Undergravel filter

[DestinyRider]

hi, i thinking of adding sands to my tank. do i need a undergravel filter ? how to use a undergravel filter as i nv use before ? does Undergravel filter helps to clean up the sand ?

[stormhawk]

The UGF basically turns your substrate into a huge biological filter. You basically place it at the bottom of the tank with the uplift tubes in place, and pour your substrate over it, thereby covering it totally. This method of filtration is not suitable for planted tanks if you intend to place base fertiliser. The flow of water through the substrate/gravel is done by using an airpump to make water exit through the uplift tubes. For better circulation, the uplift tubes should be connected to a powerhead.

The other method involving a UGF plate is reverse flow UGF, whereby you force water through the gravel bed and out into the water by using a pump to push water into the uplift tubes, instead of making water flow exit through the tubes. Both methods are workable.

[kominato]

In my experience, I removed my UGF after 6 months as it was collecting muck inside which I found it very hard to remove.

[DestinyRider]

What if I add sand without ugf, will the sand be more dirty ? For tank with substrate, how do u make the substrate clean Without ugf ?

[kominato]

Then you will have to suction to clean the sand bed periodically bro

[stormhawk]

A deep sand bed may not be beneficial for freshwater aquariums. It is not easy to maintain the condition of the surface of the sand if your fish keep pooping everywhere. The only way is to be diligent with your maintenance schedule and use a simple air tube to siphon out the blobs of dirt rolling on the top of the sand. Very easy but time consuming for very large tanks that utilise fine sand as the substrate.

If you use pea gravel or lapis gravel or quartz gravel, you can rely on those gravel vacuums instead.

[aquarius]

Do take note that for UGF, if you're using a powerhead instead of airpump, use lapis size gravel/sand cos if the sand is too fine, some of it may fall underneath the UGF plate and get sucked up by the powerhead and spoil the powerhead. If you want to have gravel/sand, use a thin layer of about 2cm thickness will do cos having a substrate that is too thick and with no rooting plants in it, will cause Hydrogen sulphide to be built up in the substrate which is very toxic to the tank's inhibitants.