Reverse flow UGF

[jim48]

Anyone using reverse flow UGF? If so, what kind of substrate? Any additional filtration on the tank?

 

[blmeier7]

I don't know of too many people using reverse UGF for saltwater and definitely not for a reef tank. You really aren't taking any of the excess waste out of the tank but "storing" the waste under substrate in the tank. Eventually the waste will cause problems. With all of this being said I have never tried a reverse UGF but I would be interested in hearing someones opinion that has actually tried this long-term.

 

[tperk9784]

This type of thing wont work on a reef tank because the substrates we use are just not compatible. it is possible on FW systems beacue gravel is large very large compared to what we use in Reef tanks.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

Both statements are not true.

I had upto last year run reverse flow UGF (for over 5 years) with CC substrate....NO issues at all.
( and other people on this forum have run RUGF's aswell).

 

[jim48]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9716845#post9716845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BurntOutReefer
Both statements are not true.

I had upto last year run reverse flow UGF (for over 5 years) with CC substrate....NO issues at all.
( and other people on this forum have run RUGF's aswell).

What kind of substrate? Could you give me more info?

 

[jim48]

Also, this RFUGF would be use presently on a fowlr system, not a reef.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

your fine....CC...(crushed coral) substrate
make sure you get a nice powerhead with the foam pre-filter.....

 

[jim48]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9718191#post9718191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BurntOutReefer
your fine....CC...(crushed coral) substrate
make sure you get a nice powerhead with the foam pre-filter.....

Do you think its possible to use crushed coral underneath a sand bed, separated with plastic screening, like a plenum with a RFUGF?

 

[BurntOutReefer]

ahhhh...jaubert method....
the plenum will only work correctly in anaerobic conditions....
which with the powerheads would defeat the purpose of a plenum...also, you will have a heavier bio-load, imo, then a jaubert method could support.....

 

[jim48]

Well, I don't care about the plenum part of it per sae, I'm just trying to come up with a method to use a RFUGF and keep the sand for substrate in the tank. I like the sand better than CC and the fish seem to be able to feed off of it better also. I just don't know if the water could be forced up through the screening and the sand bed.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

you'll clog if you use sand.
one or the other....both wont work.

 

[jim48]

Thats what I figured, thanks. I had cc in the past with a fowlr tank and always had algae issues with it, but that could have been caused by many things.