I am summarizing the entire process of replacing an UG filter stepwise. Please correct me if i am wrong anywhere.

Step 1. Unplug the heater and let the tank sit for an hour

Step 2. Unplug all the filters and pumps

Step 3. Remove 50 percent water into a bucket1

Step 4. Remove the fishes and keep them in that bucket1 of removed water

Step 5. Add an airwood connected with an air pump into the bucket of fishes

Step 6. Remove the remaining 50 percent water into another bucket2

Step 7. Remove the entire gravel,decorations and filters and put them into the bucket2

Step 8. Remove the old under-gravel filter

Step 9. Set up the new under-gravel filter

Step 10. Put the gravel back from bucket2 into the tank and lay it evenly over the plates of the new under-gravel filter

Step 11. Add 50 percent fresh tap water after treating with anti-chlorine into the tank

Step 12. Add the filters and decorations into the tank

Step 13. Add the fishes into the tank from bucket1

Step 14. Add the remaining 50 percent water from the bucket1 where the fishes were kept

Step 15. Wait for 15-30 minutes to settle the water

Step 16. Start the filters,pump and heater

complicate................. Sorry I am new here. Just start keep fish

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@ cinderella

Yeah a bit complicated for beginners

What tank and accessories you have?

If you're overhauling the entire tank, here's a few suggestions -

If possible, keep your fish in the bucket for as long as possible after the overhaul. To do this, I would put the heater in the bucket and run it to keep them warm. Second, I would wash out the tank and wash the gravel too, as you'll be surprised how dirty the bottom layer of gravel and the UGF can be. And lastly, if you decide to put your fish right back in, I would do all of the old tank water, not 50/50 fresh water and old water. It'll lower the shock on your fish.

Why are you replacing the UGF? Or are you just overhauling for cleaning?

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Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

Actually my existing UGF covers only 40 percent of the tank bed so want to replace it

what you suggest?

Depends - does your tank actually need more filtration? And also, it's recommended that every 6-12 months you overhaul your tank anyways, just to clean the bottom layer, hence why many of us that have live plants don't like UGFs - when they get clogged they loose effectiveness, and uprooting everything in a planted tank isn't always a good thing

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To be more precise one of the tube of UGF is not working as some of the gravels has blocked the plates due to my own mishandling so am planning to replace it with a new one

You could do that, or just clean up and rebuild using the UGF you already have, but set up right this time. Personally, I wouldn't waste the money on another UGF and just use the one you've got.

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One of the portion of the plate had been broken due to my mistake where some gravels clogged up the filter

Gotcha. Then yeah, I would replace it and get the full tank version.

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So should i proceed with the steps i mentioned?

I would add to put the heater in the bucket of fish, and to go 100% old tank water, and to rinse the gravel and clean the tank before putting everything back together again.

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Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

Thanks a lot

Wish me luck for my tank cleanup

About 2 months ago I completely tore down my 55 gal after the last fish had died and replaced all the gravel, cleaned the glass, got new plastic plants, new decorations, etc.

When I drained all the water that I could, scooped out the gravel, and lifted the UGF plates, I was SHOCKED at how much nasty stuff had been stuck under there. The air stones just didn't pull the water along under the plates fast enough to lift the nasty crap back into the tank so that the Fluval could filter it out. So it built up over the years and probably led to the death of my fishies, but I didn't realize this was why.

After I had everything set back up I stopped into a mom and pop pet store and talked about the new tank, and I was told they no longer recommended UGF for this reason. They suggested that vacuuming the gravel regularly is good enough to keep it clean, and the build up of stuff under the UGF plates could do way more harm than the UGF could do good.

It convinced me, so I came home and pulled them all out and threw them away. I put the air stones under the gravel and under the new decorations, so there's still plenty of pretty bubbles in the tank now.

Hey is this setup of mine okay?

Attached Images

setup.JPG (20.9 KB, 13 views)

Hence, why UGF's need to be cleaned every 6-12 months, eliciting a complete overhaul.

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Looks like a good setup, but if your UGF plates are busted then I would definitely throw them away. Whether you replace them with 100% plates or plates at all is up to you.

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Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

If i remove the UGF will the power filter and sponge filter be sufficient for my goldfishes?

Ah, you didn't mention you had goldies. Definitely want an UGF, in my opinion, unless you go with live plants.

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Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

Opps :P

have artificial plants

So i am replacing the existing UGF. Is that okay?