making this method possible :good:

A UGF will pull the dirt deaper into the gravel, so you would need to do larger waterchanges to get out the same ammount of muck from half the plate at a time. That's 50% weekly waterchanges to keep things clean enough to work properly :crazy:

Personally, I wouldn't do it, rather I'd switch to sand, but if you want to go UGF, that's your choice. :nod:

All the best
Rabbut

DJ ArKaDaRkA · Feb 4, 2009

rabbut said:
I tend not to have the issue with exturnals on sand TBH, but a lot of that is down to how I use flow. There's plenty of it over my substrate, so all the rubbish gets picked up and into the water column for removal. Sand also doesn't have as larger pits in it as gravel, so dirt doesn't get "trapped" as easily, making this method possible

A UGF will pull the dirt deaper into the gravel, so you would need to do larger waterchanges to get out the same ammount of muck from half the plate at a time. That's 50% weekly waterchanges to keep things clean enough to work properly Personally, I wouldn't do it, rather I'd switch to sand, but if you want to go UGF, that's your choice.

All the best
Rabbut

not i dont want to use a UGF buy anymeans im just trying to reduce the amount of time i have my hand in the tank

i may have to try sand or i thought maybe just use flat slate but build some areas up like at the back but also make it so minimal waste can get in and under it thus almost having no waste products on the bottom what so ever

your thoughts on that would be welcomed

waterdrop · Feb 4, 2009

Yeah DJ, I agree with Rab that a UGF would probably just make your cleaning situation more complicated, if not worse.

So its very interesting what Rab just said about having a lot of flow over his substrate, just I guess not allowing as much debris to settle into the gravel but instead having it stirred up enough that more of it gets carried to the cannister inlet, correct Rab?

I guess what makes that seem even more interesting to me is to combine that thought with the comments of the planted tank folks (DS, AC, AN, etc.) about the benefits of lots of flow in never letting little micro-pockets of ammonia form that can trigger algae. Sort of takes me a step closer to thinking about having one of those hydor water movers (koralia?) as a supplement to 5x turnover rather than 10x turnover...

~~waterdrop~~