what pump for ultimaII 2000

[carcrazy]

I just bought an UltimaII 2000 pond filter to use on my 275g and 320g aquariums (if I can figure out how to get them to exchange water in a closed loop). The instructions recommend using a 2000 gph pump for ponds of 2000g, the maximum rating for the filter. But my system only has about 500g max. Does anyone know if a smaller pump with a 500 gph rating would work? I am trying to cut down on the number of amps used as the electrical load is starting to get kind of high by using the smallest pump I can.

Does anyone else use this filter? I know that the owner of my lfs (200 km away) does, so I can always ask him. He's using a couple of them in his store as well as one for his own five aquariums at his home. They seem to be really nice filters but the cost is still giving me spasms ($900 Canadian).

 

[cchhcc]

Just a warning, you won't be able to make a closed loop work unless the two tanks are connected.

I have made such systems work by plumbing the filter (bead, sand...... similar to yours) into a common sump. One pump for the filter (back to the sump) and one pump as a return.

 

[carcrazy]

I was also thinking of making a common sump for them but I was having trouble finding a way to have the overflow from the farthest tank drain into the sump. The sump and farther tank are about 10' away with a door and another tank (200g mixed reef) between them.

Darn, I bought the filter with the purpose of using it on both tanks! I guess I'll just have to use the filter on the 270g and use the 60g sump on the 320 more efficiently. There is still a lot of room for more pot scrubbers and biomax media. There is also an xp3, an xp4 and 4 hydro sponges on the tank.

As for what pump to use, on further reading the manufacturer warns not to use a smaller pump. They say I should use a 2000gph rated pump at 10' head for the Ultima 2000. I guess I'll just have to use a large pump with it after all (I have a reeflo baracuda that should work).