advice

[jehudson]

I know … I know … “Marine Aquarists Association …” However; I inherited a disgusting 15 gal. Eclipse fresh water setup with under-gravel filter and 4 inches of gravel as substrate. Previous owner did not run any mechanical, chemical, or biological filtration and I got that all up and running again. I’m cleaning it up and am wondering yea or nay on the under-gravel filtration. The Tubes are encrusted in disgusting, gross junk and it would be easier to just pull them out. Under Gravel important?

[engwife36]

I can't help you with this one b/c I'm sure a lot ahs changed since I had a freshwater set up. A lot of people on here still have one though and I'm sure they will chime in real soon. Good Luck!

[MKCindy]

I'm far from the experts around here, but I think the first thing everyone needs to know is are you going fresh or salt water, bare bottom or sand bed, and what are you planning to put in it?

[jehudson]

I'm far from the experts around here, but I think the first thing everyone needs to know is are you going fresh or salt water, bare bottom or sand bed, and what are you planning to put in it?

I'm planning on leaving it a fresh water setup for now (until all the inhabitants die a peaceful death at a nice old age) . Then I'm probably going to convert it to a quarantine tank or add it to my 90 gal as a fuge. I wouldn’t keep the UG filtration if I were going marine.

[engwife36]

I thought you sounded like you were going to keep it freshwater.

[jehudson]

I thought you sounded like you were going to keep it freshwater.

Just until all the current fish live long and healthy lives (tetras and silver dollar fish). I've already got another freshwater tank upstairs. However, It's got a cichlid in it (26 gal) ... and he'll kill the tetras in this 15 gal. tank if I were to move them into it.

I'm just curious about how important UG filtration is. I've never used it before. If it's really great ... I might put it in the upstairs tank eventually. BTW ... the silver dollar fish is too big for the 15 ... anyone want him?

[JimD]

Undergravel is a form of mechanical filtration, Id keep using it as long as you continue to use gravel, just syphon regularly and maybe incorporate some type of outboard filtration like a small hang on canister or something similar.

[Ed]

Just until all the current fish live long and healthy lives (tetras and silver dollar fish).

I have a friend who had Silver Dollars that were 10+ years old.....

[jehudson]

I have a friend who had Silver Dollars that were 10+ years old.....

Yeah... He won't live to be 10 in this tank ... he's too big for it ... I need to find him another home.

[erikharrison]

You could put a canister filter on it, and it would rock. Don't bother with a new one, see if someone here has one to sell.