UGF sucks
- Thread starter ll206
- Start date
rip
New Member
I would like to find out about this myself. My tank came with one. I already have an established tank so I think that removing it might do more harm than good. I have added a tank mount filter and was thinking of just unpluging my UGF. My question would be, can I just leave the UGF in the tank or do I need to completely remove it?
gnelson
Member
Many people used to say that UGF were an absolute neccessity for a Salt Water tank. However for long term success, it is important not to run a UGF. For one thing an UGF does only biological filtration, and it does not even perform this function very well. Bacteria was once thought to only grow in the UGF, however it is now proven that bacteria grows on live rock, sand bottoms, the glass and any where else there is circulation.
One major problem with UGF is that they collect waste in large amounts and if the power is stopped and or circulation is stopped, you get major bacteria die off and level spikes. With other filters all you need is aeration in order to prevent die offs durning minor power outages. UGF also need to be cleaned often in order to prevent waste build ups. Usually within a few months the UGF is packed with so much waste that the filter gets jammed and the bacteria starts to die off. The filter seems to be working and you do not notice until it is too late and you lose fish.
A better bet would be a wet/dry filter or a simple box filter for smaller tanks. This way filters are easily cleaned. These filter pull the waste out of the aquarium and then it can be removed rather than pulling the waste into the substrate.
You need to remove the UGF plates and clean out the substrate of any waste.
A reverse flow UGF pushed the water down through the tubes rather than pulling the water up. This may add to the nitrification process by adding oxygen to the lower levels of the substrate and it may help to clean out the substrate somewhat, however it does not really make a UGF any more productive.
My suggestion is to remove the UGF and set up a better filter system in order to have long run success.
Graham
One major problem with UGF is that they collect waste in large amounts and if the power is stopped and or circulation is stopped, you get major bacteria die off and level spikes. With other filters all you need is aeration in order to prevent die offs durning minor power outages. UGF also need to be cleaned often in order to prevent waste build ups. Usually within a few months the UGF is packed with so much waste that the filter gets jammed and the bacteria starts to die off. The filter seems to be working and you do not notice until it is too late and you lose fish.
A better bet would be a wet/dry filter or a simple box filter for smaller tanks. This way filters are easily cleaned. These filter pull the waste out of the aquarium and then it can be removed rather than pulling the waste into the substrate.
You need to remove the UGF plates and clean out the substrate of any waste.
A reverse flow UGF pushed the water down through the tubes rather than pulling the water up. This may add to the nitrification process by adding oxygen to the lower levels of the substrate and it may help to clean out the substrate somewhat, however it does not really make a UGF any more productive.
My suggestion is to remove the UGF and set up a better filter system in order to have long run success.
Graham
dathem
Member
Hello,
I am trying an experiment with the ugf to make them more useful and eliminate the clogging problem that can happen with CC alone.I have about 4 " of CC with 40 pounds of live sand on top in a 55 gal tank. Since the ls doesn't need to be vaccummed the cc won't get clogged and the ugf should function better for a longer time.I have no fish the dig so the cc layer should remain intact.This tank has been set up and working fine since the week before Christmas Dec 2000.Fish are healthy and growing and no problems with the tank.
I am trying an experiment with the ugf to make them more useful and eliminate the clogging problem that can happen with CC alone.I have about 4 " of CC with 40 pounds of live sand on top in a 55 gal tank. Since the ls doesn't need to be vaccummed the cc won't get clogged and the ugf should function better for a longer time.I have no fish the dig so the cc layer should remain intact.This tank has been set up and working fine since the week before Christmas Dec 2000.Fish are healthy and growing and no problems with the tank.
dathem
Member
Hello,
I am trying an experiment with the ugf to make them more useful and eliminate the clogging problem that can happen with CC alone.I have about 4 " of CC with 40 pounds of live sand on top in a 55 gal tank. Since the ls doesn't need to be vaccummed the cc won't get clogged and the ugf should function better for a longer time.I have no fish the dig so the cc layer should remain intact.This tank has been set up and working fine since the week before Christmas Dec 2000.Fish are healthy and growing and no problems with the tank.
I am trying an experiment with the ugf to make them more useful and eliminate the clogging problem that can happen with CC alone.I have about 4 " of CC with 40 pounds of live sand on top in a 55 gal tank. Since the ls doesn't need to be vaccummed the cc won't get clogged and the ugf should function better for a longer time.I have no fish the dig so the cc layer should remain intact.This tank has been set up and working fine since the week before Christmas Dec 2000.Fish are healthy and growing and no problems with the tank.
K
krustytheclownfish
Guest
I've heard of people putting a net or webbing or something between two different layers of substrate to keep them separate. Just a thought.