UGFs

[cholula]

Hello all you finn heads.....
Thought I would start this thread
of UGFs to see how ppl feel about
them.
I have 5 tanks and have them in
two of them.....
I was considering pulling them out,
but now.. I might not...
I do regular vaccums of my substrate
so that is not an issue.... I just dont
care for the added hardware....
Wondered how other finnheads thought.

 

[RedTurquoise]

Dont like them! I had the chance to tear down a tank with an ugf and you should of seen the junk under the filter. No thanks! I use canisters, hangons and sponges.

 

[lizwinz]

i have a ugf in my 35gal and i'm regretting it already after hearing what everyone says

my husband got me the tank for mothers day and bought what they suggested at the store, neither of us knew any better at the time

i was thinking of switching. i still dont understand other types of filters tho, like when you change the media how do you keep from having another cycle?

oh well ill have to do some research and then i'll probably cycle the filter on an empty tank and then switch it with the ugf in the 35

-liz

 

[Fatboy]

I never bought a ugf for many reasons. I hear nothing but bad things about ugs's in general.
ex:Gunk getting trapped, too much maintenance for a filter, fish dissapearing or hiding in the ugf plates like kuhli loaches, uneven distribution of the filtering process, problems with having live plants with ugs's. And the list never ends. I wonder why the employees at the store you bought your tank from recommened on having a ugf? Especially if you were beginners to this hobby at the time! I assume that
a. They wanted to try and get rid of some ugf's that noone   else wanted to buy, or
b. They have no clue what they are doing.
Personally the only filter That I have used for my tanks from when I first started until today are Aquaclear filters. They are relatively cheap and effective as well as very easy to maintain. Unplug the filter, rinse out the filter, brush off any unwanted gunk or algae with a old tooth brush or something, replace any of the filter media if necessary, and Voila! Ready to go!