Printerhands
Aquarium Advice Activist
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2013
- Messages
- 102
Would it matter if I used an under gravel filter since I'm going to do live plants with a substrate. Like will it take to much of the nutrients out of the gravel and substrate?
I read somewhere that keeping live plants with Under Gravel filters is not good since the roots can grow down into it and mess it up somehow. If I was you, I would just remove the filter now, before things get too settled and get a HOB filter or a canister filter. Under gravel filters are known for not doing a good job since they kind of just hold all the muck down under, and that needs to be taken out and cleaned under every year or so. I just don't think it is worth it IMO , but some people here swear by them.
My roommate used to have a heavily stocked planted tank before he moved in with me and used an under gravel filter and his tank was happy happy but instead of the power head sucking the stuff out he had it to where it was pushing water down into it and up through the gravel. Just an idea. I use a filstar xp and I love it it does such a good job I only have to replace the fine stuff every 3 months but I do rince all the foam every month though.
You're describing a reverse flow UG filter. An improvement in that (hopefully) filtered water is pumped into the plates and conceivably debris is flushed out of the substrate and into the filter intake. However, just like with a traditional UG filter, if you are using substrate fertilizers for root feeding plants, most likely they will be introduced into the water column and may lead to algae problems.
Would it matter if I used an under gravel filter since I'm going to do live plants with a substrate. Like will it take to much of the nutrients out of the gravel and substrate?