PlanetCatfish.com

I want to stop using my Undergravel filter, is it ok just to take out the tube and powerhead and leave the bottom tray in???

paul_southend2k wrote:I want to stop using my Undergravel filter, is it ok just to take out the tube and powerhead and leave the bottom tray in???

IMO, no, this leaves an area where you substrate doesnt cover the bottom of the tank. with the UGF water would be moving and passing through this area with the substrate acting as the filter. When you stop the waterflowing you can have any number of things build up inbetween the plastic of the UGF and the glass of the tank, this can cause problems by allowing food and other material (i.e. popp!) build up and foul the water. you definitly want to remove the UGF plate if you are changing to a different filtering method.

on a side note, dont you have to remove the gravel and UGF anyone periodicly to wash eveything? Just like a normal filter the food and junk is going to build up and need to be washed away, no? Ive never really used an UGF, so if Im wrong someone please say so ;)

I have a UGF with two power heads in my tank - I got this instead of a external filter due to the LFS saying to me that they have UGF's in ALL their tanks and they have never had any problems.....some of the tanks have been going for well over 10 years and the UGF's have NEVER had to removed and cleaned. Just the usual gravel cleaning..........

I am NO expert in this matter so I could be wrong, just passing on what I have been told

bigward wrote:I have a UGF with two power heads in my tank - I got this instead of a external filter due to the LFS saying to me that they have UGF's in ALL their tanks and they have never had any problems.....some of the tanks have been going for well over 10 years and the UGF's have NEVER had to removed and cleaned. Just the usual gravel cleaning..........

Would normal gravel cleaning simply be siphon vacuuming the gravel? or something else? I havent used a UGF myself so I really dont know what maintenance it requires.

Indeed ........ I just syphon the gravel slowly using a normal vaccum - it works for me.

I used UGFs on all my tanks (55 gallon, 20 gallon, and 10 gallon) and had no problems. For gravel cleaning, you need to thoroughly gravel vac the substrate. Also, on a 3-6 months, you need to stick your gravel vac hose down the uplift tube to suck up any debris there. Also do the same on all the covered openings on the UGF plate.

If you do not want to use the UGF, NEVER just turn it off. You need to remove the plates. How big is your tank? Are you using a powerhead with the UGF or just an airline tube to an airpump?