UGFs for a 10 gallon tank

me · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Hi there -

I'm new to acquaria and I've got a 10-gallon tank with 4 fancy guppies
(2 male, 2 female - 2 died in the three weeks I've had them), 2
dalmation mollies and 2 panda corys. The female guppies are pregnant.

Right now I've got a biowheel in there currently. I'd like to put a UGF
in, as I know I have some pollution issues. From what I'm seeing, it
seems like they're all pretty much the same. I'm curious what the rest
of you with more experience think about 'em, and what you'd use. I'm
thinking about a PennPlex UGF and PowerHead.

Thanks much!
~Del

Archived from group: alt>aquaria>guppy

Chris Oinonen Ehren · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 18

in article nJu3c.81809$6K.57030@nwrddc02.gnilink.net, me at delney@aol.com
wrote on 3/9/04 8:05 PM:

> Hi there -
>
> I'm new to acquaria and I've got a 10-gallon tank with 4 fancy guppies
> (2 male, 2 female - 2 died in the three weeks I've had them), 2
> dalmation mollies and 2 panda corys. The female guppies are pregnant.
>
> Right now I've got a biowheel in there currently. I'd like to put a UGF
> in, as I know I have some pollution issues. From what I'm seeing, it
> seems like they're all pretty much the same. I'm curious what the rest
> of you with more experience think about 'em, and what you'd use. I'm
> thinking about a PennPlex UGF and PowerHead.
>
> Thanks much!
> ~Del

What kind of pollution issues are you having?
--
Chris
oinonenehren@comcast.net

T · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 265

"Chris Oinonen Ehren" wrote in message%oinonenehren@comcast.net...
> in article nJu3c.81809$6K.57030@nwrddc02.gnilink.net, me at delney@aol.com
> wrote on 3/9/04 8:05 PM:
>
> > Hi there -
> >
> > I'm new to acquaria and I've got a 10-gallon tank with 4 fancy guppies
> > (2 male, 2 female - 2 died in the three weeks I've had them), 2
> > dalmation mollies and 2 panda corys. The female guppies are pregnant.
> >
> > Right now I've got a biowheel in there currently. I'd like to put a UGF
> > in, as I know I have some pollution issues. From what I'm seeing, it
> > seems like they're all pretty much the same. I'm curious what the rest
> > of you with more experience think about 'em, and what you'd use. I'm
> > thinking about a PennPlex UGF and PowerHead.
> >
> > Thanks much!
> > ~Del
>
> What kind of pollution issues are you having?
> --
> Chris
> oinonenehren@comcast.net
>

I don't use UGF's.. When I do my water changes I clean the gravel while
vacuuming. Sounds like your tank has not been up for very long, perhaps it
is cycling. Heres some reading material for you to ponder as well...
www.thekrib.com It is a big resource that many people find handy, when
trying to find answers to thier questions.. Enjoy and welcome to the
hobby...

Tim

Delney · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

T wrote:

> "Chris Oinonen Ehren" wrote in message
> %oinonenehren@comcast.net...
>
>>in article nJu3c.81809$6K.57030@nwrddc02.gnilink.net, me at delney@aol.com
>>wrote on 3/9/04 8:05 PM:
>>
>>
>>>Hi there -
>>>
>>>I'm new to acquaria and I've got a 10-gallon tank with 4 fancy guppies
>>>(2 male, 2 female - 2 died in the three weeks I've had them), 2
>>>dalmation mollies and 2 panda corys. The female guppies are pregnant.
>>>
>>>Right now I've got a biowheel in there currently. I'd like to put a UGF
>>>in, as I know I have some pollution issues. From what I'm seeing, it
>>>seems like they're all pretty much the same. I'm curious what the rest
>>>of you with more experience think about 'em, and what you'd use. I'm
>>>thinking about a PennPlex UGF and PowerHead.
>>>
>>>Thanks much!
>>>~Del
>>
>>What kind of pollution issues are you having?
>>--
>>Chris
>>oinonenehren@comcast.net
>>
>
>
> I don't use UGF's.. When I do my water changes I clean the gravel while
> vacuuming. Sounds like your tank has not been up for very long, perhaps it
> is cycling. Heres some reading material for you to ponder as well...
> www.thekrib.com It is a big resource that many people find handy, when
> trying to find answers to thier questions.. Enjoy and welcome to the
> hobby...
>
> Tim
>
>

Thanks for the responses. To answer Chris - I'm not having pollution
issues persay. All the tests are showing things are OK in there. I'm
just of the opinion that you can't have too much filtration. When we
vacuum the gravel, it seems there's a large amount of waste, so I
thought an undergravel might help.

Thanks for the link and sharing your experience, Tim.

~Del

T · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 265

"Delney" wrote in message$6K.6228@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
> T wrote:
>
> > "Chris Oinonen Ehren" wrote in message
> > %oinonenehren@comcast.net...
> >
> >>in article nJu3c.81809$6K.57030@nwrddc02.gnilink.net, me at
delney@aol.com
> >>wrote on 3/9/04 8:05 PM:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Hi there -
> >>>
> >>>I'm new to acquaria and I've got a 10-gallon tank with 4 fancy guppies
> >>>(2 male, 2 female - 2 died in the three weeks I've had them), 2
> >>>dalmation mollies and 2 panda corys. The female guppies are pregnant.
> >>>
> >>>Right now I've got a biowheel in there currently. I'd like to put a UGF
> >>>in, as I know I have some pollution issues. From what I'm seeing, it
> >>>seems like they're all pretty much the same. I'm curious what the rest
> >>>of you with more experience think about 'em, and what you'd use. I'm
> >>>thinking about a PennPlex UGF and PowerHead.
> >>>
> >>>Thanks much!
> >>>~Del
> >>
> >>What kind of pollution issues are you having?
> >>--
> >>Chris
> >>oinonenehren@comcast.net
> >>
> >
> >
> > I don't use UGF's.. When I do my water changes I clean the gravel while
> > vacuuming. Sounds like your tank has not been up for very long, perhaps
it
> > is cycling. Heres some reading material for you to ponder as well...
> > www.thekrib.com It is a big resource that many people find handy, when
> > trying to find answers to thier questions.. Enjoy and welcome to the
> > hobby...
> >
> > Tim
> >
> >
>
> Thanks for the responses. To answer Chris - I'm not having pollution
> issues persay. All the tests are showing things are OK in there. I'm
> just of the opinion that you can't have too much filtration. When we
> vacuum the gravel, it seems there's a large amount of waste, so I
> thought an undergravel might help.
>
> Thanks for the link and sharing your experience, Tim.
>
> ~Del

Hey Del .. No problem.. I hope the link I provided to you has been
absolutely helpful.. It has provided myself which answers to problems I have
had in the past..

Happy Fish Keeping.. Tim

Donny · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Delney wrote in$6K.6228@nwrddc02.gnilink.net:

> Thanks for the responses. To answer Chris - I'm not having pollution
> issues persay. All the tests are showing things are OK in there. I'm
> just of the opinion that you can't have too much filtration. When we
> vacuum the gravel, it seems there's a large amount of waste, so I
> thought an undergravel might help.
>
> Thanks for the link and sharing your experience, Tim.
>
> ~Del

A UGF is not necessarily going to get rid of the waste in the gravel. What
it mainly does is allow a large area for bacteria to grow. With a UGF you
need to vacuum the gravel to get the waste particles out to ensure good
waterflow. In addition to a Top Fin power filter, I have a UGF on my 20
gallon long tank and, when I vacuum, the tube still gets filled with brown
matter. I also have a 10 gallon with only a power filter and I get about
the same amount of debris vacuumed up in that tank. I change water/vacuum
bi-weekly in both tanks.

Coyote Gal · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Here's another thought. Check your local water conditions. UGFs need
some hardness to the water or digestion of biomatter will be
incomplete, thus leading to an astounding array of potential water
quality problems.. If your tap water is soft then you will have
problems. It might be helpful to find a fish specialty shop or a
local fishery school (I realize most areas don't have them, but you
might luck out) to find out exactly what to expect in your area. If
your water is hard, then you will have completely different issues.
Again, find a local source of information and see what they have to
say.

Another thought is to be aware that UGFs tend to drop the pH in tanks
due to that pesky undigested biomatter. Solutions include very
frequent cleanings; pH adjustment; losing UGF; or, my favorite -
raising acid-loving fish such as most Amazon basin fish (many tetras
fall into this class).

Good luck, Celest