Poor man's ultima

[Damascus]

Looking for advice on a potential ultima alternative.

Unhappy with my sump, and since I have to replace it anyways as it is massively undersized, it seems that many ray keepers enjoy using the ultima filter.

My question is are there alternative models that can also be used? I am not going to use sand as a media, and want to use k1 as I currently have a surplus of it.

 

[wednesday13]

k1 does O.K. In this type of filter but its really not made for it. There are great medias out there specifically designed for “modding” pool filters. What will get ya is buying the proper media and valves to retrofit a pool filter tho. Itell end up being around the same cost as an Ultima that comes with media. One advantage to building ur own may be that u can get a larger media chamber/bigger filter if u can source it used for cheaper then buy the valves and media for it. Im sure others will mention more of the specifics of this. Never made the “jump” myself past k1/reactor and filter socks. Cant beat bead filters for “hands free” tho. Best way to eliminate ever cleaning a filter again. Most still run a k1 reactor/moving bed in addition to bead filters also. Want to have that bio stable during back washes of the bead filter to avoid crashing…

 

[Damascus]

k1 does O.K. In this type of filter but its really not made for it. There are great medias out there specifically designed for “modding” pool filters. What will get ya is buying the proper media and valves to retrofit a pool filter tho. Itell end up being around the same cost as an Ultima that comes with media. One advantage to building ur own may be that u can get a larger media chamber/bigger filter if u can source it used for cheaper then buy the valves and media for it. Im sure others will mention more of the specifics of this. Never made the “jump” myself past k1/reactor and filter socks. Cant beat bead filters for “hands free” tho. Best way to eliminate ever cleaning a filter again. Most still run a k1 reactor/moving bed in addition to bead filters also. Want to have that bio stable during back washes of the bead filter to avoid crashing…

I was thinking about running 2 of these types of filters and alternating the backwashing to avoid this. I'd like to run a fluidized sump but the tank is in my living room and I can't do the noise.

The 55g temp sump has go to go though as my rays are growing and I'll be having my next set of growouts ready to make the jump to the big guys in the not too distant future.

So I'm either into building a custom sump to accommodate my 17.5" wide space due to the 4x4 supports or I make the jump to an ultima or alternate brand.

Any advice? Tank is going to be heavily stocked with rays

 

[Backfromthedead]

Somebody in my area is selling sand filters pretty cheap. They look like similar products as the ultima but under a brand called "won brothers". I was considering picking one up just to play around with. Never set one up myself and $75-100 would be worth it for me just to figure out how well they work.

Top Mount Fiber Glass Sand Filter - $75 - general for sale - by owner

For more information: http://www.wonbrothers.com/product/pondpro/sandfilter.htm Top Mount Fiber Glass Sand Filter The Function of Pro-Activated Carbon: This biological filter media is an inorganic...

fredericksburg.craigslist.org

 

[Andyroo]

I've got the same sort of question, Damascus , but for slightly different reasons... mine being mostly that space is limited & my wife doesn't want to see, and then I'm cheap & suffer 50+% import duties & monstrous electricity prices.

So, as wednesday13 has noted:
Sand filters for above-ground pools are a fraction of the cost of the similar pond-device (EG: https://www.amazon.com/Pool-Sand-Filters/b?ie=UTF8&node=1273009011) so I think about oversizing the canister with a replacement pond-bead/media & a low-wattage pump - Jabeo's my usual go-to, but there seems some question as to running them out-of-water (rather than submerged).

Then...
There's some question as to the backwash actual-clean without an air-blower, even with the Ultima, so a sand-can with the pond media might expect annual tear-down. However, my office always has a half-full SCUBA tank kicking around, so I wonder about plumbing an old BCD's LP inflator fitting into the intake for a few 120PSI bursts into the backwash cycle. Q: How terrible an idea is this?

And, if not terribly terrible, could I forgo the specific pond-media & stick with the far-less-costly sand & double the backwash schedule?
It's a pond at ~1800gal over-planted & under-stocked, and erring to blackwater so with a big charcoal bag at the exhaust for 'extra' BB. If this works, I may do similar for the bigger aquariums in/around the house, as I don't fully trust my home-made HDPE canisters from old chemical drums, epoxy putty & air-line O-rings. Knock wood.