CAS512

Hey I was just wandering to have an undergravel filter do you need a carbon cartridge??

sorry if it sounds like a dumb question, i'm a beginner who knows hardly anything.

your help would be much appreciated.

Barbrella

Not a dumb question at all! Asking is how you learn things.

In my experience, undergravel filters are not a good choice. It's simply that gunk builds up under the filter, clogging it and compacting the bacteria bed.

The filter will then stop working, but you won't know it and your fish will suffer for it.

I would use a different kind of filter.

CAS512

ok thanks for the advice. at the moment i have a sponge filter, is that enough for a 100L tank?

RandomKayos

For me there is nothing better than an Undergravel Filter. It serves the same purpose as any other filter but gives you the entire floor of the tank as filter media instead of some little 4x6 square. Yes, gunk builds up, same as any other filter. Yes, maintence should be done, just as another filter. But with a UG you have more time and less shock to the cycle.

I vaccume my gravel just as I would with a canister or HOB filter. I just be a bit more careful not to drive the vac tube thru the UG. As for carbon, I seldom use it. usually only to remove meds in the QT tank. I have heard it's great for making whiskey though.

RK

clinton1621

I'm going to skip over the whole Undergravel debate lol, but here's a link about filters and carbon use....

Filter Maintenance

CAS512

thanks for the tips guys. i've decided i'm going with 2 sponge filters, 1 on either end of the tank.