Filstar XP3 up and Running Great... But Silent???

[Dopey]

Hi all.

I thought I had read that the XP3 was virtually silent. But even in side my stand with the door closed it is plenty un-silent.

I'm going to drill more holes in my spaybar to "gentle" the return a bit, and this may or may not decrease the motor hum.

Does anyone have an XP3 that IS silent?

[fishfrenze]

My XP3 is quiet. If I open the door to the cabinet I can slightly hear the motor running. I also don't have the water flow all the way open...its about halfway open. I noticed that when I turned it up so it was almost completely open, it whistled slightly. The noise was there, but you really had to stop and listen before actually hearing it. But when I turned it down, it's silent. What kind of noise is yours making?

Melanie

[Dopey]

I had the whistling sound -- that was coming from the spraybar. When I doubled the number of holes the whistling stopped. I'm talking strictly about motor noise here. It's about equivilent to a running refrigerator, I'd say.

Flow control??? Where?:confused:

[DLeung10]

I have a Filstar XP2 and a Eheim Classic. The Eheim is really
silent. The XP2 is not "silent"...but not "loud" either

[Glenstorm]

Hey Dopey,

I am in the same boat as you. Just got an XP3 thinking it was silent. Alas it hasn't been. Mine is sitting on a piece of styrofoam but still has a rather loud hum to it.

[750t]

This is strange I have a xp2 that is pretty darn close to silent. And it is silent compared to the fluval 304. Maybe they have quality problems?

[beviking]

My XP3 isn't silent, but pretty quiet. After cleaning it, I often "help" purge the air by unclamping 2 clamps on the lid. I do this while it's running, but make sure you keep pressure on the lid when you unclamp it, otherwise...psssss and you're wet! After you unclamp the two clamps, slowly let off the lid until a little water trickles out. I keep my filter in a cat litter pan so no worries about a little water but you may want a towel handy. You can see the air in the filter and the water level rise when doing this. The air would come out by itself, but I can't stand listening to the "noise" and spitting and sputtering of blowing bubbles.
Not sure if this will help you but it may be worth a shot?
The flow control is a seperate piece like a "T". It connects just like the pieces of the spray bar.

[DIYMatt]

I have two xp3's and one xp1. They are very quiet. Much quieter than my Fluval or any magnum. Although, I do not own it anymore I would say they are equally as quiet as the Eheim classic I had. Are they silent, no. But, I have yet to hear a filter that is. With the cabinet closed I can't hear it at all. If I open the cabinet and put my head next to it I hear a faint hum, but thats it.

Also strange is the need to "purge" the air out of the filter. Occasionally, I will hear a little air after the filter refills. After I turn it on, I just tilt the filter from side to side and the air flows right out and the filter is next to silent.

Also, once when I hadn't cleaned the impellar in months, I heard a little impellar noise. I cleaned the impellar nad now its as quiet as ever.

Another thing that has helped me with all canisters and the ease of refilling/priming is making sure the tubing goes continously up from the canister to the tank. I have found that if you even have a small section that loops down and then back up it makes it more difficult for all the air to flow out of the filter.

This is strange, I thought that personally owning three XP filters that work flawlessly was a good enough basis for recommending them to everyone. I may be rethinking this if more people report issues that may be related to quality.

[beviking]

Easy Matt, I didn't say I NEEDED to purge the air out. Mine does that all by itself! I'm just impatient. Even with tilting it, it spits and sputters air for 10-15 minutes b4 it is air free. "Purging" it just gets it done faster.

Another point, if there is a leak and air is entering the filter (through a bad connection for example) then it would make some noise.

I only own one Filstar and I would certainly recommend it to anyone! Maybe it's time to get another?;)

[Dopey]

I'm not saying the XP3 isn't working properly, or isn't a good filter. I think I like it. I'm just saying I'm disappointed that it's not as quiet as I thought. "Refrigerator hum" is a close comparison. I can definitely hear it across the room, even with my stand closed.

But now I'm wondering if I've got the thing configured completely correctly. My water has what I consider too many particles and plant bits in the water column. I can't imagine why, since these particles are big enough to have been captured in the foam pads.

I have the coarse and fine foam pads in the bottom basket, then cut up sections of my old Aquaclear sponge in the middle basket, and the "microfiber pad" .... aka polyester batting.... in the upper basket. Is that correct? Is there any way I could have things "seated" wrong in the filter that would be causing bypass? My old aquaclears had beaucoup bypass issues and still kept my water column clearer.

Thanks!

[NJ Devils Fan]

I don't even use those pads anymore. I took them out and use polyester batting. Gets out fine particles and casts a few dollars for a bag that will last months.

[J&JsTA]

Flow control is piece "D" in this parts breakdown PDF page

http://www.aquariumpharm.com/pdf/equipment/XPparts.pdf

Joe

[beviking]

Sounds right Dopey. How big a tank is it? My XP3 is the only filter on my 90gal and its clear, as in crystal. I doubt the baskets aren't aligned properly b/c the fit is exact enough that if something wasn't fitting together, you would notice a bit of difference in clamping the lid down. If you did have something out of alignment and forced the lid on, well then I guess it could have caused damage to the basket rim and now there is bypass. Next time you have it apart, check to see if there is damage to the top and bottom "rim" of each basket and the top "ring" of the top basket "cover".
I use the batting made for baby crib mattresses. It's 1/4 inch thick, comes in a role and is more uniform than stuffing a wad in there.

[satch6969]

I was wondering, before I buy an xp3, if it comes with some type of powerhead for good circulation or does it even need it? I'm getting a 100g and I already have a penguin biowheel 330 that I'm going to use with the xp3. Also, is there anything I need to buy that doesn't come with the filter? Where do you get that baby mattress material at. I wouldn't mind getting some of that since I'm sure the filters cost a fortune after a while.

thanks
rich

[NJ Devils Fan]

No, an xP3 and a penguin 330 will be fine for a 100g. Look for polyester fiber batting from a craft store, the same stuff that is in couch cushions.

[beviking]

The filter (when I bought mine) came with 4 sponges (2 coarse,2medium), a fine filter pad (which you want to buy the crib mattress batting for -try Walmart), and a "Super Zorb all" pouch that I don't use. Can't remember exactly what it was and too lazy to look...sorry. Anyway, you want to buy some other media. The 4 sponges will fill one basket in the filter and the fine filter pad barely takes any space up. So you'll have two baskets to fill (if you don't use the BioChem-zorb pouch, that would take up 1/2 a basket). You'll need 3liters of extra media. I like Ehfimech from Ehiem, it's ceramic noodles. I'm awaiting some bioballs that I'm using to replace the porous ceramic noodles I bought when I bought the filter.

Hope This Helps!

[satch6969]

Thanks! Does the batting go where the micro 20/30 foam goes? Also, if anyone had ordered an xp3 through fostersmith.com, is it the one with the black and blue fittings?

[satch6969]

thanks, I just read that after I posted. I apologize. What about carbon... will I need to put the carbon in media bags? or should I scrap the carbon idea?

rich

[NJ Devils Fan]

No need for carbon, it only works for about a week and it really only takes medicine out of water. You do not need it. Yea, the batting replaces the sponges in the bottom compartment.

[satch6969]

What do I put in the place of the carbon that clears the water?

[750t]

Filter Floss

[NJ Devils Fan]

You don't have to put anything there, or you could put more fluff. What ever you want. I don't put anything there because I don't really see the point in it, the bottom is enough for me, but its up to you.

[beviking]

Good maintenance (ie water changes) will keep your water clear and remove/dilute any pollutants. Carbon isn't worth it.