Under Gravel Filters??

As stated in another post ive just picked up a bargain...an Aqua One Start 500...the only problem is ,is that it has an under gravel filter which ive never had before...my NOOB question is...does it require any type of media...filter media as non came with it just a tray to go under the gravel, i can see how this works but i simply cant understand how this would create a perfect cycle with no type of media...
Or should i just buy an extra internal filter and get rid of the under gravel filter...

get rid i hate the things all the crap that gets sucked through the gravel and under the fillter plates stays their ie thats youre media. theirs no media mate get yourself a new fillter how big is a aqua 500 does that 500 stand for ltrs if so theirs no way would the under gravel fillter be any good anyway.
if youre ever unfortunate inuff to take one of these fillters out of a used tank you will know what i mean bin bin bin bin

Its a grow out tank i bought its only 70 litres or so....im glad you said that, i will use a different filter for it then...i thought it was strange that there was no media...im glad i asked before i set it up...

I'm with Deano on this one ..... get rid of the undergravel and use a standard filter. Bloody useless things they are lol

Angi

Its in the bin as we speak...

I dont agree with care and attention UFG can work realy well

Should i make a poll Good or Crap.. I will just go and get it out the bin...

Curby wrote:

Should i make a poll Good or Crap.. I will just go and get it out the bin...

Ye mate pole it .

There is a poll in the poll's room now....

tried and tested...

i would never recommend these... too much waste is kept under the gravel and a pain removing substrate to clean...

i have found a good use for them though....

i used to have a small tank set up for a few red claw crabs, and the crabs just used to love the gravel support/filter to use
as a climbing frame when irested it against the side wall of the tank...

lol

my preference right now is a fluval 3 plus or 4plus with venturi attachment on top....

though i do have a rekord filter ready to set up in my tank as a spare....
just a little reluctant to do that right now as i dont have spare cash for the repkacement media.

though i do firmly belive that if you can do it to put a back up filter in the tank incase your other goes faulty or you just want to set up a new tank at short notice....

Curby wrote:

Its a grow out tank i bought its only 70 litres or so....im glad you said that, i will use a different filter for it then...i thought it was strange that there was no media...im glad i asked before i set it up...

The gravel that rests on top of the undergravel filter plate works as the media. I don't like them either plus they don't help plant growth.

i always wanted to know how to clean them? becouse when u remove it the crap falls out and u have to move all the gravel to the side to put it in again...

jett lee wrote:

i always wanted to know how to clean them? becouse when u remove it the crap falls out and u have to move all the gravel to the side to put it in again...

When I had one I cleaned it by siphoning water out through the uplift tube- all the gunk would come come up too. No need to move the gravel at all.

parkadge wrote:

jett lee wrote:

i always wanted to know how to clean them? becouse when u remove it the crap falls out and u have to move all the gravel to the side to put it in again...

When I had one I cleaned it by siphoning water out through the uplift tube- all the gunk would come come up too. No need to move the gravel at all.

God that takes me back nearly 40 years to when I used to do that they were air powered uplifts then. Give me an internal/external filter anytime