Aquael Ultramax 1000

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I just received an Ultramax 1000 this morning.

This filter features a large sponge prefilter

It's a nice, thick, sponge.

The prefilter chamber features a flapper valve that let's in the water at the bottom of tbe sponge. It then travels up through the sponge and overflows down into the bottom of the main filter chamber. Notice the channels in the bottom of the prefilter chamber to direct water flow.

A word of caution, if you tip the prefilter chamber upside-down without the sponge inserted there is a good chance the rubber flapper valve will fall out and you may lose it.

 

[MattW]

Looks like a great canister filter. Also great to see security checking the package before you can open it

 

[Archerfish]

Looks like you have plenty of "help" setting it up!

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

This model comes with 3 large media trays.

It also comes with some media including a 30 ppi sponge, some decent ceramic media, and some floss that looks like a bad version of Santa's beard.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Parts. Assortad extenstion pieces, elbows, input output tubes.
The tubes are old school, kind of gret in color to hide the dirt and mulm. I may eventually replace them. Oh look at that hideous intake strainer. I'm not using that ever. It comes.wktb a spray bar attachment. It's a series of plastic extensions that fit together but I have no end piece with an end cap. I'll probably get a fluval spray bar and use that.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I forgot to take photos of the hoses included. The hoses were pretty rigid so I soaked them in near boiling water for 15 minutes. They were much more pliable and I was able to straighten them out. The included hose is a smoky Grey color. 16/22 mm hose; it seems well made and a heavy duty house. Much better than that accordian Fluval hose.

Once hooked up this filter is easy to prime. One pull on the primer handle and I could hear the water rushing in. You can feel the suction on the handle it's so strong.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I've been playing with the spray bar today. The spray bar consists of 5 spray pieces and a number of extensions.

For me 5 spray pieces and 4 extensions is a perfect fit. Though I'm going to modify the extensions and drill some holes in them. This will allow me to tweak the surface agitation. I plan on adding an inline co² diffuser so having many different sections on a spray bar I could have 1 or 2 sections providing agitation amd the rest aimed down into the tank.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Two days ago I sent an email to Aquael about my missing end cap for the spray bar. When I received the filter it was clear someone had ripped a hole in the parts bag and took out that end piece. Aquael is sending me replacement parts and some additional suction cups, free of charge. Shipping from Poland so I'm sure it's not cheap. I'm happy to see good customer service from a company I've never dealt with before.

 

[MattW]

That is some great quality customer service right there . I'm yet to try anything from Aquael, but they are gaining popularity in Europe very quickly as some of the best affordable and available aquarium products on the market.