UGF conversion to RUGF questions.

[Dave]

I have a really nice 20ga tank that has been established with a
standard undergravel filter for about 2 years. The tank seems very
healthy and contains the following:
3 Khulli loaches
3 Dwarf gouramis
2 Panda corydoras
1 Pleco who has stayed at 3" despite plenty of food.
Artificial plants. No live ones.
Standard 1/8" aquarium gravel about 2½" deep.

I got a bit of extra money and decided to upgrade the tank to a
reverse undergravel filter system powered by a Fluval 204. I'll be
using an airstone for areation/water movement. I'll be able to set
up the RUGF without breaking down the tank and with very little
disturbance to the fish by using the existing "up-tube(s)" as
"down-tube(s)." I posed a question about that here a few days ago.

My questions are these:

Are there any deathtraps or problems I might run into as the tank
adapts to the change in filtration?

Is there anything I might do to head off those problems? Anything I
should do before making the change?

Is there anything I seem to be missing?

I have a 50ga tank running now with a similar RUGF set-up and it has
been very trouble free so I'm somewhat familiar with the system.

Thanks very much for any input.

Dave

[Sue]

Shouldn't be any problems as you aren't removing any of the existing filter.
I'd give the gravel a good stir up and vacuum out a few days beforehand to
loosen the substrate and prevent pockets.

Sue

[NetMax]

"Dave" > wrote in message
...
> I have a really nice 20ga tank that has been established with a
> standard undergravel filter for about 2 years. The tank seems very
> healthy and contains the following:
> 3 Khulli loaches
> 3 Dwarf gouramis
> 2 Panda corydoras
> 1 Pleco who has stayed at 3" despite plenty of food.
> Artificial plants. No live ones.
> Standard 1/8" aquarium gravel about 2½" deep.
>
> I got a bit of extra money and decided to upgrade the tank to a
> reverse undergravel filter system powered by a Fluval 204. I'll be
> using an airstone for areation/water movement. I'll be able to set
> up the RUGF without breaking down the tank and with very little
> disturbance to the fish by using the existing "up-tube(s)" as
> "down-tube(s)." I posed a question about that here a few days ago.
>
> My questions are these:
>
> Are there any deathtraps or problems I might run into as the tank
> adapts to the change in filtration?

It depends on the amount of detritus already in your gravel, and the
difference in flow rates, between the 204 and your airstone driven
risers.

> Is there anything I might do to head off those problems? Anything I
> should do before making the change?

Run the 204 as a normal filter for a couple of weeks. This will
distribute the bacteria, so that any negative effects at the substrate
will be minimized. As already mentioned, a bit of gravel vacuuming will
reduce the potential for problems (especially around objects such as
driftwood slate, stones etc). I think that the biggest concern is that
there will be a significant difference in flow rates through the gravel
which might upset conditions for a while.

With the 204, you will only be using one riser. Perhaps start the 204
with the flow rate slightly reduced initially, to guage the effects
(which might be a bacterial bloom or a change in the amount of
particulates in the water column). Keeping the flow approximately the
same, you might get the sediment which gets trapped on the tank bottom to
come upwards a bit, and get caught in the Fluval's filter. I don't
really see any other problem, and even that is not a big deal.

NetMax

> Is there anything I seem to be missing?
>
> I have a 50ga tank running now with a similar RUGF set-up and it has
> been very trouble free so I'm somewhat familiar with the system.
>
> Thanks very much for any input.
>
> Dave

[Dave]

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 00:28:33 -0500, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>
>"Dave" > wrote in message
...
>> I have a really nice 20ga tank that has been established with a
>> standard undergravel filter for about 2 years. The tank seems very
>> healthy and contains the following:
>> 3 Khulli loaches
>> 3 Dwarf gouramis
>> 2 Panda corydoras
>> 1 Pleco who has stayed at 3" despite plenty of food.
>> Artificial plants. No live ones.
>> Standard 1/8" aquarium gravel about 2½" deep.
>>
>> I got a bit of extra money and decided to upgrade the tank to a
>> reverse undergravel filter system powered by a Fluval 204. I'll be
>> using an airstone for areation/water movement. I'll be able to set
>> up the RUGF without breaking down the tank and with very little
>> disturbance to the fish by using the existing "up-tube(s)" as
>> "down-tube(s)." I posed a question about that here a few days ago.
>>
>> My questions are these:
>>
>> Are there any deathtraps or problems I might run into as the tank
>> adapts to the change in filtration?
>
>It depends on the amount of detritus already in your gravel, and the
>difference in flow rates, between the 204 and your airstone driven
>risers.
>
>> Is there anything I might do to head off those problems? Anything I
>> should do before making the change?
>
>Run the 204 as a normal filter for a couple of weeks. This will
>distribute the bacteria, so that any negative effects at the substrate
>will be minimized. As already mentioned, a bit of gravel vacuuming will
>reduce the potential for problems (especially around objects such as
>driftwood slate, stones etc). I think that the biggest concern is that
>there will be a significant difference in flow rates through the gravel
>which might upset conditions for a while.
>
>With the 204, you will only be using one riser. Perhaps start the 204
>with the flow rate slightly reduced initially, to guage the effects
>(which might be a bacterial bloom or a change in the amount of
>particulates in the water column). Keeping the flow approximately the
>same, you might get the sediment which gets trapped on the tank bottom to
>come upwards a bit, and get caught in the Fluval's filter. I don't
>really see any other problem, and even that is not a big deal.
>
>NetMax
>
Thanks very much Netmax and Sue. I gave the gravel a good siphoning
last week so I don't think that will be a problem. I'll just set it
up and try not to disturb the critters too much and I'll report back
if I have any problems.