UGF's gooin outta style??

[cocoa_pleco]

Is it me, or are ugf's goin outta style?? the only place that sells them around here anymore is petsmart and a 55g one went from 60$ to 22$.


Also, i got a sweet deal today. I found a aquaclear mini for sale for 2 bucks, and the only thing that was wrong with it is it had salt buildup from saltwater use.

[Nautilus29]

There at my walmart. But I had one on my 10g and I hated it. There was so much crap under there when I took it out.

[f1oored]

The idea behind them is good. Crap sinks to the bottom and then is sucked up. I think if it was attached to a cannister filter it would probably work pretty well. Most of them are powered by air stones which don't move a lot of water and that doesn't work well at all.

[Nautilus29]

Thats a pretty good idea f1oored mine was attached to an air pump and it didnt get anything out of there.

[f1oored]

you are up late!

[Nautilus29]

what do you expect I work third shift lol. I just stay up all night on the weekends too it makes sunday alot easier.

[f1oored]

I'm working right now. I always go back to regular sleep hours once I'm off work. I only work weekends though.

[Nautilus29]

sounds like an interesting job chatting online.:ezpi_wink1: j/k. If i only worked weekends I would go back to regular time to, but for me its a pain. spend the whole week staying up all night and then on weekends sleep all night for 2 days and then go back to work without sleeping since the night before. I just said screw it ill just stay up all night.

Oh I forgot that I had a power head on one side of my ugs, and there was still alot of crap in there. Honestly I dont think that even a canister filter would bring up all the crap that gets stuck under them. They are also a really big pain if you have plants, and you shouldnt use them if you are going to have fry. For all the work you have to put into cleaning under there its just not worth it to me. Its easier to clean the gravel with a gravel cleaner and then cleaning out the filter that sits right on top of your tank.

[Lady Hobbs]

Back to UGF.

People seem to like them or hate them but I am finding more hate them. Noted are some of the reasons:

1. You can't have live plants or the roots will clog up the plates.
2. Fry eggs can get sucked into the plate.
3. Too much junk is left under the plate that does not get removed. And in my opinion, so does ICK and bacteria and a good breeding grounds for tank worms.

I have 3 UGF stored away that will never be used. I had them attached to power heads on both ends of the tank but all I could see they did was drag the stuff (some of it) from under the plates and toss it back into the water again. I much prefer to use a gravel vacuum and clean that gravel out good every couple of weeks rather than tossing that stuff around in the water.

Only my opinion.

[Incredulous_Ed]

I can get a 10 gal UFG for a dollar at wal mart. But why would I want to?

[jeffs99dime]

I can get a 10 gal UFG for a dollar at wal mart. But why would I want to?

that's a good question. lol

[Severus]

I took my UGF out a few weeks ago. I had it in there and it wasnt doing anything except storing a bunch of crap. I will never recommend one to anyone! lol

[minabird]

When I redid my 10 gal a couple months ago after it sat for a few years empty, I removed the UGF. What a god awful mess that was!

[Severus]

Mine was the same way... the water was brown with disgustingness

[Drumachine09]

Hobbs and cocopleco helped me jerry rig my old ugf for my 2.35 gallon hex into a sponge filter made out ot the intake/exhaust tube of the old ugf, some gravel, some polyfill, and an old tetra color container!My tank was WAYYYY clearer than with the ugf when i woke up thismorning and fed my GS

[cocoa_pleco]

I know. when I first tried the idea, my hospital tank looked like sewer
, and next day, it looked like oasis! lol



Ill post the link to the idea in the diy forum for anyone.

[cocoa_pleco]

jeez, i cant remember. Drummachine, which section did I post the link on yesterday?