Confessions of a Monster Fish Keeper

[thebiggerthebetter]

Ultima touts their filters as "biomechanical"
http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/products/filters/ultima2/10000


I plan on using Ultima IIs for biological filtration on my small (compared to your tanks) 1700 gallon tank when it evenutally gets set up.

Thanks, Mom! Good to know. So they are pressure filters. Sounds as convenient as a filter can be! What are the cons?

I must take back my inkling on Vince's filtration. It's not thin at all then.

... One of my mistakes was using bulkheads that didn't allow enough water to pass... had to add a few more bulkheads because the pump was pushing more water than the drain could handle.

That's why I told you right away what GPH a 4" ball valve lets through at what head pressure - 15,000 GPH at 5' level differential, remember? Bulkhead would not be far off.

But the "smart" me is sitting in precisely the same puddle, as we say in a Russian proverb. My pumps cause my tanks to overflow because the drain size is too small + the sump is not low enough. I wish I used 6" bulkheads on my 4500 gals, instead of 4".

 

[pacu mom]

Thanks, Mom! Good to know. So they are pressure filters. Sounds as convenient as a filter can be! What are the cons?

A few people have a water clarity issue with their Ultimas and need additional mechanical filtration. Most people are pleased as punch with their Ultimas. On MFK, it is the go to filter for big tanks, and most people shelling out the money go even bigger (like getting the 4000 instead of the 2000)

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I've been scared of anything pressurized because I like submersible, mag drive pumps, quiet, energy/flow efficient, etc. I think Ultima would require a stronger pump. And because I can't get my hands on the inside and clean it.

On the other hand, a thought of pulling out my 500 gal mechanical prefilter out of my 15,000 gal sump and cleaning the mat - 60' x 5' x 1" medium density - is sending shivers down my spine I physically feel I'm getting lazy.

 

[vincentwugwg]

Thanks, Mom! Good to know. So they are pressure filters. Sounds as convenient as a filter can be! What are the cons?

I must take back my inkling on Vince's filtration. It's not thin at all then.



That's why I told you right away what GPH a 4" ball valve lets through at what head pressure - 15,000 GPH at 5' level differential, remember? Bulkhead would not be far off.

But the "smart" me is sitting in precisely the same puddle, as we say in a Russian proverb. My pumps cause my tanks to overflow because the drain size is too small + the sump is not low enough. I wish I used 6" bulkheads on my 4500 gals, instead of 4".

Very very funny Viktor! I wish I could convert 5 gallon buckets to be used as a giant bulkhead... I would rest assured that will let enough water pass.

 

[pacu mom]

I've been scared of anything pressurized because I like submersible, mag drive pumps, quiet, energy/flow efficient, etc. I think Ultima would require a stronger pump. And because I can't get my hands on the inside and clean it.

On the other hand, a thought of pulling out my 500 gal mechanical prefilter out of my 15,000 gal sump and cleaning the mat - 60' x 5' x 1" medium density - is sending shivers down my spine I physically feel I'm getting lazy.

Perhaps you could use a couple of these big boys.
http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/products/filters/ultima2/100000

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Perhaps you could use a couple of these big boys.
http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/products/filters/ultima2/100000

So many thank you's Mom! You have just inspired and motivated me to clean my stinky dirty heavy filter! And you've done it in style. I will even clean it more often than it needs to be.

My laziness evaporated in an instant



(He saw the price tag of $33,200. Just the filter. No pump.)

Very very funny Viktor! I wish I could convert 5 gallon buckets to be used as a giant bulkhead... I would rest assured that will let enough water pass.

Yeah. Now you are talking. That's the spirit. I was starting to doubt you had it in you to start thinking and acting like a red... akhem... a man not made of money

 

[pacu mom]

vincentwugwg , thebiggerthebetter : Just curious, what kind of generator system are you using to protect your fish during a power outage? Since I don't have massive tanks like you both do, a 20KW generator is all we need.

 

[vincentwugwg]

Perhaps you could use a couple of these big boys.
http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/products/filters/ultima2/100000

Wow.. now that's a big boy there!

 

[vincentwugwg]

vincentwugwg , thebiggerthebetter : Just curious, what kind of generator system are you using to protect your fish during a power outage? Since I don't have massive tanks like you both do, a 20KW generator is all we need.

I have 3 chimps and I rotate them on 2 bicycles that help generate power in case outage.. I only have a small 5KW to run my air pumps but I am looking into solar/stored DC power as backup

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

vincentwugwg , thebiggerthebetter : Just curious, what kind of generator system are you using to protect your fish during a power outage? Since I don't have massive tanks like you both do, a 20KW generator is all we need.

I have one portable, gasoline Troybilt 10,500 starting Watts / 7000 running Watts that can run a bare minimum of what I need to limp by.

It's a great hassle to plug everything in it and unplug and I need to keep switching between either my fish tanks pumps (eleven 5000 GPH, 360 W pumps) or my well water and treatment pumphouse.

When I finish my 20K gal, it will need another generator on its own.

I really need a standby. I can't go anywhere without risking losing all the fish, even if I leave for a few hours, it's a risk. But a legal one would run ~$50,000-$60,000 (must be full house and match the amperage on the main breaker, which is 600 A in my case). Not up to code - still ~$20,000, which I ain't got.