Monster 822 gallon (ext) aquarium build thread

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Ouch! Why did you have to mention me--I love Fred's setup. For the safety and wellbeing of my fish, I can't even decorate my tank. I can only appreciate everybody else's beautiful tanks.

Sorry, I think you misunderstood me. I wasn't saying you would call Fred's setup a "poor man's build," but rather you are one of the few people on the site who could call it a poor man's build, relative to the "Project Pacu" that you have undertaken. I was actually trying to compliment you both. :)
 
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how are you liking the nuclear filters? i really need to upgrade my mechanical filteration and was thinking nuclear or spa filters.
So far so good, but I think if I had once large super filter that could do mechnical filtration, I would switch vs having three canister. I went with these becasue i got two offcraiglist for $50, could not pass that up. So i ordered on more. I keep spare filter so its a matter of swapping filter and soaking the dirty one unitl ready to use again. Make it a lot easier and faster to change.. The 25 micron polishes the water much better than the 100 micron, but you have to change the 25 more frequent. I usually change my 25micron every other water cycle
 
So far so good, but I think if I had once large super filter that could do mechnical filtration, I would switch vs having three canister. I went with these becasue i got two offcraiglist for $50, could not pass that up. So i ordered on more. I keep spare filter so its a matter of swapping filter and soaking the dirty one unitl ready to use again. Make it a lot easier and faster to change.. The 25 micron polishes the water much better than the 100 micron, but you have to change the 25 more frequent. I usually change my 25micron every other water cycle

you mean like an ultima II or some other kind of bead filter?
 
Yes, something like the ulltima II, I don't know that much about them, but if they can polish the water like a canister with a cartridge, then I will eventually get one...
 
Yes, something like the ulltima II, I don't know that much about them, but if they can polish the water like a canister with a cartridge, then I will eventually get one...

Here's a thread where an Ultima user wanted more mechanical filtration. Another poster prefilters with filter socks before running through his Ultima
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...Adding-more-mechanical-to-my-Ultima-II-filter

I don't remember, but are you using filter socks in your sump filtration? I don't think you want an Ultima to ramp up your mechanical filtration. While the Ultima filter media does trap debris which can be easily purged out, the media is touted for its superior biological filtration capacities. I would hate to see you go the Ultima route and be disappointed, especially since you have ample biological filtration with two sumps.

http://www.underwaterwarehouse.com/...rs/Aqua-Ultraviolet-Ultima-II-4000-p-229.html
 
The NuClear 522 filter has an 18 square foot 100 micron cartridge. A Rainbow Pentair RTL-100 spa filter uses a 100 sq ft 100 micron cartridge....slightly more mechanical filtration...
Have really loved the two little RTL-25s we run on our 300 gallon tank. I wouldn't set up a tank without my spa filters.
 
The NuClear 522 filter has an 18 square foot 100 micron cartridge. A Rainbow Pentair RTL-100 spa filter uses a 100 sq ft 100 micron cartridge....slightly more mechanical filtration...
Have really loved the two little RTL-25s we run on our 300 gallon tank. I wouldn't set up a tank without my spa filters.

This is interesting! I'm a NuClear fan but they are not enough lately. I see the RTL-25 is a 50 square foot cartridge with 1.5" intake and returns. What pump are you using?
 
Reeflo Hammerhead. RTL-25 is only 25 sq ft...you must have looked at the RTL-50. I've always referred to our filtration as "extreme mechanical" filtration. Rather unconventional, but it works well for us. The Hammerhead used with the spa filters might be too extreme for some fish, but the pacu (and the oscars when we had them) love the turbulent, strong current.
 
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