Pond Filter for Aquarium

[thoop]

Hello to all: First post here.

I am building a 600 gal aquarium, but am undecided on the filter system. I do not have a space contraint as my filter system will be one floor below my display tank. I was thinking of a pond filter system like the "GCTek WattMizer PLUS Systems w/ AlphaONE".

I have a couple challenges: A high head height for the pump due to pumping up one story. Also, most pond filters do not have the flow rate to give me 8-10 times turnover per hour. However the system seems to have everything I need and a high flow rate.

Any thoughts are greatly excepted.

 

[tlindsey]

Hello to all: First post here.

I am building a 600 gal aquarium, but am undecided on the filter system. I do not have a space contraint as my filter system will be one floor below my display tank. I was thinking of a pond filter system like the "GCTek WattMizer PLUS Systems w/ AlphaONE".

I have a couple challenges: A high head height for the pump due to pumping up one story. Also, most pond filters do not have the flow rate to give me 8-10 times turnover per hour. However the system seems to have everything I need and a high flow rate.

Any thoughts are greatly excepted.

Welcome aboard
I have no experience with pond filters but experienced members will chime in.

 

[HarleyK]

Sounds like a great project, and many of us wished we could have a dedicated filter room. Now on the downside, I think the high head height will be your biggest challenge. Not only do you need a pump strong enough to pump up that far, and most off the shelf systems don’t have that. You also have to deal with increased water pressure if you go with the canister style container like a pond filter. The O-rings generally are not set up to withstand that kind of pressure. You’d probably be best with an overflow filtration setup, and a specialized pump that is able to handle your head height.

best of luck, this sounds awesome!

 

[Toby_H]

Around 20 years ago I bought a BIoForce pond filter. It was used in a number of indoor applications. I was happy with it in each one.

It was originally put on a 300 Gal Rubbermaid stock tank. This tank and filter were both on the floor.

Later it was used on a number of aquariums. In each aquarium application the aquarium was on a stand of typical height and the filter was on the floor, usually under the tank.

The filter was dropped and cracked during a move, which is why/when it came out of service...

I don't remember all the details of it, though if you look through my old posts there is likely a thread on it on here somewhere. It was the largest BioForce pond filter available at the time. I used 1200 and 1800 gph pumps on it. I never had any issues with it leaking.

I wouldn't hesitate to explore using one again.


That said... If I were building a large tank such as you are describing... I'd personally explore building an insertable filter that hides into a background.

 

[pacu mom]

Have you considered an Ultima II filter? If you MUST have 10 times turnover rate, consider an Ultima II 10,000 with a Reeflo Tiger Shark pump.






Frankly, I think you are overstocking your tank if you need 8-10 times turnover rate. My understanding is that the 8-10 turnover rate applies to mechanical filtration alone. Biological filters usually have a lower turnover rate. I think you could get by with an Ultima II 4,000 and a Reeflo Hammerhead pump which would still give you 6-7 times turnover rate.



Read up on Ultima II filters with their cyclonic backwash system for easy maintenance and their special biological media. Ultima filters are pond filters which many big fish tank owners have come to love and appreciate on their big tanks.

Ultraviolet Pond & Pool Filters - UV Bio Filters - Aquatic Filters

Ultima II ultraviolet pond and pool Aqua Filters – UV bio filters designed for extreme loads and elevated rates. The patent cyclonic backwash system does the dirty work for you.

aquaultraviolet.com

 

[Stingray Biogenetics]

I’d stay away from Ultima II Filters, I just replaced my Ultima II with a GcTek AlphaNANO (the 2022 version of the AlphaONE). The GcTek is a definite upgrade over an Ultima II. Ultima’s are Economical filters where as GcTek’s are Premium filters.
To answer your question about pumping with high head feet, you need a high rpm pump not a low rpm pump. This is the pump I use, to pump water up about 9ft high to an overhead sump. Take a look at the specs on the chart, these types of pumps work well with high head height. You can opt for the version with “constant flow technology” if you want to adjust speeds/ be most energy efficient. There could possibly be more energy efficient pumps by other brands, my point being is it has to be that type of pump you use (high rpm).

Sparus 160 Energy-Efficient Aquaculture Duty 60 HZ Pumps

Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems Sparus™ 160 pumps offer extremely high water flow in a quiet, energyefficient package making them effective in a wide range of Aquaculture applications.

pentairaes.com

 

[Stingray Biogenetics]

 

[Aliraza-11222]

Keeping an aquarium clean and healthy requires the use of a pond filter. To keep the water in an aquarium clean and healthy for the fish and other aquatic life, a pond filter is used.It filters out harmful compounds like ammonia and nitrites as well as excess waste and dirt from the water. The water in a pond is kept clean and clear by using a filtration system that combines mechanical and biological processes. If you want your aquatic ecosystem to be healthy and flourishing, you need a pond filter made for aquariums. To keep the water in an aquarium in the best possible condition for fish and other aquatic life, these specialist filters efficiently remove contaminants. Your aquatic pets will thrive in your well-kept aquarium if you use a dependable pond filter designed specifically for aquariums to maintain a delicate ecological balance.

 

[Midwater]

... to give me 8-10 times turnover ...

Why do you need 8 - 10 times turnover? I have got nowhere near that.

I find it better to have a lower turnover with a very large sump. Easy to maintain too.

 

[yellowfinfmb]

goliath tiger fish I was thinking the same thing he could still. use a wet dry filter with that pump also