UGF with sand, and filter qus

[karma_llama]

I know this question has probably been asked loads of times but i wanted to ask it again but making it specific to my tank ideas.

I'm planning on setting up a 29 gal tanganyikan tank with shellies (or something like neolamprologus tetracephalus) in and was wondering what the best filtration would be if i have a sand substrate. I know that UGF arent great with sand but am worried about using an internal power filter if they spawn and i have fry swimming about to get minced by it. We dont have HOB filters her in the UK and can't really afford to splash out on an external filter, so i thought maybe a ugf with powerhead. Any ideas?!

Also, my 60 gallon tank will have an extrenal filter on it (was free!) and i wondered whether that would benefit from a UGF with power head, or just an internal filter?

Thanks, Karma x

 

[OCCFan023]

you could go with a HOB filter, and if the fish spawn your could put a like floss or something aolong the lines of that to prevent them from being sucked in, I would really try to avoid sand with a UGF

 

[revfred]

You could try a sponge filter in your 29. I think a UGF with sand is asking for trouble.

 

[jediinthedark]

I don't think that sand would allow enough water movement to enter the ugf.
Why are HOBs unavailable in the UK?

 

[Cutlass]

It seems strange that HOB's are unavailable in the UK, because that's your best bet. Sand will just seep into the UGF and be sucked up & spewed out by the powerhead.

 

[karma_llama]

i dont know why HOBs arent available, but i've never seen any for sale anywhere, no tell a lie i saw one once that was about £300. Maybe they're just not in demand in the UK, but i want one!

I might put an internal filter in through the cycle and until they spawn they swap it for a large sponger filter or similar. I'll definately not use a UGF, thanks every one

 

[discus4everGrl]

sand will clog a ugf. What you can do is put a layer of small gravel over the ufg, then cover that with whats called a gravel tidey. It looks like that stuff people do cross stitching on then add a layer of sand so that it doesn't seep down.

 

[karma_llama]

thanks for the good idea discus4, but i've been out this morning and bought an internal filter, and already had a new foam filter sotred away, so thats what i'm going to use.

I also decided just to use the external filter in my 60 gallon with maybe a small pump in the corner to give some extra flow, but this depends on how well the spray bar performs!