These are unnecessary and can be dangerous. There is not enough carbon in these cartridges to provide sufficient chemical filtration , if you are running your filter with an air pump , you are not moving enough water through the carbon to provide good chemical filtration , and the carbon will restrict and may even stop water flow through the filter.
Additionally, when the carbon becomes saturated, it is possible for it to begin to release other toxins into your tank. If you do decide to use carbon cartridges with your under gravel filter, you should replace them at least three times a month. Remember to remove any carbon from the tank or filter before you medicate if the carbon is working, it should remove the medication from the tank in under an hour, in which case your fish won't get treated.
Also remember that water will follow the path of least resistance. If there is an area of the filter plate that is exposed possibly by digging fish , or if you have a power head on one side and an air stone on the other, you may not have any filtration from your under gravel filter.
Under gravel filters, when properly maintained, provide efficient biological filtration and adequate mechanical filtration. I would strongly recommend an under gravel filter for the first filter in a basic tank. You don't have to tear up your tank to clean your filter with an under gravel filter, because to clean it, all you have to do is siphon off the accumulated debris in the gravel when you do your regular water change.
Though some people claim that under gravel filters are unreliable or even dangerous, these claims are unfounded, unsupported, and irrational. Some supplemental filtration may not even help with this, as many styles operate inline with the main pump, or are diverted from the line and only active when the main water flow is on.
An undergravel filter, on the other hand, is right where it needs to be. Worried about solids buildup in your system?
Large designs often feature entire separate appliances to handle excess solids, including techniques that remove the solids to a separate mineralization tank where they can be stirred and aerated until they break down into a usable, nutrient rich liquid form.
No technology is perfect, of course, even the simple ones. Agitating the gravel periodically to dislodge organic buildup can help reduce maintenance. The UGF is cheap, easy, and offers a surprising range of benefits, taking the place of a number of other more complicated features and devices that a simple system may not really need. John Huntington. A gravel bed also provides a more enriched environment for fish, allowing a more natural range of behaviors Not all aquaponic systems use supplemental filtration.
Pre New. Press enter to submit. These filters are ready-to-go right out of the box and come with everything you need to install and use them:.
There are two main types of power filtration systems. For nano tanks and small fish bowls , you can use a small internal power system that sits or hangs inside the aquarium. For larger set-ups, the robust and classic Hang-on-Back or HOB filter is one of the best power options. HOB filters are more powerful than the smaller internal options, since they pump water out of your tank against gravity, but both styles work in similar fashions. The motor turns the impeller, which pulls water up the intake tube and sends it through the filtration stages.
Clean water flows back into the tank via the outflow vent. Large debris are caught by the filter pads inside the first stage, while pieces of carbon, ammonia chips, or bio-media in the other stages absorb or break-down toxins.
Water polishing sponges may remove microscopic debris as well, leaving your water sparkling clear and smelling fresh. Power systems are much more effective at removing debris and toxins from your water than the undergravel options, and they are a lot easier to maintain :.
Large aquariums usually require more than one filtration system. Power systems are better at collecting and removing debris from your tank, and offer more water purification than an undergravel system.
Premium models may also have built-in bio-stages, like wheels or outflow sponges , and all types allow customizable mixes of media.
Undergravel systems are ideal for feeding plants, but less useful for removing large debris or purifying water. Once in place, however, a power filter requires more attention. Undergravel systems are easy to maintain monthly but they are a beast when it comes to yearly cleaning.
Large debris like fish poop and dead leaves collect on top of the substrate and need to be vacuumed out. From a maintenance standpoint, even the weaker internal filters are superior to the undergravels because you can always remove them for cleaning. While undergravel systems are prized for their cheapness, the truth is that you can get a modern power filter for about the same cost once you factor in the air pump. In fact, combining an undergravel with a power system is a great way to get superb filtration in a large community tank!
They are similar in price, but a HOB or internal filter will provide much more filtration bang for your buck. Frankly, most folks who start with undergravels get sick of having to vacuum debris out every week, so save yourself the labor and get a power filter.
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