Using a bead filter

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jim barry

jim barry

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Jun 21, 2006
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Hi all
Posted this in the filtration section but no one coming back to me so thought i would ask the ray keepers.
Looking for some experienced people who are using or have used bead filters on their tanks?
I have a 9x4x2 with stingrays. Have run a sump for years but thinking of changing to a bead filter but have no idea how to set one up. Would I still run my sump and just run the bead filter along side it?
I have never been happy with my sump but could keep it for extra water volume and holding area for fish but use the bead filter as main source of filtration.
Do bead filters deal with mechanical filtration or are they only really used as bio filtration?
Any suggestions or help appreciated.
 
jim barry said:
Hi all
Posted this in the filtration section but no one coming back to me so thought i would ask the ray keepers.
Looking for some experienced people who are using or have used bead filters on their tanks?
I have a 9x4x2 with stingrays. Have run a sump for years but thinking of changing to a bead filter but have no idea how to set one up. Would I still run my sump and just run the bead filter along side it?
I have never been happy with my sump but could keep it for extra water volume and holding area for fish but use the bead filter as main source of filtration.
Do bead filters deal with mechanical filtration or are they only really used as bio filtration?
Any suggestions or help appreciated.
Click to expand...

kendragon kendragon , JK47 JK47 . I would use both the sump and bead filter, I currently have a 110 gallon sump a 55 gallon trash can K1 reactor and a poor mans ultima (21” Hayward sand filter 3/4 full of ultima 2 media). I have found in my own personal experience that my poor mans ultima really doesn’t clog I have waited 6 months in between back washing not very much detritus comes out. This may be also due to the fact that I run filters socks that get changed out weekly and that’s it’s not a ultima filter but overall I’m very happy with my set up.

I believe people have messed around with turnover to increase mechanical filtration with bead filters but personally do not have experience with it.
 
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jim barry said:
Hi all
Posted this in the filtration section but no one coming back to me so thought i would ask the ray keepers.
Looking for some experienced people who are using or have used bead filters on their tanks?
I have a 9x4x2 with stingrays. Have run a sump for years but thinking of changing to a bead filter but have no idea how to set one up. Would I still run my sump and just run the bead filter along side it?
I have never been happy with my sump but could keep it for extra water volume and holding area for fish but use the bead filter as main source of filtration.
Do bead filters deal with mechanical filtration or are they only really used as bio filtration?
Any suggestions or help appreciated.
Click to expand...

I run a handful of Ultimas on ray tanks as well as sumps. Can probably answer most of your questions along with others. The use for a bead filter depends on first the model/design as well as the pump combo. Those who blast the filter with flow above ratings get bio only for the most part. Slower turn over means excellent mechanical.

My personal favorite combo is an Ultima 2000 or 4000 with a Reeflo Dart gold model pump. Best of both worlds. I have some tanks setup up for only bio, some only mech and some both. Very flexible filters and a great addition to ray keeping. Sumps with only some K1 are a great way to stretch out time in between backwashes.
 
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any thoughts on running an ultima at slower speed, with a geyer pump in the tank? Hadn’t heard or seen one of those till recently. Pretty nice at moving gunk around.
 
Hi Jim, on my Ray tanks I have 300 litres of k1 in the sump, with filter wool for mechanical, but on the pond I run a ultrabead 60, I know it’s a different application but it may be relivent. Beads from my understanding are better at fine mechanical as they can work down to 15microns (typical filter sock 100micron), a slight increase in bio is a plus but I wouldn’t solely rely on it for bio. I would still keep the k1, especially with the extra ammonia from rays.
 
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I have thought abut this many times so would be keen to know the answer also.

Ultima's aren't sold here in the UK, can the Bead filters be retro fitted to fit K1?
 
Jez1992 said:
I have thought abut this many times so would be keen to know the answer also.

Ultima's aren't sold here in the UK, can the Bead filters be retro fitted to fit K1?
Click to expand...

Evolution aqua do a bead filter with k1 micro, again designed for ponds.
 
Jez1992 said:
I have thought abut this many times so would be keen to know the answer also.

Ultima's aren't sold here in the UK, can the Bead filters be retro fitted to fit K1?
Click to expand...

I think you could if you hook it up backwards and run the filter on the back wash, the media should tumble/boil it would have to be large enough not to escape the holes in the multi port valve. On my Hayward pool sand filter the holes are 1/8” if I were to do this I would use k3
 
Thanks for the answers guys.
I am still a little confused TBH and I think for now I will stick with what I know.
Even though I am not entirely happy with my sump, it has worked for me for 5 years now so will keep going until I can afford to change the design around.
 
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