Would you recommend Undergravel Filter?

I think you have plenty of filtration. I had an undergravel filter in a 90g tank. The tank would not clear up no matter what I did for months. I took out the undergravel filter and it has been clear ever since. Overall, I just don't think they are worth the hassle.

No Way

Two reasons.

Oscars are BIG messy fish, they wont stay 2" for very long, and the pleco is going to get a lot bigger. They are both waste machines, and an undergravel will not even make a dent in the waste they produce.

Second reason, Oscars dig in the gravel, and keep uncovering the U/G plates. Then the water flow bypasses the gravel, and makes the filter useless.

U/G filters do work, but I would only use them in a tank with smaller fish, and then only as a backup.

BTW, those fish will outgrow a 30 gal in a few months, start looking for a bigger tank about NOW.

Ian

No. UGF are old out dated filters that do not work well for long, and can be dangerous over time causing sudden tank crashed many years down the line without proper maintenance, adn the maintenance stressed the fish so it is no good either.

Use the other filters instead and just ignore that the UGF exist.

I have used both, and can tell you the UGF are great for breeder tanks or fish store sales tanks, but not good for a main display tank.

Many old school hobbiest swear by them, but that is only because they are so used to using them. They are outdated relics.

No. Unless you have a very large tank, an undergravel filter is only going to raise you nitrate levels dramatically. You already have enough filtration to keep your tank healthy and clear. I would suggest putting some rock however, they help maintain bacteria thus helping keep a more stable ecosystem.

Some people don't understand the purpose or function of them. I recommend them in combination with outside power filters. The air bubbles going up the lift tubes pulls water down through the gravel where bacteria break down wastes and excess food and up the tube to become free floating and the filter can then remove the ammonias and other waste products from the water. I've seen people on here say it's discusting to have all that "poop" under the under gravel filter. Which makes no sense. It breaks down in the gravel first. If you don't have a U G filter all that "poop" and excess food just rots in the gravel. Then you have to vacuum, and personally I have better things like my living room to vacuum.

you never want to have a underground filter in your aquarium there outdated and a nitrate factory there are useless with todays technology in the fish world just use a quality canister or hob or both and do regular gravel vacs with weekly water changes . also get at least a 125 gallon tank ASAP prefferably a 150 -180 if its a common pleco .

Your filter doesnt matter until you get those 3 fish in a 125 gallon tank, which is the minimum you need for all 3.

They are just such a huge pain when you need to clean them. Some a really pieces of junk and get clogged easy. I'd just keep the filters you have and upgrade to a bigger tank.

Under gravel filters are ok but they work better if you use reverse flow.

Nope. For FW if you like hang on back, just grab an emperor 400!