Undergravel filter with Live sand?

[dandt40]

I just added some live sand to a new tank that just has a canister filter and an undergravel filter with powerheads. when i turn the powerheads on, they suck some of the smaller pieces of sand through and spit them out. is this normal? does it go away eventually? or should i loose the undergravel filter. its a newly setup tank with no fish.

 

[dandt40]

sorry should have done a search first... from what i read i should get rid of it...
the powerheads and undergravel filter that is...

 

[dandt40]

okay, sorry im having a conversation with myself here... but should i leave the powerheads in for better water circulation? its a 55 gallon tank.

 

[col]

Yes, keep the powerheads but remove the UGF.

 

[dandt40]

Originally posted by col
Yes, keep the powerheads but remove the UGF.
do i actually have to get the filter part out from under the sand or can i just disconnect the tubes?

 

[beth]

UGFs are the original filters designed for the aquarium hobby. Namely, the FW hobby. When hobbyists started trying to set up marine tanks, including myself, way back in primeval times, they used the established methodologies of filtrations that had been used for the FW hobby. Namely UGF and large-sized substrate [crushed coral]. From that point, we have realized that this form of filtration is really terribly inefficient for marine tanks. Thus we developed other, better, filters for our hobby.
Get rid of your UGF, unless you have a FW tank. BTW, canisters can also not be the best choice for marine tanks unless you are constantly changing and or cleaning media.

 

[dandt40]

Originally posted by Beth
UGFs are the original filters designed for the aquarium hobby. Namely, the FW hobby. When hobbyists started trying to set up marine tanks, including myself, way back in primeval times, they used the established methodologies of filtrations that had been used for the FW hobby. Namely UGF and large-sized substrate [crushed coral]. From that point, we have realized that this form of filtration is really terribly inefficient for marine tanks. Thus we developed other, better, filters for our hobby.
Get rid of your UGF, unless you have a FW tank. BTW, canisters can also not be the best choice for marine tanks unless you are constantly changing and or cleaning media.
thats what i was affraid of... this is the first time that i have ever tried to make a more "advanced" salt water tank (more then just fish). what is a good idea for filtration for someone just starting out? Eventually I would like to get into some soft corals in this tank. nothing too light intesive because I am running VHO lights. do i need to setup some kind of sump? is some good place to read up on the different options?
thanks a lot for the help.