CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

i saw someone mention that undergravel filter is not good enough for cichlids because of the heavy bioload ..

how is that ? dont understand. can you explain.

to switch to HOB filter, does it mean i dont need to vacuum my
gravel anymore ? it will suck up all the fish poop ?

thanks.

To my understanding, UGF systems clog up, from the waste, thus they have to cleaned, which disterbs the biological filtration, which is mainly the gravel itself.
As for finding a way from vacuming the gravel, HOBs, still require you to do that little chore. Actually, I don't mind, I incorporate it with my weekly water change, my O's on the other hand hate it with a passion. Hope this helps answer your questions.

[quote]i saw someone mention that undergravel filter is not good enough for cichlids because of the heavy bioload ..


how is that ? dont understand. can you explain.[/quote]


Think of it this way -
Most of the beneficial bacteria in a fish tank need oxgen to live,and there isn't much under a UGF so not many bacteria live there. (some do but not enough) So all the fish waste gets sucked down to them where they do dispose of it,BUT theres not enough of them to dispose of it all so it just builds up.


It'd be like flushing your toilet into your basement,you might not see it but after a while you'd notice the build up.

however, but with the same principal you can always hoover out the basement with a tank vacum.

all of my tanks hav had undegravels, i think its the way i was taught. i also add an internal power filter for water flow and a power head for more power to the under gravel.

with regular tank maintainence ive found that undergravels have been fine.

i could be wrong however, just my experience.

(i have also seen where undergravels arnt kept correctly and in result screwed the entire tank up.)

I highly recommend a HOB over the UGF(under-gravel filter) because they require so much less maintinence.  They're also in my opinion my relieable and you don't have to recycle every year when you vacuum the gravel to keep the mulm from building up.  Also, you can and carbon and other things to a HOB filter that U can't with a UGF.  Happy Filtrating!

Samanthia writes:[quote]I highly recommend a HOB over the UGF(under-gravel filter) because they require so much less maintinence.  They're also in my opinion my relieable and you don't have to recycle every year when you vacuum the gravel to keep the mulm from building up.  Also, you can and carbon and other things to a HOB filter that U can't with a UGF.[/quote]Excellent comment -- only thing is that you've resurrected a thread that's over 2-1/2 years old and most of the participants have already died from old age! Be sure to check the posting dates before you respond ---- and remember, we're not laughing [i]at[/i] you, wh're laughing [i]with[/i] you!!

"Excellent comment -- only thing is that you've resurrected a thread that's over 2-1/2 years old and most of the participants have already died from old age!  Be sure to check the posting dates before you respond  ---- and remember, we're not laughing at you, wh're laughing with you!! "

Hmmm are you implying I am dead? Or wait, do you know something I don't..... damn wheres my pulse.......it was there yesterday..... hey where did that bright light come from..........I think I'll go check it out..................