JAG

"Once a thread begins to veer from kind and helpful over to demands for evidence I start thinking about locking the thread. I am very close to locking this one." OH WOW, I know the "Rules of the Forum" ~ I didn't think this thread "Veered from Kind and Helpful to Demands" in any way!! I thought everyone was very "Helpful"!! I was so interested and excited to rediscover UGF, which I hadn't used since the 1990's!!! I was forewarned about UGF being controversial, BUT I can see that the hobby needs to stop it, since there is no profit to be made! ~ Cory even has an excellent video, from Nov 30, 2015, titled "Undergravel Filter Good or Bad?" and he loves UGF! I am new here and I was hoping this Forum would be a place to learn and share new ideas, not another example of "censorship/ cancel culture" :o( Very Very Sad!! I am so sorry the topic of UGF has been snuffed out and censored, once again ! Thank you, to the posters, who opened my eyes and introduced me to Dr. Kevin Novak and the "Slow Flow Plenum"! Thank you! I will continue to learn more about this, on my own ~ I have empty 29 and 55 tanks, to experiment, on right now ~ Just take a look at Dr. Novak's fish and plants, in his tank below ~ I think his teachings and examples speak volumes for themselves!

I am reading that people are saying the plain "Special Kitty" cat litter, from Walmart, is breaking down and getting mushy ~ they are now using "Safe T Sorb", from Tractor Supply, which is also a pure baked clay product, which holds up better. I don't have a sump, to utilize Dr. Novak's basket, but why couldn't a mixture of "Safe T Sorb" and "Seachem Flourite Red", be used as the UGF substrate, instead of gravel? I think I will email Dr. Novak and ask him ~ I'll let you know if he replies ...

This UGF thread has been SO interesting and exciting!! I hate HOB Aquaclears, because the propellers get gunked up and they quit running, causing them to overflow. I had UGF in the 1990's and loved them then. I have discovered Dr Kevin Novak Ph.D., from this thread and I can't wait to try his Plenum concept!

Thank you for your help and input everyone!

I recently moved to the Puget Sound, Washington area and my water is PH 6.8 GH 0 KH 80 I have never had to deal with SUCH SOFT water before! I will be adding crushed coral, but do I also combine it with Seachem Equilibrium and Wonder Shells? I had to place all of my fish before I moved, so I am essentially starting over :o( Not fun!! So far, I have bought a lot of plants and I will be water testing, with each addition, as my tanks cycle. Any advice dealing with "GH 0" water ? ~ I need help! Thank you!!