Ultima II Over filtration

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streetunity

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 27, 2012
70
1
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McHenry, IL
I know the tendency for most entry level HOB or Canister filters is to over filter based on the box "recommendations" which i completely understand.

But when it comes to large tanks, and filters such as the ULTIMA II series, is over filtering still necessary?

I know one user was using an ULTIMA II 10K on a 500 gal tank, which seems rediculous, also VLDESIGN is using a 6k on his 2700 gallon tank which seems a bit more practical.

I'm just wondering if i build a ~1000 gallon tank can i use a ULTIMA II 2000 or even get away with a 1000, i'm swaying more towards the 2k but i don't want to find out later i'm under-filtering.

Thanks in advance
 
"over-filtering" is a funny term, if over-filtering was necessary then it wouldn't be over-filtering!

You can't have too much bio media, other than the fact that after a certain point you won't be gaining anything as the bacteria colony will only grow proportionate to the waste from your fish. You certainly can have too much flow, and AFAIK bead filters like Ultimas require a certain amount of flow to work properly, so using a massive one on a smaller tank could have your fish swimming in a whirlpool. My thoughts are that bigger tanks don't usually require the 8-10 times turn-over often recommended for smaller tanks. My 2000L tank has about 4-4.5 times turn over, plus some additional circulation from a powerhead and that is plenty for the stock I keep.
 
i'm sorry i know "over filtering" was a bad choice of words, but i really couldn't come up with any other way to phrase it. but again my question wasn't should i use a ton, it was are these numbers feasibly accurate for the amount of water they are recommending.
 
streetunity said:
i'm sorry i know "over filtering" was a bad choice of words, but i really couldn't come up with any other way to phrase it. but again my question wasn't should i use a ton, it was are these numbers feasibly accurate for the amount of water they are recommending.
Click to expand...

next time use 'a higher rate of turnover' :)
plus what fish you keep is a major factor. if you are over stocking, then a higher rate of turnover is required, and if you are keeping high flow fish, then you apply high flow.

Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
but i'm not asking about the turnover rate, i'm asking about filtration capacity, or extent of media effectiveness, are the numbers ultima advertises over rated?
 
If you are thinking of an Ultima filter as your sole means of filtration, here are some things to consider. Not everyone is happy with the mechanical performance of the Ultima, and some have had to add more mechanical filtration afterwards. Some fishkeepers use two Ultimas, purging them at different times to avoid disrupting the beneficial bacteria. Check out this thread where Wlim glass bead filters are discussed. I'm going to use Ultimas for biological filtration and have a separate mechanical filtration system planned. Had I known about Wlims, I may not have gone with Ultimas. The other thing about these systems that have to be purged is that a drain nearby is really handy, if not a necessity....and the bigger the drain, the better.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...YOUR-FISH!!!!!!&highlight=ultimate+filtration
 
I use an ultima 4000 and I'm not sure if I like it. It's on my 560, and has plenty of flow. Problem is the back flush feature.
After back flushing a couple if times like recommended, I go to filter again, tons of crap comes pouring out of the spray bar.
The ultima filters are actually supposed to be used on ponds, so that might make the difference.
As for over filtration, No such thing!
You just got to figure out your flow rate and go from there.
You want to flow 4000 gal/per hr. You can't use ultima 2000 or 1000.
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Also keep in mind the bigger the Ultima the more water you will need to properly back-flush it. Get too big of a model and you may need more water than you may want to remove from your tank to back-flush it.
 
I have 2 Ultima 4000's on my 1700 gallon...my reasoning was:

I wanted/needed two pumps for this volume, so kinda made sense to have two filter setups.

System might be "over filtered" right now, but the system is future proof as well. As fish grow and I get new fish I don't need to worry about adapting my filters.

I flush only one filter a week, alternating. Its my unproven belief that these filters take a bit to recover from a recent flushing.. by alternating I'm certain to have at least one filter with a packed media working at 100%.

Regarding people's complaints about these filters... I have none. They must not be flushing them properly or something as I never have anything going into the tank after a back flushing. It take about 250 gallons and 10 minutes for me to thoroughly clean one filter. I do have a sink right next to both canisters.

I also have no complaints about the mechanical filtering that they do.
 
...BTW- I use the water in the sink as my indicator that the filter is clean, not the little sight window. The sight window will look clean long before it really is... at least for aquarium use.
 
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