8 Reasons Why Undergravel Fish Tank Filters Are Great

The one thing that with guarantee healthy and vibrant fish above everything else is crystal clear water in your aquarium. And only a fish tank filter is able to do this for you. It is the most vital tool for every fish enthusiast and together with a fish tank heater, forms a perfect system that is capable of providing your fish with a similar environment from where they originated.

The undergravel filter has been a popular filter for a while now. Though it is considered a beginner's filtration system, it is able to provide water filtration that is reliable and efficient comparable to any other filter.The filter functions by drawing water through a layer of gravel. The gravel rests on a slightly raised platform away from the base of the tank. This divides the unclean water which the fish swim in from a layer of filtered water below the gravel, all the while with the gravel acting as the filter.

It performs mechanical filtration by trapping large debris, food excess and waste and beneficial bacteria in the gravel layer also perform biological filtration.Here are 8 reasons why I consider the undergravel filter to be among the best types of filters on sale today.

Reason #1: It Regulates Temperature

The undergravel filter sucks in water from the bottom of the fish tank and pumps it back from the top. This will mix the water up continuosly, as long as you do not turn off the filter. This circulation of water causes every area of the fish tank to experience the same temperatureBecause of this water circulation, every part of the aquarium maintains the same temperature. Additionally, you could also place your aquarium filter beside the lift tubes, which will warm the water as it rises and provide excellent temperature balance in your fish tank.

Reason #2: It Aerates The Water

As the filtered water rises from the bottom through the lift tubes, it will come in contact with outside air. This aerates the water even better than the bubbles in the tank could.

Reason #3: Excellent Mechanical Filtration

In this system it is the gravel that acts as the filter media, trapping large debris, food waste and excess perfectly.

Reason #4: A Good Biological Filter

When you have allowed the gravel to age, usually within six weeks without help, beneficial bacteria will colonizes the gravel. These microscopic helpers break down organic matter into nitrate which can easily be removed with regular water changes. The nitrate is also a substance consumed by aquatic plant life.

Reason #5: Chemical Filtration Capable

The one thing that most people forget about undergravel filters is that it can be fitted with cartridges that provide chemical filtration. These cartridges usually contain activated carbon that removes heavy metal, complex proteins, odor, color and even chemical treatment.

Reason #6: Large Filter Capacity

The gravel is the element in the filter that actually does the filtration and because they cover a large area than most filters, undergravel filters can hold the most waste before it needs to be cleaned.

Reason #7: Easy To Maintain

Eventually, a layer of muck will build up over the top of the gravel and this layer of muck needs to be cleaned or it will choke the filtration system. How do you clean it? By simplying vacuuming up the muck. One easy way to do this is to use a rubber tube as a siphon when you want to do a water change and simply let it suck up the muck from the top layer of the gravel.

Reason #8: Inexpensive

Isn't that really the main draw for most of us? The entire undergravel filter set is generally cheap compared to other filtration system. Because the gravel is the filter media, it never needs to be changede. The parts are quite sturdy but if you need to replace a part, they are cheap.