Which Pressurized Pond Filter Would You Recommend?

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JohnG

Candiru
MFK Member
Jun 28, 2010
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Moses Lake, WA
I am figuring out my filtration for my new 1500G pond stingray pond. I am using a pressurized fishmate sponge filter that I already have to provide most of the mechanical filtration and will use its return to setup a current.

For bio I am going to be setting up 2 large towers of bio balls, what I am trying to figure out is which pressure filter would be best to prefilter the water going to them so I don't have to be constantly replacing filter pads.

I have just 2 requirements, must have a max flow rate of atleast 2000GPH, preferably 3000GPH or more, and must have a backwash. The main concern is that nothing gets through these filters to rot in my bio balls, i am looking at some sponge filters which I am fairly confident will keep everything out, and some other filters I am not so sure about.

Here is a list of the ones I am considering, let me know what you think or if there are any I have left off the list.

Fishmate Pressurized Filter - What I use now, works great but rather expensive and some leaking issues, but was able to fix that with silicone: http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5186+10394&pcatid=10394

Pondmaster Pressurized Filter - Sounds good except that I have read several reviews about the agitator handle breaking: http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5186+20107&pcatid=20107

ProEco 4000: http://www.pondliner.com/product/proeco_cpf-4000_pressurized_pond_filter/s

Tetra Pond Filter: http://www.amazon.com/Tetra-Bio-Act...PL5O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1307935319&sr=8-3
 
Why are you going with these types of filters? Are you limited to space or anything else? Also are you using a external pump or submersible pump? I really don't think you will get the filtration you need using any of these, if you are putting rays in the tank.
 
These filters do a great job, like I said I am already using a fishmate 9000 for mechanical, thats on one of my current ray ponds, a 6x10 thats getting torn down when the new ones ready. On that 6x10 I have it prefiltering the bio balls just like I am planning to have a pressure filter prefilter them on the new pond. This is just for mechanical filtration before the towers of bio balls that will provide the biological filtration. The thing I like the most about them is the backwash, I don't ever have to change a filter pad with these.

Space is not overly limited, i have about a 2x7ft area behind the pond I am using for the sponge filters and a 2x7ft table thats going to be above the filters that the bio ball towers will sit on.

I use internal submersible pumps, the Beckett 3500GPH and Beckett 5000GPH. Both of these models have been very reliable for me in the past.
 
^^ I agree. Too small for rays.
 
If you stay with the pressurized filters, i would try to go with a filter sock at the top of your tower, some how make the sock the first tray in the tower. Then the rest of your trays full of your bio media. The sock will catch anything that makes it through.

My indoor tank is 1500 but i use a big sand gravel filter made out of a 55 gal. drum, bio tower(bio balls and lava rock), and uv light.
 
A UV will definitely be going onto this setup, there is a 36W in my fishmate and I will probably get atleast another 55W inline UV to add to it.

Another option I have considered would be a bead filter before the bio balls, I use the biggest of the aquabead models on my 3500G setup. Got a dozen monster rays in there and several smaller ones, water stays crystal clear without a trace of ammonia with just the aquabead and a fishmate 9000 sponge filter. Not really looking to spend the $1500 they want for the second smallest aquabead. Any filter I get will have a back wash.
 
Have you looked at picking up a pressurized sand gravel filter made for pools and do a conversion, i know you can pick them up for cheap off CL. I know you need to take it apart and drill some wholes on the center piece to open up the flow you need, and then switch out the media to whatever you want to run. Will do the same thing as the aquabead, but for a fraction of the cost. I just got rid of a one that was converted, i have never been a fan of the pressurized filters. I know there are some articles online on how to do this.
 
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