Ok i am new to this stuff so i got myself a undergravel filter wiht a power head and i also got another filter that hooks up to the side of the tank. So I instaled the undergravel and hooked it up to a powerhead so my question is do i need to out any kind of filter or do i just let it run like that. The undergravel tube is hooked right up to the powerhead and it sprays right out. BTW i got a 20 gal.
Undergravel filter
- Thread starter THEONE1
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Jchillin
Aquarium Advice Addict
That's a lot of filtering for a 20gal. What do you plan to put into the tank? Are you cycling the tank at this point? Many folks never use a ugf and feel it isn't needed.
FancyGuppyGuy
Aquarium Advice Freak
GERAT! 
the UGF is one of the Best bio filters you can have and with a power head it really does an excellent job. I have a double UGF with power heads and a hanging filter on my 29 gallon ( 520+ GPH) and it works great. You have to remember there will be alot of current so fish that are really slow types probably wont like it in there. Put about 2 1/2- 3 inches of gravel over the UGF. You vaccum lightly a couple times a week. Every couple of weeks or so vaccum one side of the tank good then switch the next time.
Types of fish I have that do well with current Tiger Barbs, Plecos, Loaches, flying foxes, guppies, etc basically alot of fish can handle a good current. If the fish moves slow and looks really slow it probably wont like current much.
Anyhow Cycle the tank first before getting the fish you want to keep.
If you would like more bio filtration get a sponge filter and put it on the intake of your hanging filter leave about 1/2 inch of the end showing so it can still suck up the solid wastes.
the UGF is one of the Best bio filters you can have and with a power head it really does an excellent job. I have a double UGF with power heads and a hanging filter on my 29 gallon ( 520+ GPH) and it works great. You have to remember there will be alot of current so fish that are really slow types probably wont like it in there. Put about 2 1/2- 3 inches of gravel over the UGF. You vaccum lightly a couple times a week. Every couple of weeks or so vaccum one side of the tank good then switch the next time.Types of fish I have that do well with current Tiger Barbs, Plecos, Loaches, flying foxes, guppies, etc basically alot of fish can handle a good current. If the fish moves slow and looks really slow it probably wont like current much.
Anyhow Cycle the tank first before getting the fish you want to keep.
If you would like more bio filtration get a sponge filter and put it on the intake of your hanging filter leave about 1/2 inch of the end showing so it can still suck up the solid wastes.
It is well known that UGF become nitrate factories unless they are reverse UGF...
Be forwarned that aquariums being UGF filtered can easily crash. They require regular matience to prevent problems...so its really up to you if you want to use them.
a good power filter would be good enough for a 20 gal.
Be forwarned that aquariums being UGF filtered can easily crash. They require regular matience to prevent problems...so its really up to you if you want to use them.
a good power filter would be good enough for a 20 gal.
Kasakato
Aquarium Advice Freak
I would get a Bio-wheel 125 or 170. These should be good enough. I would avoid UGF as my friend who is using one told be they can a real pain.
Jchillin
Aquarium Advice Addict
Cycling refers to establishing nitrifying bacteria in the tank. Read the "Nitrogen Cycle" in the articles section. To put it simply, the bacteria removes the ammonia and nitrites from the tank which are toxic to fish.
Apocalypse_Gold
Aquarium Advice FINatic
For a 20 gal, you might be better off without the powerhead unless it has a built in filter. The idea of the ugf is to pull the junk underneath the filter but a powerhead would probably pull it up and shoot it back into the tank. You should be okay with using an airstone to move the water in the column. Many people dislike ugf but as a secondary filter they are great. I have only had one problem with mine. When my brother cleaned the tank my pleco got scared and swam behind the filter tube and got stuck and tore his beautiful dosal fin trying to get out. I guess my real problem is that he is too big for the tank.
FancyGuppyGuy
Aquarium Advice Freak
Use the Power head it makes the UGF do its job even better. An UGF is not really for mechanical waste filtration thats why you have the hanging filter. You want anything that makes it under the UGF to be pulled up and back to the surface. The basic Idea is that water flows through the gravel and uses the gravel as a bio filter. If you do not vaccum throughly and let your UGF get full of wastes your asking for trouble.
If you vaccum your gravel throughly in sections every week or so a UGF never goes bad. Its those people who do not do much tank maintenance that have trouble with UGF's. Its these same types who over feed their fish too. I have had mine for 3 years in this 29 gallon tank and have had 0 problems. I have always used them and they are one of the best bio filters you can get. I have them in every tank I have.
Take your tank break it down into sections 2-4. Every week vaccum the gravel in one section throughly all the way down to the bottom. The rest of the tank vaccum the surface of the gravel lightly. Every month or so move things around and vaccum under them. Anyone can have a UGF and use it effectively if you take care of it properly.
Get some trumpet snails they are great for UGF's as the go into the gravel and rummage through it keeping the gravel clean.
Never! add that stuff that says it Makes the water CLEAR as it clogs an UGF.
Anyhow cycling is something you need to read about and understand before adding fish to your tank no matter what type of tank you have.
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling2.htm
http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/cycle2.html
http://article.dphnet.com/cat-01/naturewonders3.shtml
http://article.dphnet.com/cat-01/naturewonders4.shtml
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/biologicalfiltrat.htm
http://www.bluecrayfish.com/cycle.htm
http://www.bioconlabs.com/nitribactfacts.html
Here are a few articles to help about cycling.
If you vaccum your gravel throughly in sections every week or so a UGF never goes bad. Its those people who do not do much tank maintenance that have trouble with UGF's. Its these same types who over feed their fish too. I have had mine for 3 years in this 29 gallon tank and have had 0 problems. I have always used them and they are one of the best bio filters you can get. I have them in every tank I have.
Take your tank break it down into sections 2-4. Every week vaccum the gravel in one section throughly all the way down to the bottom. The rest of the tank vaccum the surface of the gravel lightly. Every month or so move things around and vaccum under them. Anyone can have a UGF and use it effectively if you take care of it properly.
Get some trumpet snails they are great for UGF's as the go into the gravel and rummage through it keeping the gravel clean.
Never! add that stuff that says it Makes the water CLEAR as it clogs an UGF.
Anyhow cycling is something you need to read about and understand before adding fish to your tank no matter what type of tank you have.
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling2.htm
http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/cycle2.html
http://article.dphnet.com/cat-01/naturewonders3.shtml
http://article.dphnet.com/cat-01/naturewonders4.shtml
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/biologicalfiltrat.htm
http://www.bluecrayfish.com/cycle.htm
http://www.bioconlabs.com/nitribactfacts.html
Here are a few articles to help about cycling.
