Need help! 10 gal tank, w/ diy co2 injector..and ugv filter

sqarit · 02-19-2004, 04:13 AM

hey i am new in plantedtank.net and also new in aqua-planting...and i am wondering is it okay to use an undergrave filter for a planted aquariumm...and if i do use a diy injector with a hagen diffuser...will it cause to much co2

mm12463 · 02-19-2004, 04:24 AM

I use the hagen ladder for my DIY CO2 on my 10 gallon. No problems.

sqarit · 02-19-2004, 04:29 AM

thanks...how about the undergravel filter? will it be okay...thanks for the very fast reply

mm12463 · 02-19-2004, 04:40 AM

Not sure. Never tried a UGF.

I have read it is not a good idea but at the same time there are people that do it and do fine. I'll leave the answer for someone else with experience on plants and an UGF.

Toyman321 · 02-19-2004, 04:10 PM

Couple problems with UGF's in planted tanks (and a few solutions):

The breaking up of the surface tension will cause you to loose much of your CO2. You can also solve the problem of loosing CO2 though the bubblers by replacing the bubblers with Powerheads and directing the exhaust away from the surface.

The plate that runs under the gravel is a plant root magnet, roots will get tangled in there and make the plants very hard to move without damaging their roots. But then again if you arent planning on moving your plants around this is no big deal. I would almost imagine that having a UGF with all the water flowing past the plants roote would be a good thing... but I could be wrong.

The other problem is that most planted tanks use a gravel that is too fine and will just fall through a UGF.

That being said I had a lightly plated tank with a UGF that did just fine for years. UGF's are great for tanks if you are pushing the bioload a little (still not a great idea though).
Good luck with your tank!

sqarit · 02-19-2004, 05:21 PM

Wow thanks...i dont need to thorw my filter away after all...actually do u really need filter in a planted tank with about 4-5 fishes? or just water movement, perhaps will the plant take care of the fish dirt? I am not sure bout this..and i am thingking of buying one of those Azoo Palm filter

Yah small substrate might get sucked in..i was thiknign of using sand for my floor bed. i could imagine the sand geting sucked in and cloud all over my tank...

thanks for the reply..

secretagent · 04-17-2004, 05:54 PM

Well the sand wouldnt work with the ugf!! Good Luck

02-19-2004, 04:24 AM	#2
mm12463 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN USA Posts: 111	I use the hagen ladder for my DIY CO2 on my 10 gallon. No problems. __________________ Mike http://fish.silver-fox.us

02-19-2004, 04:40 AM	#4
mm12463 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN USA Posts: 111	Not sure. Never tried a UGF. I have read it is not a good idea but at the same time there are people that do it and do fine. I'll leave the answer for someone else with experience on plants and an UGF. __________________ Mike http://fish.silver-fox.us

02-19-2004, 04:10 PM	#5
Toyman321 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 41	Couple problems with UGF's in planted tanks (and a few solutions): The breaking up of the surface tension will cause you to loose much of your CO2. You can also solve the problem of loosing CO2 though the bubblers by replacing the bubblers with Powerheads and directing the exhaust away from the surface. The plate that runs under the gravel is a plant root magnet, roots will get tangled in there and make the plants very hard to move without damaging their roots. But then again if you arent planning on moving your plants around this is no big deal. I would almost imagine that having a UGF with all the water flowing past the plants roote would be a good thing... but I could be wrong. The other problem is that most planted tanks use a gravel that is too fine and will just fall through a UGF. That being said I had a lightly plated tank with a UGF that did just fine for years. UGF's are great for tanks if you are pushing the bioload a little (still not a great idea though). Good luck with your tank! __________________ Planted Nano!!!

04-17-2004, 05:54 PM	#7
secretagent Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: DAYTONA BEACH FL Posts: 406	Well the sand wouldnt work with the ugf!! Good Luck __________________ _______________________________________ La la la la I live in my own little world, but thats ok, they know me here... ______________________________________ Man! Good to be back! I have been soo consumed with my saltwater tank and school it's just so sad to let my empty fishtanks go to waste! ----SO LETS GET IT ON!---- Back to the Good side We shall travel!

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02-19-2004, 04:13 AM	#1
sqarit Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 80	hey i am new in plantedtank.net and also new in aqua-planting...and i am wondering is it okay to use an undergrave filter for a planted aquariumm...and if i do use a diy injector with a hagen diffuser...will it cause to much co2

02-19-2004, 04:29 AM	#3
sqarit Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 80	thanks...how about the undergravel filter? will it be okay...thanks for the very fast reply

02-19-2004, 05:21 PM	#6
sqarit Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 80	Wow thanks...i dont need to thorw my filter away after all...actually do u really need filter in a planted tank with about 4-5 fishes? or just water movement, perhaps will the plant take care of the fish dirt? I am not sure bout this..and i am thingking of buying one of those Azoo Palm filter Yah small substrate might get sucked in..i was thiknign of using sand for my floor bed. i could imagine the sand geting sucked in and cloud all over my tank... thanks for the reply..