Under Gravel Filter

[@dwayneparsons543]

Through the late 70's through the early 90's all we used was under gravel both in fresh water and salt water or a sub pump box. I left the hobby and just returned only to find that under gravel was out of favor and discovered all of the haters. I loved my under gravel was so easy and so cost effective.

[@Nomadistar]

That is a main reason for it being phased-out...who wants to believe anything in life can be kinda simple and easy and affordable? Little money in those cases to be made unless you have a monopoly.

[@robertbaker3174]

I will put them back in when I get a larger tank. I had extremely heavy plant growth in a 75-gallon tank and nobody can tell me different.

[@vinceolshove1499]

Amazing video. I used UGF's starting roughly 40 years ago, which is amazing since I am only 29 (OK, maybe 53) many years. I left the hobby for 10 or 15 years and wanted to get back into it a few months ago. Bought a project 29G tank needing resealing, a stand and canopy hood needing rebuilding and refinishing, etc. (also a woodworking junkie). I went to the 15 minute away LFS and inquired about an UGF and HOB which is what I used as a kid. The clerk laughed at me, called me out of date, a fish murderer and any other thing you can disrespectfully think of. I went home and told my GF I didn't even want to play in this game anymore. I read 100 different blog's and realized that even though I had community tanks for 25+ years without incident, I was a felonious, bad person for even considering a UGF. I didn't give up...kept looking for reinforcement that I was not crazy...I had a good handle on things back then...and I still could. The Corey video you mentioned that I stumbled across, plus your video here convinced me old school is not a bad way to go. That tank I revived, with it's ultra cool looking stand and canopy paint job is now up and running. Have a Lee's Premier UGF, an Aqua Clear 50 with customized media use hot rodded HOB, and a jungle full of plants keeping that community of fish happy and healthy in a crystal clear tank. Weekly tested water parameters would be the envy of any aquarist. I found another not so LFS about an hour and a half away that has been there nearly 40 years. They use UGF in every tank. Worth the drive, and also the source of all the fish in that 29G, plus the future source for all 4 20G longs currently cycling. Thank you so much for your commitment to HIGH QUALITY, HONEST advice.

[@vinceolshove1499]

I would love to see progressive "new tank set up" videos. Your candor and way of explaining could be very useful for newbies or people returning to the hobby. Whatever you choose, I thank you for the good work and look forward to whatever you may decide to provide.

[@effervescentrelief]

Keep in mind it behooves manufacturers to also not push UGFs because regular filter sales is how they make a good portion of their money.

[@WhatIsMisophonia]

Actually, I've noticed UGFs have gotten quite a bit more expensive these days... All they have to do is add some bells and whistles and BOOM price explodes.

[@rockfella27]

YES SIR!!!

[@kevinbrislawn5918]

You are onto something. My UGF was great for years and great plant growth

[@chuxtuff]

How about some AI (or computer) designed UGF plates?? It should be possible today to design the best UGF any of us has ever used. Which design is the best?? I think the answer to that question is already known...to someone. But for a manufacturer unless you're the one that knows and then has the power to bring that to market you're not going to get rich off of it either...

[@calthmlikiseethm704]

Couldn't agree with you more I've used undercover filters since I was 18, I am now 61 never had any problems easiest maintenance by far...

[@johnm4875]

Used them over 50 years ago. May have to try them again. Thanks - great presentation. New subscriber!

[@terryforbes4038]

I’m 71. I’ve been in the hobby since age 10. I’ve used under gravel filters in all my tanks from 20 gallon longs to my 125 I use natural red flint sand/ gravel. I also run a Aqua-Master hand on back on my 125. Just vacuum when you do your water changes. I pour this waist water on my plants.. Truth bears investigation

[@janetswan3806]

I'm glad someone is talking about and defending the under gravel filter. I'm just getting back into the hobby after a 12 year break. Back then, it was the standard but now, the 'power filters' as I call them are all the rage. Many years back I had a problem with a bubble eye goldfish getting stuck on the intake pipe of the Aquaclear filter I used on my daughter's 10 gallon aquarium. As we all know, goldfish are messy critters and I wanted the most filtration I could get. It hadn't occurred to be to put a sponge on it but I rigged the filter intake into the lift tube of an under gravel filter. Bingo! No more stuck bubble eye, no more fish food clogging the filter! I got a deal on a used 55 gallon tank with a pair of Aquatech 30-60 filters. I had to special order an under gravel filter from one of those online mega outfits. Not only to the local and 'big box' pet shops carry them any more, they don't even have the lift tubes or cartridges for them. What a bummer. Anyways, I'd like to thank all you guys for the entertaining and informative videos.

[@AquariumCoop]

Thank you for making this video. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Your video and audio was spot on. Were you mic'd up ? or just cleaned it up super well in post?

[@rockoutlaw]

ive tried the hob and canister and went back to the UGF that i use to use i like it the best but ive been wondering what if you put ceramic biomedia under the deck any thoughts on weather that would improve the benificial bacteria or if it would hinder the UGF?

[@edmundooliver7584]

@@rockoutlaw why put it under put it on top of deck .

[@rockoutlaw]

@@edmundooliver7584 because the water gets sucked through there after the gravel

[@ceiral]

Hi @@rockoutlaw.. I am looking into UGF and was thinking the same thing since I have some extra biomedia. I know its been 2 years since you commented but was wondering do you go through with it? Glad I stumbled upon your comment.. Hoping to hear from you. Cheers!

[@zachariahbrady454]

What about hooking up something like an fx6 intake in place for where the air stone would be?

[@hardybryan]

For sand, try using the 'weed barrier' plastic sheeting from any yard or hardware store. Just thin, strong plastic sheeting with tiny holes to let the water through. You could also cut a trash bag into a large sheet to fit and poke tons of holes in it with a pin. For digging fish, put down some of the substrate, then put a layer of plastic mesh or light diffuser, then put more gravel over that. Fish can only dig down that far.

[@jlathem56]

Great informational video. The under gravel filter was my first filter in what was considered to be a larger trank back in the early 70s. That tank was a 20 high. My second larger tank was the 55g. I experienced with many things back in the late 70s to allow me to run creek sand, dirt, and clay (AKA cat litter) and found that if I used a very fine bridal netting over the filter and then put burlap over it I could get a minimum of substrate to get through and kept the water flow where it needed to be. I did have to clean the underside out about every 2 years but at the time I was happy with that. About 10 years ago I tried a landscape fabric (the one that allows water to pass through one way but not the other) over the under-gravel filter and got over 7 years without any issues. I would still be using that method in conjunction with an anoxic flow plenum but had to break down my fish room when I moved. I will go back to that system when I set back up my tanks. It was really nice to get 4+ years without a water change and when I did have to do one it was because someone that I had watching my tanks overfed like crazy. Anyway, I hope this helps you and if you give it a try let me know how it works for you.

[@acereport8939]

I had a turtle in a 55 gallon aquarium using an under gravel filter which I had to leave at my mothers house when I went off to college and later the navy. She didn’t do any maintenance but every time I visited, the water was perfectly clean and clear other than the occasional algae on the glass which I’d remove whenever I visited and I’d clean or replace the back of the tank filers which would get full of muck. I noticed that baby crayfish and ghost shrimp were living underneath the UGF which protected them from being eaten by the fish. One thing that I had to modify in order to make it all work was use some power heads instead of the air stones. I was using lava rock instead of gravel which I really only bought because it was inexpensive to fill the entire tank but in hindsight, that might have helped out in many ways since she wasn’t ever going to vacuum the gravel anyway and they doubled as a biological filter while also allowing those babies enough space to get underneath. The only maintenance she did was to fill up the water whenever it evaporated and feed the turtle and fish. It lasted for years until the turtle was too big for the tank and I had to make a pond in the backyard.

[@watchere1]

I ran a large pet shop, every tank had a under gravel filter and one box filter. That's it! Weekly water change of 10%. Now, with being said, my tank had power heads and a canister filter. I kept large fish that ate bait. I applied a weekly water change and filter change every two or three months. Once I started spending money, I added a uv sterilizer and co2 unit. The under gravel filter kept pulling everything into the gravel!!!!

[@joehoffer2112]

Very nice video. I have an old UG filter from the 80s still. No lift tubes but they can be purchased cheaply. Corey's video and yours have given me the bug to set it up again in one of my tanks.

[@209Control]

Thanks for the video. I've been using ugf for over 15 years and I haven't had any issues. I was going to take it out because of "experts" on Internet but I'm glad u & cory made these videos!

[@woodygreen6826]

I know this is an old video, but I just had to say I agree 100%. I've been at this hobby for 40 years, and under gravel and sponge filters have raised a lot of angelfish fry in my house. :)

[@53muse]

You can use under gravel filter with sand or dirt by placing weed block cloth/landscaping cloth over the gravel filter before you put the sand or dirt in.

[@johnatella8498]

But isn't it then impossible to get the debris out that accumalates under the filter?

[@rmerk6072]

Usually not a critic. You made a great informative video of a topic that would bore all new hobbyist. I remember an under gravel filter was part of any fresh water setup. Just set up a tank after being out of the hobby for at least 20 years. I went no under gravel filter and went crushed corral for African ciclids. Next is a 40 breeder with an under gravel filter.

[@scottcollier7122]

Amazing information. I watched your video because I watched the Aquarium co-op video first. I've always ran my tanks with UGF as a casual fish hobbiest for several years. I never had a problem and always had clean tanks. Now as I am coming back to the hobby and wanting to get serious about it, I've had serious trepidation because I know nothing about sponge filters or canister filters. You have set my mind at ease and I will continue to rock the UGF.

[@morphman32]

I have always liked under gravel filters because they're out of site, and very efficient.

[@gwdavidson065]

Yep, I couldn't imagine using anything else.

[@MrMeches]

I purchased canisters (Fluval 306) for my 60 and 65 just to end up changing them back over to UGF. My water after several months has been more stable with the UGF than the canisters. Routine water changes (Weekly 30 - 40%) and rotation of cleaning the media in the canisters and was never able to get my water as consistent as just 30-40% water changes and nothing else. Great Video and more people should consider UGF when setting up new.

[@yehoshuacirt8645]

I've had undergravels since the 70s into the 90s. I've always torn down my tanks annually even though I vacuum--because that was standard practice. And apparently rightly so! There is so much gunk under the plates. With a canister, I don't feel any need to teardown the tank because I KNOW there's no need to. Peace of mind. I'd go with the self-contained reliable ugf which requires no regular media purchases, no ordering of spare parts that go obsolete-- when some the canister component inevitably fouls up, (sometimes because of me). Also an UGF never leaks. If only someone could or would convince me that I could run a tank for years and not have to worry about teardown... Thanks for the inspirational video.

[@stclairstclair]

Have you looked into reverse flow UGF, Filtered canister output into UGF so the bed still has active bacteria but does not collect particles, I might try it, But from what Ive read, plants generally dont grow well in them.

[@yehoshuacirt8645]

@@stclairstclair Others claim plants love them. Eheim for example, has the two undergravels and their Web site recommends rfug for planted tanks. And the standard ugf for non planted.

[@vanissaberg5824]

So what happened to cause people to start hating on these types of filters so much? They're sleek, discreet, cheap and super effective at biological filtration, which the biological is even more important for the health of the aquarium ecosystem they just having clear water in my opinion. I'm using one in my planted tank which helps to pull down the nutrients from the fish waste from the water column down to the roots of the plants and away from where algae can use it. Combine that with a little over tank trough filter to pick up any particulates, and my tank is super duper clear and polished. Also my fish are breeding again which is a good sign of their health.😊🐟

[@MacHamish]

We had these when I was a little kid and they worked great. Yet here I am now at 52 having struggles with my 55 gal and an aquaclear 70. I'm thinking of switching to an UGF and sponge fiiter set up.

[@misodinamosa]

Totally agree! I recently have got back into fishy’s I thought the waterfall filter was pretty cool but kept loosing fish from ammonia spikes. 15 years ago I put a 10 gallon tank in my office and never had a problem. I’m pretty sure I maxed out the tank too! They lived for years happily & well loved. I’m setting up an under gravel filter now, thank you for the reassurance! 😊💜🙏🏻

[@terryforbes4038]

Great video I'm a long time aquarist. 61 years of fish keeping and breeding Under gravel all the way using red flint filter gravel. Crystal clear water My 225 ran the longest before moving 12 years. No problems.

[@ianferguson4728]

Trying to get back to basics. Nothing wrong with undergravel filters. No idea why we moved away from them. Here in South Africa where the exchange rate ridiculous and working class people are struggling, and spare parts for pumps and filters are always an issue. Definitely the way to go to get the youngsters into the hobby. Back in the 60s and 70s growing up in Zimbabwe, we had no gimmicks and gadgets. We had very slow undergravel filters and I believe we inadvertently created anoxic conditions so even plants did well. Back to basics.

[@Wudman]

I started in 93 and I couldn't agree with your more. You hit some good points here. I would also recommend the wavy type of filter instead of the flat. I could be wrong but I believe Lee's makes the wavy type and PenPlax makes the flat type. I also ran powerheads on mine but this only made for more maintenance. You don't need the carbon inserts either.

[@finnic7959]

I know this video is old, but if you use landscape fabric or weed barrier fabric on top of your ugf you can place dirt or sand on top.

[@pancudowny]

I've found combining under gravel filters with hang-on-backs works wonders; I just setup the HOB to draw directly from the under gravel's lift tubes!

[@johnmarks227]

Same here, a little diy and excellent filtration.

[@MacHamish]

Especially if one hotrods them with an intake foam filter. 🙂👍

[@tonycanniffe2360]

Great addition to Corey's. Both intelligent and logical presentations. Well done men

[@jwilkins939]

Great video! I am old school and have always used the UG filters. You should see the looks I get when I tell younger people this. But like you, I have used them forever. At least 45 years, and they WORK!

[@victoriab3882]

Totally Agree!!!!!!! Exactly the reason I subscribed to his channel! Definitely an all around Good honest person With Morals! Not enough ppl like THAT nowadays.

[@Mr.Chello]

so very true!!! i enjoyed the video. Our hobby doesn't need to be out of the cost effectiveness of allowing all people to be able to enjoy it.

[@ianwilson4460]

your right , there is nothing wrong with undergravel filters I used them on my tanks back in the 70's never lost a fish or had any problems

[@Hallofgondor]

Ok this helps out a lot! My local fish store said the exact same things that you did in this video! It is a shame not more people know about it.

[@phillipkrikorian761]

i love under- gravel filters. they help keep the water crystal clear. and help form good bacteria in the tank. getting back into the hobby and redoing a 20gal coolum tank and going to reuse my under-gravel filter. for large tanks there a must. under 20 gals. not needed. i had power heads on mine at the time.

[@tanaquil1983]

Thank you so much for your videos! I have always wanted to keep fish, and I'm finally at a place in life where it has become possible. I want to do this right the first time, so I have been researching for about two weeks now. Keep up the great work, and those beautiful tanks😍

[@primesspct2]

I am also an advocate of undergravel filters! I have used both but the maintenance on my tanks was far less with UGF vs hang on the back filters. My fish were healthier .Far less headaches!

[@davidbliss3220]

I have a 125 Oscar tank. I use an ugf a hang on Back and a canister. I do weekly water changes and it’s always crystal clear. I have a power head on one side of the ugf. Works like a champ.

[@TheASMRlogs]

Marks Aquatics channel does a version of an under gravel filter in a sanded tank.. He surrounded the filter in gravel, then added sand. His filters were not full floor.. Just a little DIY filter in a small area.

[@chuxtuff]

I started keeping fish in the mid 1980's and a UGF was used in the setup of my favorite tank which was a 2'x2'x3' tall pedestal elevated cube. I bought the largest Whisper air pump and ran airstones that produced the micro bubbles in the 2.5' tall lift tubes in the back corners AND a medium sized PennPlax HOB filter which I still think is a good enough system to run today with my small Amazonian schooling fish preference. My problem today is the water at my home comes out of a 350 foot well at a 8.6 PH with a 120 TDS. So I run Fluval's Stratum capped with a fine natural gravel which buffers my water to a 7.6 PH while I use Equilibrium for a 240 TDS. I swear I thought about going with an UGF setup again when I started my planted tank 9 weeks ago now. But with the Stratum and the gravel cap I didn't want something I'd have to gravel vac that was that delicate. But when I setup another tank I'm going to go back to what I was an expert at, which was using an UGF setup with a fine gravel, a large HOB filter and a gravel vac with partial water changes. I never checked my water parameters (thanks to the Culligan man) and my fish died of old age with smiles on their faces for their luck in landing in my aquariums for plenty to eat and a long life in a great place for a tropical fish. So what was old is going to be new again!!! And I could care less what the Peanut Gallery has to say about it because only a fool argues with success...

[@billsfish2522]

Great video. Had an undergravel in my 55 years ago, sorry I got rid of it. Using a Whisper power 60 for 30+ years, no problems except the filter pads get dirty a little too quickly for my taste. If I ever tear down the tank I will get another undergravel.

[@Chuckcia]

Awesome white filter, wish they were still available!

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Under gravel filter's came about from sewer treatment plant filters and they work, why they got A bad reputation is because somebody, somewhere just wanted to make people change from under gravel's to another kind a filtration system. They also got a bad reputation with planted aquariums because the water was moving through the substrate too fast. what nobody ever thought of was just disconnect the lift tubes, plug up the holes and let the under gravel filter become a Plenum.

[@DeFreeseAquariums]

I had the old style one like you have for my 20 long back in the day as well as an aquaclear hob and they were indestructible and got the job done and like you said hob was really not needed. Great vid and beautiful tanks!! Brings back memories. Thanks

[@ArkticDark]

Just lay a layer of thin sponge or nylon screen over the plastic crate and put your sand on top of the sponge or screen so that the sand stays out of the pump.

[@vacuumnut8300]

Thanks. Great video. I have an under gravel filter on my 50 gallon goldfish tank. Three inches of sand was what my aquarium store recommended as the goldfish might have a problem with gravel. Because I do use sand my local store suggested that I make sure I have a strong air pump to create a really good flow. I just vacuum the sand with water changes. It is usually pretty clean because I have a canister filter on the tank too. Oddly enough I just serviced the canister filter and found it to be very clean just some small particles of algae. In my mind the under gravel filter is doing two things 1) Housing all of that bateria 2) putting air into the tank for good oxygenation. I like watching all of the bubbles. December I am supposed to break down the under gravel filter. I will see then how much gunk has or has not built up in a year.

[@BrianMax]

I kept a pair of goldfish in a 50-gallon tank for 15 years with a UGF. I bought them as feeders for 10 cents each and they eventually grew to be over 6 inches long each.

[@randalln9215]

Nice video in defense of the UGF. Long ago I asked my LFS if they recommended them. The owner showed me all of his tanks and said "what do you see?" Every tank had a UGF. Am setting up my tank again after several years and will be using my UGF. Thank you for this video.

[@ratoneJR]

Not a big fan of response video's. But... this video was well done. Nice work.

[@BigMacksTrains]

I wish that Penn Plex still made the Undertow filter. Lee’s make a premium filter plate that is ridged like the Undertow was but I don’t care for the up tube placement. At one time in the early 80’s I had 7 tanks from 10 gallon to 55 gallon including two 30 gallon hex tanks and they all had Penn Plex Undertow filters.

[@champdawk]

I just bought and installed a Penn Plex for my 75 Gallon

[@rockfella27]

There are many other options. Those adjustable plates.

[@AussieAquatic]

Nice video. Old school still works. My planted tank is Undergravel reverse trickle flow. Working beautifully.

[@AussieAquatic]

***** The reason for the trickle flow, is for planted tanks, to not saturate the root zone with oxygen and oxidise nutrients which makes the molecules too large to pass through the plant root membranes. But the trickle flow is still sufficient to activate the bacterial cultures, even up temperatures and prevent anaerobic conditions.

[@AussieAquatic]

***** Yes it is. For fish only tanks it's pretty straight forward, water, fish, gravel, bacteria, vacuum poop. Then introduce live plants, and a whole new world opens up, with complex, dynamic chemical and biological interactions, as in real life.

[@TheWaterBox]

I had UGF a long long time ago. I switched over to canisters when I got older just because it was easier for me. But I personally don't think there's a problem with using UGF.

[@josephlabranch6595]

The Water Box what problem could you possibly have, sand substrate?

[@James_Hande]

I realize this is a wicked old video, but hopefully you'll still get a notification. You can try using a piece of the outdoor weed block/blanket under a sand bed. It should be a tight enough weave that the sand can't get through it. But it allows water flow through it. Some of us old timers used it to help stop plant roots from penetrating the filter plates. ;)

[@AlexK-ew1mo]

Does that trap debris as well?

[@James_Hande]

@@AlexK-ew1mo It prevents it and mulm from getting under the UGF plate.

[@beastsembi1843]

Really enjoyed your video. I'm trying to get as much info as i can on fish keeping. My dad used an under gravel filter and it worked great for him. I was 6 years old at the time.

[@mmatalk3817]

Thanks for the positive support! You are very respectful intelligent and most of all full of knowledge, I found a 55 galon under gravel filter on ebay for 18.98 with free shipping! My son has a 45 gallon bow front with baby red ears, I have a 200 gallon bow front with red ears and a 55 gallon tank with koi and angels. I will be converting my other tanks over to under gravel set ups. Thanks for all the knowledge with equals power.

[@MistermookS]

Guitars and aquarium... this gentleman is my friend! 🤘🏻

[@MikeV607]

I agree! The undergravel filters gets a bad wrap, because when left unattended, they become a nitrate factory...but then what happens when other filters are not maintained properly. As to using an UGF with sand, I dunno if with a nylon/fiberglass window screen, or fabric if water will flow through very well....maybe if you use screen and silica (pool filter) sand?

[@josephlabranch6595]

Mike Vormwald every filter hob, especially canisters, and ug can become nitrate factories without proper maintenance, note my especially above.

[@megedlond184]

Love this, towards the end you mentioned you don't know of a solution to using sand or dirt with an UGF.... I used a fine fabric mesh between the UGF and my sand in my goldfish tank. It's worked really well. the sand doesn't go through the fabric, but the water is able to be pulled through just fine.

[@robertl6440]

My favorite filter is underground filter. Second favorite sponge filter, 3rd is aquaclear hang on back and last is canister. As for plants, my plants had long strong healthy roots with the underground filter. As for those that say you need to remove everything from the tank every year to clean underneath. A year? Omg if I can go 3 months without rescaping my tank that be impressive. Who would want to see the same aquascaping for a year?

[@AndrewFishman]

6 years later and they are still just as good as they were when you made the video. UGF is the way of the future :D

[@josediegoist]

Very cool 😎! I learned a lot ! And u woke up my curiosity about this kind of filters I think is very nice from you to share your wise experience !

[@johnatella8498]

They work because the gravel becomes your media. The beneficial bacteria stick to the gravel then when they die, they come off and are replaced by new beneficial bacteria. When you siphon the gravel, you get all the poop and extra food and dead benefical bacteria. You can siphon the whole tank at once - some people advocate just doing half, but you can do the whole thing. THe benefical bacteria can withhold the siphon power and stick to your gravel. You are one of the first people to explain this but I felt it was a little short so I wanted to explain it. Now, it is important that you use gravel and not soil or sand as it will clog it. Just gravel! Also, I have heard that you do not want to run an undergravel filter with saltwater, but I am unsure. Could someone address this? Thanks.

[@incubatork]

Try putting very fine scotchbrite like cloth between filter and substrate on your sand based tanks, its very similar to fine fiberglass matting, it lets water through but stops the sand passing under the UG base.

[@rubyscoobyxx4204]

Love this video. Got my brackish tank running on undergravel half air driven and half reverse flow from external. Sometimes it’s nice to keep it simple.... especially as it works !! 👍

[@mak1458]

I use an under gravel filter with goldfish works great, also I did break my bottom part of the intake tube trying to clean it, it was the part that connected to the plate but still works great. I use penn plax.

[@johnatella8498]

One other thought, if you have longer or bigger fish, make sure there is room between the tubes and the glass so that the bigger fish can swim through easily. I have had a few larger fish - long narrow and a large big headed goldfish - get stuck behind them. They ended up thrashing around and broke their backs and/or injuring their insides. So, pull them out a few inches - don't have them tight up against the back/side. The corners are especially important.

[@highlandrecords1]

I too have been using UGF for years. I do DIY filter using cpvc pipe and fittings using air for small tanks power heads for large tanks. I have a slight twist though that works well for me. I use foam sponge bed topper cut to fit in the aquarium on top of the UGF but under the gravel. I consider the gravel layer a mechanical filter while the sponge is for biological filtration. In earlier years I had a 29 gal tank with a 8 inch long oscar which all I did was add water and food for 4 years. Knowing what I know now I don't know how the poor fish survived. Since those early days I have learned the importance of aquarium water changes and gravel syphon. I currently have one 29 gal. tank that with weekly water changes at least 200 guppies and platys of various ages. are doing quite well ( as their numbers continue to increase I know I have to move some of them soon).

[@jmdc221]

Terry Brooks hi Terry. Thanks. How thick of foam do you use? Do I assume you never have to take it out as you would have to break down whole tank to do so? How often do you do water changes and quantity? Given you do not have a plate, does the foam almost act like the plate to grow bacteria that your plate would? Lastly do you grow plants in it and do you have gravel or something like ecocomplete substrate?

[@johnbailey4596]

Just stumbled on this as am setting up a new tank following a house move.Been keeping tropicals for over 50 years and using UGFs for 40 years.Dirt cheap,dead simple,100% effective,crystal clear water.Have used them in many tanks housing everything from guppies to 3 foot clarius cats (in different tanks !).Priorn to this house move sold last tank which had UGF for 5 years,almost no debris underneath.Currently using power heads but airlifts fine.Am in England,good to hear someone speaking commonsense.Great video.

[@UnkyjoesPlayhouse]

UGF are excellent filters, used them for years since I was 13 and worked for a local pet store in TX, I am 50 now, I just prefer HOB or cannister.

[@cherylmockotr]

HA! As an occupational therapist, that last part is exactly what I think every time a video mentions cichlids digging... "Give the poor fish something to do again!!" Well done, obviously your tank is both physically and mentally healthy!

[@SomewhatNiceFellow]

Thanks for this video. I also watched Corey's video and must say I agree with both of you.

[@DebiSunset]

Sand UG filters: research "aquarium plenum systems". There are a couple videos using gravel, but if you search the internet you will find systems for sand, fresh and marine. 😊

[@tonyhind6992]

Use garden membrane to lay over the UGF and put you sand or soil on top.

[@Nomadistar]

I love absolutely love finding the obscure gems lost in time on YT! I too am in the same boat. Under-gravel filter is king, Like Discus of the freshwater community...as they say. However, I plan to set mine up as a SLOW moving plenum. If what I understand is correct from Kevin Novak, it's gonna rock! Even if many want to say he is wrong and blah blah blah, I already know the under-gravel filter in and of itself is Stellar. Like you said, in more words or less, they are the energizer bunny of filters and last and last...the hobby wants us to spend every penny and chase the FOTM.

[@thomaskeider8267]

I too have been using ug filters for years.I also use sponge filters.

[@stevecox8066]

I started in the hobby back in '83. Yep, I'm getting old. So much has changed over the years including all the negative opinions of UGFs. I was moving too often during my military time and gave up the tanks for a very long time. When I came back just this year, I went with sponge filters and HOB. HUGE mistake! Water would never settle out and become stable for more than a week or two. I went back to using an under gravel and just starting over. Within two weeks my tank cycled, was clear as air, and my ammonia & nitrates settled to near perfect! Fish colored up and everything was so much better. Then found Dr. Novak's channel and started over again with baked clay (cat litter) although I still prefer an inch of gravel for preferred look. I'm down to water changes about once a month and those are usually only about 10%. I use a gravel vac, but only to siphon anything on the top layer, never push further down into substrate. The bacteria (as you mentioned) will use all that gunk I used to clean out and the plants are growing like crazy. The cat litter base actually helps with the negative/positive ion interaction and keeps the water insanely clear. I don't completely understand all the science, but Doc N does and he's been right so far. It is very difficult to find people who like/use the UGF and I greatly appreciate your video and explanation to the hobbyists who should be switching back to the best filter ever invented...although they probably won't. Personally, I will NEVER setup another tank without a UGF EVER AGAIN! Keep up the great work!

[@juliorivera870]

I made my own undergravel filter and connected it to a hangover filter, works great, but if you want sand use only one plate of the undergravel filter in the center of the tank , glue four sides wall on the sides of the plate and fill it with gravel, and both sides of the tank with sand.

[@orcasea59]

I actually did the math once, comparing the surface area of a 30-gallon tank with 3" of river pebble to the surface area of cylindrical bio media in a large Cascade canister filter and the difference was staggering. I have never had anything but 0 nitrate in my tank, even with two large 'messy' Comet Goldfish, and that was *without* a UGF. But Goldies being Goldies I am going to use an UGF on my upcoming upsize to a 75 gal tank, to assist with improved bio-breakdown of waste. Goldfish put a heavy load on filtration, and even doubling the expected capacity of a canister can still push it to its limits.

[@fisharefriends598]

I’m thinking of going down the UGF route. Think it looks like a great system

[@meanmuggin1899]

Great video, I've used them almost on all the tanks I've had. 25 years ago that's what I was taught by the guys who, had been long time hobbyist.

[@dwainkitchel1316]

working my way through your videos :) got to love this piece. i too have been in the hobby since the 70's and have used UG filters through all that time. there are issues if u do not do your vacuming regularly, anerobic bacteria can be an issue. i always solved the digging problem with a piece of egg crate half way through the gravel depth, thanks for this video!

[@WhatIsMisophonia]

I have sand and UG. At first, I had powerheads hooked up to the unit via the inflow, and had to put a thin fine filter floss over the unit to stop sand from getting into it. I was hoping that since the unit had such a large surface area that even if it got plugged, enough water would still percolate through to feed the pumps; I was wrong. So I've recently reversed the flow by connecting the unit to the outflow of the powerheads and covered the inflows with semi-coarse fabric filters. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a problem because sand likes to fluidize, and I'm getting lots of churning sand in some areas, and no movement in other areas. Perhaps I should remove the sand, clean the floss, create a sieve from screen door mesh to filter the finer particles out, and add back only the bigger heavier ones? I was thinking I'd also like to either buy or create a canister to connect the UGF so that I'm not taking up so much room in the tank with powerheads that I'm trying to hid because I don't like seeing them. I already have a sump which I could connect to the UGF, but I don't want to risk siphoning if the power goes out, though I could just install backflow check valves...

[@chuck1739]

The old school method has been tried and trued, also works as i've been in the hobby for 40+ years as well with... undergravel undertow filters as well!

[@fredfry9707]

Well said, people don't actually realise that the benefits are pretty substantial, watch Kevin Novak and plenum etc which is an under gravel with or without uptake tube, then say there no good.

[@Yakjiru]

If you want to put sand or dirt on a ugf, put .75" - 1" course, larger gravel down first, followed by the same amount of fine gravel on top of that. Then you can put your sand or dirt on top of that. As long as you don't have any diggers, you'll be fine. I've used Ugf's on EVERY tank I've ever had(got my first tank in '94, started breeding shortly thereafter) with the exception of bare bottom and digger tanks. However, I only ever put the plate on one half of the tank and I've found it works better.

[@diannaleigh9914]

I loved your talk, but I’m trying to get my tubes to glow equally. I hope to see a video on how to properly set my tubes in. 😊

[@nisshaquarium3092]

Undergravel filter is very best filter. Thanks

[@jennyrenard7588]

Don’t know if anyone has suggested yet but, you can cover the plate with a black paper for lawn care that is used to keep weeds out but let’s water pass thru

[@fraudsarentfriends4717]

If you add the cost of a good air pump and/or powerheads the undergravel comes to a similar price to other filters.It's not just the inexpensive pickup tubes that everyone thinks.

[@memeguyTM]

My dad who started keeping tropical fish over 45 years ago says the same thing. Undergravel filters with a deep substrate are great for promoting various types of bacteria as the flow rate is varied too unlike a canister, sump etc.

[@victoriab3882]

Just Subscribed AND hit the bell for notifications. Congrats! You are 1 out of the handful I actually DID! Thank You!

[@gardenpondfishgreenhouse573]

agree with most of what you say except the 3 or 4 inches of gravel. 2 inches is more than enough and most of mine have always been an inch or 2 of that kind of gravel and they work beautifully for years on end without cleaning.

[@bigkahona6554]

nice video I have to tell you I had a 125 gallon saltwater tank I made my own undergravel filter using the panels that you would put on the fluorescent ceiling lights they like 3/8 by three eighths of an inch squares I used two of them I got some half inch PVC which I glued to the bottom of the light panels so it would keep it up off the bottom I then covered the light panels with the cloth that they use to put Mulch on top of I took two plastic tubes which I sit in the corner of the tank Each corner for my powerheads I put one on either side and I covered it with the sand that they use for the bed in a saltwater tank live sand I then put my live rock on top of that I had that tank up and running for a year-and-a-half before I moved I hardly ever fed my saltwater fish because in the sand was live food for them never had a problem the tank was always crystal clear when I broke it down to move it there was hardly anything underneath so that's what I did I hope you could understand what I said and good luck with trying the sand on top of you're under gravel filter

[@stevengraff8687]

Under gravel filters never have issues with noise, running dry, or overflowing. If you're using a powerhead and it dies you can run it on an air pump until the replacement shows up. As evidenced by LFS that use them, oxygen deprivation, regardless of how insanely you over stocked a tank just doesn't happen with UG filters driven by air.

[@worddunlap]

It's all I used until I was in my 30s (50-+ now). I never, ever had a problem and had set ups for years, untouched other than partial water changes. I think some used to much substrate on top and it then fails. I must admit that I had only floating stems and nothing planted.

[@ctsfiddler]

A year ago i emptied a 29 gal tank full of eco complete. I put all the substrate in a bucket, did not clean it and left it outside in the yard. Today i decided to clean the gravel and to my surprise even the last bottom cup was clean with no foul smell. Years ago it was told a deep substrate would result in hydrogen sulfide and dead fish. I figure there must have been some good bacteria action going on. I love the undergravel filter but i run them very slow bubble to get better plant growth.

[@simonzinc-trumpetharris852]

U/G with sand? Easy : Lay the U/G plate, cover with a sheet of fine sponge or floss, then a layer of fine mesh / netting and finally the sand. Worked for me for many years.

[@devman1950]

Cover your UG filter with that stuff they sell for use in your landscape to keep weeds at bay, It's fine enough to keep the sand etc out and porous enough to let water and microbes in.