can you us about that ultima media? obviously you are using a huge sump, but is that good for a smaller setup? (like a 75 gal sump for a 225gal tank)
Large Tank Filtration
- Thread starter pacu mom
- Start date
I'm already mom to two pacu!
bluexselvedge;3793329; said:
I'm using the sump as a holding tank, and will not be using it for a wet/dry filter. There are two external overflow boxes on the new tank, taking up 8 feet along the back side of the tank...so I have to use a sump. I also need the sump to plumb in the Clarity, which is 45" tall. The water flows out of the Clarity, and back into the sump. The Clarity will sit over the sump. The new tank is 4' tall and will be on a 2' stand. With 8' ceiling, we will have only 2' between the top of the tank and the ceiling, so obviously, the Clarity cannot be run off the main tank.
We have numerous power outages in our area. While our wet/dry filter has performed flawlessly on our 300 gallon tank, the power outages are problematic. During a power outage, we can add water to the main tank, which then flows through the overflow box and raises the water level in the wet/dry filter. We add enough water to cover the bioballs to prevent die off of the beneficial bacteria. Adding 200 gallons of water to cover bio media in a 330 gallon sump would be very problematic for me. I'm going with the Ultima, because when the power is off, the media is still submerged in the Ultima. I like the whole concept of the Ultima with easy cleaning/purging, and good biological filtration. I got the idea to use two Ultimas from Spiff, who runs two Ultimas. He purges one Ultima at a time, so if there should be a die off of BB, the other Ultima has intact BB. The design of the Ultima media is to prevent dislodgement of the beneficial bacteria when the mechanical debris is being purged. While Ultimas provide good biological and mechanical filtration, we will be using them primarily for biological filtration. We will have separate mechanical filtration. Our hope is to have the new tank as maintenance-free as possible while providing a good home for our fish. Here's a site that talks about the unique design of the Ultima media.
http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/products/filters/ultima2/4000
I realize that I have not answered your question. You could contact Aquaultraviolet and ask them specifically, if their media could be used in a wet/dry filter. By their claims, it's a superior media.
Nope, and I hope the vendor keeps it until we have our fishroom! Meanwhile, the shipping date for the big tank is the end of the month now. Tank builder is in Florida, and they only have air conditioning, no heating. It's been very cold the last two weeks. They're in the last stages of chemically bonding the final seams, but the temp has to be at least 70 degrees. Temps have been in the teens at night and in the 30s during the day. The last thing I need is a defective tank, so I hope they wait until things are nice and warm again before they work on my tank. We're in absolutely no hurry for the tank, as it has to go into storage and will just be tying up our flatbed trailer.
tcarswell;3975907; said:Hard core... Updates please
The new tank is in a storage facility. We're a terribly long way from our fishroom. Between being a DIY project and all the rain, things are going much slower than I would like. Slowly making progress.
Triangular area to the right will house the equipment room. It is plumbed with two big floor drains, and there are water lines in place. Slab is slightly sloped toward the drains, should we have a catastrophic tank fail. Had thought about trench drains around the perimeter of the room, but this should work.
As of Wed., retaining walls, driveway drainage, garage foundation forms, inspection completed. Pouring the garage foundation Monday.
Picked up this toy yesterday to cut all the 2.5" tubular steel for the stand
I'm impatient for this project to be completed....wanted to order the tank for the sump this week, but was talked out of it....we have no place to put it right now. Buying stuff for the future fish room does not speed up the project, but it sure makes me feel better..ha ha.
I do have a similar thread about the tank, but completion is such a long ways off, I'm going to do a thread about the whole project after it is completed.
This is a pic of the tank just before shipping. When it came, there was a little damage to the outside, so we had to open up the crate and inspect the tank for damages before we signed for it.
Still don't know if we are going to be able to fit the old 300 gallon tank in the equipment room. There was an inaccuracy in the plan, and the fish room is a little longer, which makes the back wall of the equipment room at a 38 degree angle, instead of 45 degrees as we had been told...looks like it might be too tight for an additional tank in there.
In case you're wondering about the strange configuration of the foundation, we had to remove about 800 cubic yards of dirt for this build. At the lowest point (under the boom of the excavator) is a drop off which eventually ends in the river. The upper edge of the picture is near the property line. Garage will be 4 ft higher than the house. Removing dirt to house level would have significantly decreased our building site, because of the slope requirements.
You are truly amazing. I am looking forward to see this thread throughout the year. Keep updates coming and good luck. .
