ktanner2553

hi everyone, just got a new tank.. 55 gallon.. and I am wondering if it would a good idea to have an undergravel filter, a power filter, and a bubble wand all together? or should i just get 2 power filters?... also I do WANT to use live plants... idk how that effects the undergravel filter...

clinton1621

The undergravel filters usually arent recommended with live plants, you also want to limit your water circulation.... plants dont like a lot of water movement and aeration, they need carbon dioxide instead of oxygen, and they actually give off excess oxygen through their leaves (enough to aerate most tanks if there are enough plants) so the bubble wand might not be a good idea, maybe just the two power filters as you mentioned and keeping the water level up close to the outflows so there is a slower surface flow

Lucy

The UGF also can collect a lot of gunk underneath and effect your water before you know it.
With a 55g it would close to impossible to clean under it.
I had one on a much smaller scale, after a month the bottom was so nasty and you can't really see it unless you can look at the bottom of the tank.

clinton1621

This is very true, the gunk can also cause toxic gas buildup from decaying matter trapped underneath and bubble out and kill off the entire tank... this happens in some ponds and lakes and causes entire killoffs known as "bottom turning"
The only option Ive heard of that prevents this is a reverse undergravel flow, where you force water down the uptakes and up through the gravel keeping any waste from settling on the bottom, but you would need a heavy substrate that wouldnt be blown around... probably not a very good option either