undergravel filter

[kyle carpenter]

Hey all,
I have a 20 gal. with cc and a undergravel in it but every one on this sites tells me to take the undergravel filter out. The pet shop i go to and have been going to for about 4 yeaRS HAS A BEAUTIFUL 200 gal. reef tank with a bunch of really cool fish including a purple moon angel (purple tang)and they have had a ugf in it for about 3 years with no problems. i was wondering do i really need to take mine out or can it stay, and if i do need to take it out then can i just reach under the cc and slide it even thought there is a little bit of fish waste under there? instead of draning it all out and having to take all my fish and live rocks out?
Please reply asap

 

[2boyz]

HOW LONG HAS YOUR TANK BEEN UP <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[sinner's girl]

do you have a powerhead? if not, you may want to get one. you do not need to take out the ugf, we've had a ugf in the 55gl for over a year ( had one in all the other tanks too) with no problems. a powerhead will keep the water moving so waste will not built up under it. since our levels are reading zero we have not done a water change in awhile (just add water).
note: if you plan on have large amounts of lr you may want to take out the ugf (it could crack...)
also, what's right for others may not be right for you. there are many do's and don't in the hobby, but for each one you'll find someone to say they don't do as should do or do as shouldn't do (make any sense?)

 

[kyle carpenter]

thanks and to answer your questions i have had it up for about 3 weeks and about a week ago i bought 2 yellow tailed damsels to cycle with i already have 11 lbs. of lr and yes i have a power head attached to one of the tubes on the ugf and i have a normal setup on the other side for it on the ugf. and i have a hang on wisper 30 power filter.
Thanks if anyone else would like to post plz do so i want to learn as much as i kan. thanx

 

[kyle carpenter]

also how do you keep the cc as clean and as white as it was when i bought it i dont want to have to vacum it every week is there a invertebrae or fish that will clean it?

 

[kris]

you will never keep the cc as bright and shiny as new, however every time you do clean it it mixes up and turns up the white stuff again. with your ug I personally would just leave it, but add another powerhead to the other side. These ugs are most effective when they're "supercharged". I also run a ug on my 100g fowlr but it's run with 3 rio 3100's, ALOT of power running through those. Yes there are cleaning crews available to help clean, but with cc and a ug they won't be enough to eliminate cc maintanance.
Good Luck

 

[jacksonpt]

Everyone's got it pretty much right. UGF can be used, but there are better options out there. I have a UGF on my 75, and it does a decent job. I can keep most fish, and most of the semi-hardy corals. Anything real delicate I can't keep... cc does not have the buffering capabilities that LS does... and that will be your major limitation.
As for keeping it clean... all you can do is vacuum. I turn mine over every other week or so. It's a nissiance, but it's all I can do.