Hello!

I need help . I am in a conundrum. I will tear down and re-do my 29gal fresh tank soon I currently use a under gravel filter with one powerhead and extra filtration by a AquaTech 30-60 hanging on the back. This unit uses a bio-foam type cartrige filters.

Now in the old days (70's-80's)I used UG filter with great results. However now I seem to have a problem with nitrates and red algae. My bro advises me to get rid of the UG filter and go with a bio-wheel type filtration as this will be a solution to the red algae. I know external filtration systems are much better today however I am reluctant to leave my UG filter.

p.s. with regards to the algae -I did a tank renovation many months ago but the red algae came back. Perhaps my fault for I cleaned and reused my old gravel.

Please advise I have never had red algae & I hate it! Thanks V

Good morning Flying...

Your UFG is fine, but can present some problems for you if you want a lot of plants. You can get around that problem if you put the plants in pots. These filters can also plug with plant and fish debris and fail causing water conditon problems.

Large and frequent water changes took care of my algae and nitrite issues. I have large, planted tanks and replace a minimum of half the tank water weekly. Also, more plants, less algae. Some of this, you likely already know.

HOBs are excellent filters, I'm partial to AquaClear, but there are others.

B

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Low Tech Water Building Keeper

I'm using a UGF on my 150, and I love it.
I have over twenty live plants and absolutely no dibri under the plates.
I do have 4 marineland 1200 powerheads on it though, so its got a pretty serious flow rate.

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150G, 1 shovelnose sturgeon 8", 1 polypterus endilicheri 9", 1 leopard ctenapoma 4", 1 Distichodus Sexfasciatus 6", 1 Farlowella acus algae eater 8", 2 silver dollars, 2 tank bred angelfish, 1 clown knife 11", 1 Jaguar hybrid syntadonis 4", 6 African cichlids 3+"

I am still using one undergravel filter in a 55 with power heads plus a hang on Fluval C4 and frequent water changes. I believe the water changes are what is really doing the job. The PH stays at 6.7 .