Undergravel Filter
- Thread starter Chromis88
- Start date
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=284686
this guy also has another thread refering to the success of a UG filter i will post it later
this guy also has another thread refering to the success of a UG filter i will post it later
Fat Man
New member
As Paul B has demonstrated there is more than one way to skin a cat. On this board you'll find peolple debating the values of deep sand beds, amounts and types of live rock, yada, yada, yada. This hobby is really about experimentation there is little that is really set in stone. I think a reverse flow might have some application in a FOWLR. If the experiment fails changing to something different should be that difficult since a 65 gallon is not overly large and you wouldn't a mess of corals to deal with.
Chromis88
New member
Fat Man,
You might have the best signature ever!!
I agree that there are many ways to do things which is why I started this thread. It is very interesting to me that so many methods can be successful. I love how the people who shoot things down usually just read it somewhere and rarely ran into trouble with it themselves. I feel that these stances evolve over time ... a new method comes out and is proclaimed the best way which over time deduces older ways to be called the wrong way, when in fact I doubt there was really anything wrong with the old way, people just stopped using it.
I think I might have to give the reverse UG a try since I have the equipment. Now to hunt for info on them...
You might have the best signature ever!!
I agree that there are many ways to do things which is why I started this thread. It is very interesting to me that so many methods can be successful. I love how the people who shoot things down usually just read it somewhere and rarely ran into trouble with it themselves. I feel that these stances evolve over time ... a new method comes out and is proclaimed the best way which over time deduces older ways to be called the wrong way, when in fact I doubt there was really anything wrong with the old way, people just stopped using it.
I think I might have to give the reverse UG a try since I have the equipment. Now to hunt for info on them...
Chromis88
New member
reeferkid said:
Very true, however the reason I am considering this method is because I seem to hear alot about plenums and DSBs hitting a certain point (7 years it seems) and then causing problems. I've never actually heard of this with a UGF, and although there aren't as many setups out there like this, Paul's is a good testiment that it can work.
Paul B
Premium Member
The problem with UG filters is that people with reefs try to use them the way we did in the fresh water days. They will not last long that way and you will be always plagued with algae due to the accumulated crap in them. If you reverse it and put some kind of filter on it so detritus does not invade it too much it will last forever (or at least 34 years) The other "problem" with them is that they are cheap and require no parts or maintenance, not good for business. You will not find many "experts" that recommend them because most experts are young and never used them. I know some of them, and I am older than most of them and none of them has an old tank. I am far from being an expert on DSB's or SSB" but I am an expert on Reverse UG filters. My tank may be the longest running with this type of filtration. When UGF's are mentioned you will hear things like was said at the beginning of this thread. I doubt any of those guys have any experience with UG filters run the correct way in a reef. I have never heard of a tank crash with a properly running reverse UG filter. Have you?
Search through the forums and see how many problems there are with DSB'S
Have a great day.
Paul
you can see the depth of the sand here, about one and a half inches.
Search through the forums and see how many problems there are with DSB'S
Have a great day.
Paul
you can see the depth of the sand here, about one and a half inches.
Chromis88
New member
Alright Paul, you have me hooked. I am going to try it.
I see the 1.5 inches of substrate, what are you using as substrate and what grain size?
Do you use anything to lift the rock structure or does it just sit on the UGF and substrate? I was thinking of making pvc legs for my rocks to help eliminate dead spots but I think pinpointing the weight of the rocks into smaller legs might damage the UGF plate.
Also, how much flow would you recomend per square foot of UGF?
I see the 1.5 inches of substrate, what are you using as substrate and what grain size?
Do you use anything to lift the rock structure or does it just sit on the UGF and substrate? I was thinking of making pvc legs for my rocks to help eliminate dead spots but I think pinpointing the weight of the rocks into smaller legs might damage the UGF plate.
Also, how much flow would you recomend per square foot of UGF?
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