Aquarium Plants

I'm not a fan of UGF's for any tanks, but they are especially ill-suited for planted tanks. Here's why.

1) Substrate is very important for plants, not only does it serve to keep them "rooted" it also must provide nutrients to plant roots. UGF's limit the size and type of substrate materials that can be used. For example, one of my favorite substrates is sand mixed with iron rich laterite. It can't be used with a UGF plate because of particle size, and laterite would be introduced into the water column.

2) UGF's begin to become mechanical filters, as debris enters into the "cracks" between the gravel the biological filtration gets compromised and anaerobic areas develop which can kill plant roots and/or cause stem rot. Vacuuming is not recommended because it disturbs the plant roots, this causes the roots to develop more root hairs which take more energy from developing leaf structures. This is why it is often said the UGF's will grow great roots, just not great plants.

3) This is the main reason. For a real balanced planted tank the aquarist needs to be able to control nutrients, both in the substrate and in the water column. A UGF will make it virtually impossible to do this over any extended period of time. For example, if I need to add fertilizer tabs to sword plants, I push them deep into the substrate not fearing that they will be released into the water column. With a UGF and it's associated water flow through the substrate that fertilizer will be dissolving quickly into the water column and algae will be soon to follow.

4) What benefit does a UGF offer in a planted tank? NONE. Biological filtration? Nope the plants do this better. Chemical filtration? Nope, UGF's do none, but plants are very efficient at chemical filtration. Mechanical filtration? Nope, again as I alluded to earlier, UGF's begin to fail at the only job they're capable of if they begin to provide mechanical filtration.

So the question to me seems, if a UGF provides no benefit for a planted tank, but offers several negatives why would someone choose to use them.

BTW, up until about 10-11years ago, every tank I have or have ever had, contained a UGF. When I was finally convinced to fore-go UGF's I found that live plants became much easier and that algae rarely is a problem.