Path: utzoo!hoptoad!ihnp4!ucbvax!agate!eos!ames!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!husc6!yale!Ram-Ashwin
From: Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu (Ashwin Ram)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: Cleaning a tank with a UGF
Message-ID: <26390@yale-celray.yale.UUCP>
Date: 4 Apr 88 16:42:44 GMT
References: <22888@bbn.COM>
Sender: root@yale.UUCP
Reply-To: Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu (Ashwin Ram)
Distribution: alt.aquaria
Organization: Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-2158
Lines: 22
In-reply-to: sjencso@bbn.com (Steve Jencso)

In article <22888@bbn.COM>, sjencso@bbn (Steve Jencso) writes:
> 
> I am about to rip one of my tanks down for Sping Cleaning. It contains an
> undergravel filter.
> 
> Being this is my first tank with a UGF, should the plate be removed when
> the tank is cleaned or will this destroy the bacteria build-up underneath?

The bacteria live in the gravel (more accurately, on the surface of the gravel
particles) that sits on the UGF.  In fact, most of the bacterial population
lives on the upper third of the gravel.  Removing the UGF plate, therefore,
won't destroy your bacteria.

However, washing the gravel DOES destroy a lot of bacteria.  Gentle rinsing with
slightly cool water is recommended unless you really need to wash the gravel
well for other reasons.  Ditto for the UGF itself.

-- Ashwin.

ARPA:    Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu
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