View Full Version : my filstar xp3...question!
the flow doesn't seem as strong as it was the first day I had it running......
I've taken it apart, cleaned it, cleaned the tubing.....helped a bit but not much..
any ideas?
to give you some indication of the flow.....water just trickles out of the top two holes in the spray bar, and then gradually it's more powerful towards the bottom holes (but not very)...
Raydee
05-04-2003, 7:55 PM
I am not familiar with Filstar but if it like my Fluval could it be air trapped in the canister? Did you try tilting it back and forth and side to side? Worth a try I guess.
How do you like the filter over-all? I am contemplating the XP3 or the eheim but the Eheim is double the price and like always money is tight! I have heard only one complaint about the Filstar and that was the way the tubing for the inlet and outlet are set up. What do you think?
I find the tubing setup to be good.......and have been happy overall with the Filstar, especially for the price (200 canadian dollars).
It's very easy to use and easy to prime, even though the "instructions" (really just a bunch of pictures) are somewhat overwhelming at first. :)
even though the "instructions" (really just a bunch of pictures) are somewhat overwhelming at first.
maybe if ur a girl heh heh :)
125gJoe
05-05-2003, 6:14 PM
http://gordon.sourcecod.com/images/flagicons/american_flag.gif
Make sure the top media lid is not upside down. It's easy to overlook this... Also there's a flow control knob where the spray bar is..
mako8551
05-10-2003, 5:45 PM
On my xp 3 that flow control knob as it was called is actually just the air inlet control that doesn't effect outflow speed at all.
mine has an air inlet control AS WELL AS a flow control knob. I don't use the air inlet tube or control though, because they LEAKED!! water came bursting right through it the first day I set it up. So I used the plug option instead.
Anyways, the lid is right, the flow control knob is always on full blast........still, it just doesn't seem to be quite what I had expected.
beviking
05-12-2003, 11:40 AM
The air inlet will leak if the flow isn't open nearly all the way. The back pressure from slowing the flow will force water out the inlet, also called the venturi.
fishbrain
05-13-2003, 3:12 AM
What are you using in your filstar for media? I had a flow problem ,I switched to all coarse pads and one fine pad,making it just a mechanical filter,and the flow seemed to increase.I also clean mine every other month.
the venturi on mine actually leaked no matter what pressure we had the water flow at.......it seemed pretty ridiculous.
as for filter media, we're just using what it came with......but I was just told yesterday that the uppermost pad has caused problems with lots of peoples' filstars, so I might try taking it out or moving it.....
We did find one problem though, when we checked everything again: one of the hoses had a significant kink in it. Even when straightened however, the flow DID NOT change!!
To give you a better idea of the flow: when I put my hand in the tank, in front of the spray bar, I can only feel the pressure from the bar if I put my fingers 1/2 cm away from the holes. That just doesn't seem right to me.
beviking
05-13-2003, 11:39 AM
:eek: That's just not right!! My xp3 is the only filter on my 90 gal and the entire tank has a good flow! I use 3 pads (2 coarse, 1 medium coarse)and 3L of ceramic noodles. If the water level is down to the spray bar and I lift the glass, I get sprayed!!! You should have more pressure than that!
yeah, that's what I figured!!! I can lift the spray bar half-way out of the water, and you have to look closely to see if water is even coming out!!
beviking
05-14-2003, 11:21 AM
No kinks, no clogs. You're sure that something isn't lodged in the "U" shaped hard tubing that sits over the tank rim? I'm at a loss as to what else it would be:confused:
hmm ....I'm going to pull it all apart tonight or tomorrow and make sure there isn't anything clogged in there......thanks for the idea....
took it all apart, cut the tubing to make the distance shorter....
is working much better.........