adding UGF to established tank

[Lemon]

how should i go about doing this?

its a 10 gallon with sand and some anubias  ,java moss ,java fern , and some type of "grass" 

it has been set up for 1 and a half years

[Bill]

What is your current filter? I'd siphon into a 5 gallon bucket, move all the fish in there, then do what you need to in the tank. If you had gravel it would be better because you could put it right back in over the UGF, and keep some of the beneficial bacterial (not as much as you'll have in it using an UGF) but obviously you'll be getting rid of the sand.  Run your current filter for 2 weeks until the beneficial bacteria builds up in the new substrate.

Edited November 3, 2020 by Bill

[Lemon]

2 minutes ago, Bill said:

What is your current filter? I'd siphon into a 5 gallon bucket, move all the fish in there, then do what you need to in the tank. If you had gravel it would be better because you could put it right back in over the UGF, and keep some of the beneficial bacterial (not as much as you'll have in it using an UGF) but obviously you'll be getting rid of the sand. 

i have a sponge filter.

so you think i should get rid of sand?

[Bill]

2 minutes ago, quirkylemon103 said:

i have a sponge filter.

so you think i should get rid of sand?

The UGF needs to pull the water through gravel, sand will likely be too fine. Not sure I'd do this for a 10 gallon. 

Edited November 3, 2020 by Bill

[Lemon]

ok so i guess i will wait.

[Ben Ellison]

There is a vid of a guy doing a ugf with sand using a filter media bags as a barrier. I'll try to find it

[Lemon]

Just now, Ben Ellison said:

There is a vid of a guy doing a ugf with sand using a filter media bags as a barrier. I'll try to find it

okay thanks.

[Ben Ellison]