UGF

[Somefishguy]

Ok so i got a Hex tank and it came with a UGF. Ive never used one and did a little research. However the plate i have has three tubes sticking out of it. I am not too sure what each is for. Do i just need to stick and air stone and pump into one or all od the tubes? Are they for different things? Laslty what is the long plastic tubing hanging off the long lift for? Here is a pic of what i mean.

Thanks

[CichlidFan]

Re: UGF

UGF where really big back in my day, they primarily do a good job pulling waste down thru the substrate and "recycling" it underneath. The three main tubes on the filter where you could put plastic tubes with airlines running down thru them. You could use one, two, or all three if you wanted too. The little tube was the airline tube, and a airstone was placed on the end of that. Eventually, folks started placing Power Heads on them....wow...did that work great....BITD

Here is a link, explaining it alot further and better than I can.

http://www.firsttankguide.net/ugf.php

CF

[CichlidFan]

Re: UGF

PS.....UGF's could not be used, when using Sand as a substrate.

[Somefishguy]

Re: UGF

Thats the link i had used as research . I just didnt know if each tub was for somethign different.

Thanks for the help.

[CichlidFan]

Re: UGF

Nope, I believe they where all used to supply an airline to the bottom of the tank. It was a matter of convience, if you wanted to use one, you could or two, or all three, but their sole purpose was to provide an airline with a direct path to the bottom.

CF

[Zulaab]

Re: UGF

UGF is only really good for a gravel filtration.
Like CF said, adding a powerhead and a canister or HOB and you would be about ten times better off.. You only really want to use a UGF when you have a planted tank, because as the dirt is brought to the bottom, plants root grows down there and start using up the fertilization left there.
As CF said this is the old way of doing things.  I personally today would never use it.  A good HOB would be much better.. I would use a Powerhead in a Hex because you want the water to circulate to the edge where a HOB or Canister can pick up the debris.   The Powerhead would also bring enough O2 to the bottom of the tank.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: UGF

The UGF is probably the worst for planted tank.....roots will entangle it, nutrients stirred into the water column instead of in the substrate where plants will uptake them and probably make your water look like a mess.

If kept up with it then it will work fine...I have one in my 135g since we had the tank and its powered by powerheads but only two out of the like 6-8 tubes. I gravel vac weekly and am able to keep the nitrates down which is the main problem with them.

I plan on ditching it later on cause they don't work as good nowadays with all the better stuff available.