Ultima II - 6000

[Trouser Cough]

I've been away from this board for a while since my big tank popped a leak and a handful of other life events hogged up my time.

Short version is that I had an 800 gallon tank that leaked and I couldn't figure out how it was leaking. Drained, recaulked, etc. and it's still not right. I've since figured out how I botched the strip and recaulk and more importantly how and why it's leaking. I've also bought more large tanks so the original fish from the 800 are fine.

One of the things I found in horse trading my way to more large tanks was an Ultima II filter and it's far bigger than any filter I've ever had prior. I've cleaned it (mostly) and have been putting the old media back in. I'll have it plumbed into another tank in the next week or so.

I've not seen a lot of info on Ultima II's here. I'm also a little skeptical of the claim that they're worth their cost at roughly 10x what a pool filter of similar size might be. Seems the black media isn't that much different from K1 to my eye and that's apparently their claim to fame. If there's any difference at all it is that their black media sinks and K1 IIRC doesn't. I'll try the black media it came with and if it doesn't turn out to be all that and a bag of chips I'll yank that stuff out and fill it w/ pool balls next. Instead of cleaning the prior media I thought I might try buying some fresh stuff and about dropped my coffee when I saw what Ultima wants for replacement black media. Those boys can count.

I'll keep you all posted on the install and efficacy. The pump that came with it looks like it was meant for a 2" firehose and I'll be using something a little more conservative in the initial setup. Hopefully it'll be strong enough to backwash the filter without having to grunt too hard.

If you've got any questions know that I don't have many answers and we might be learning about this whole Ultima thing together.

On the other hand, if you've got answers to questions I don't yet know to ask; I'm all ears.

 

[pacu mom]

Congratulations! One MFK member running an Ultima II filter recommended having a drain close by for purging. You are going to need a big pump for that Ultima II 6,000.

From Aquatic Pond website: "Use Appropriate Pump For Filter Size (If you purchase a 6000 Gallon Filter, use a pump that will give you 6000 GPH at your Total Dynamic Head (10’ of pressure head plus vertical head height plus friction head (length and inside diameter size of hose with fittings such as elbows) for the best backwash."

 

[Trouser Cough]

Whoops! Already bought a replacement pump. Will check specs. Hopefully my first step wasn't in the wrong direction. This thing is so huge that the pump that initially came with it seemed like it would blow fish around pretty hard in a little 300-400g tank. Good thing peacocks are stout!

 

[pacu mom]

Whoops! Already bought a replacement pump. Will check specs. Hopefully my first step wasn't in the wrong direction. This thing is so huge that the pump that initially came with it seemed like it would blow fish around pretty hard in a little 300-400g tank. Good thing peacocks are stout!

Oops! I didn't read your first comment correctly. I thought you were putting the Ultima on an 800 gallon tank, not on a smaller tank. A big pump will generate quite a swift current on a 300 - 400 gallon tank. We run a Reeflo Hammerhead pump (5800 gph) for the mechanical filtration on our 300 gallon tank. Our fish love the swift current. The return nozzle is on one end of the tank, and the current goes the length of the tank and bounces off the far wall and returns half way across the tank. You might consider a Venturi return nozzle with that big pump. It spits out a lot of air--we don't need any other aeration on the tank.

Very old video at the end of a water change. The fish go body surfing

We have a simplified water change system that involves opening and closing valves. The new water is pumped into the main tank via the mechanical filtration system from a holding tank.

I love Reeflo pumps. The Hammerhead pump we use has been running for essentially 20 years.

Our big tank set up is still a work in progress - multiple surgeries and incapacitations for me, family illness and deaths have delayed completion of our big tank. We will be running two Ultima II 4,000s on the big tank system for biological filtration. We will have a separate mechanical filtration system. Fish equipment room has two floor drains for easy purging.

 

[kendragon]

I visited the AquaUltraviolet's facility when they came out with the bead filters.
The Ultima I copied the AST bubble bead filter media. The media were small solid plastic floating beads. Ultima I housing were cracking from the extreme back pressure when clogged. The media would pack so tight that they were solid slabs like concrete.
The Ultima II was born which replaced the solid beads with small straw like media. Their claim to fame is that it traps particles as well as being a biological filter. It's a great filter if used properly and maintained.

I service ponds and it is a breeze to backwash.
More backwashing is required during Summer months due to higher bio waste.
A lot of water is require to thoroughly wash the media clean. The bigger the filter, the larger amount of water required. If not washed clean, the pond will cloud up with returning particles.

Some systems have two pumps hooked up to the filter. Smaller pump for filtering and a backup larger pump for backwashing. The larger pump will have the head pressure needed to tumble the media during washing.

Good luck on your new Ultima.