Rena' s XP1

[jmk2888]

I have a 45 Gallon Pentagon Tank that's 3 Feet Deep not Wide, like typical fish tank.

I was wondering if the XP1 would be enough for the tank or should get a XP2?

BTW: I have 8 very small Koi in the tank and it's VERY dirty with a power filter design for up to 70 gallon.

[jmk2888]

Bump.........

[nursie]

I don't know the filter's specs off the top of my head...check one of the sites taht sell them to see what size of tank it's rated for. I have a 55 with an XP2 and I'm happy with it, it's rated up to 75 gallons.

[CHH777]

The XP1 stats say it's for a 45 gal. tank max. If your water is always dirty with a filter designed for 70 gal. I'd say go for more filter (unless you plan on running both filters simultaneously).

For $5 more you can get the XP2. I own one and I love it.

[jmk2888]

Looks like I'm getting the XP2 this weekend.

How hard is it to set up ?

or

How do you set it up ?

I have never used a Canister Filter before and I had used Power Filters through my life.

[Arronaf]

I have a XP2 on a 55 and set it up with no problems in about 15 mins max. I love this filter, keeps the water beautiful and runs very quiet as well.

[nursie]

The box has instructions in it. I was able to follow them to set it up, and I'd never run a cannister before either.

[FishWorker]

I work at a fish store that sells XP's and i highly recommend them. Go with the XP2 b/c of the x-tra basket to keep more media. Ur bottom basket will be full of foam pads. Ur top basket will have a devider in it to keep it in two even seperate sections. On the bottom half put ur carbon,bio chem zorb, purigen, or whatever u use. On the top half put ur ceramic rings. Rena whom makes XP's also makes the carbon,ceramic rings,bio-chem zorb,water softner,extra pads,ect.... If i were u i would take out the very top foam pad on the bottom basket and put ur carbon packet in its place. Then take out the devider in the top basket and fill the entire basket with ceramic rings. Be sure to rinse ur carbon or bio chem. really well. It may take a few minutes but rinse it out. Pour ur rings in the basket and rinse them off as well to get any dust off of them. To maintain it, all u do is pull ur lever up on top of the lid to stop ur syphin. Then unplug the filter. Then pull the base that the hoses are attached to up. Then take ur filter to a sink,tub or whatever. Get a bowl or something to hold ur ceramic rings in. Before u put the rings in fill it up with water from the tank NO TAP WATER. Swish them around to get any debris off of them. Keep them in the bowl. Rinse all pads out beneathe ur faucet and ring them out. Replace ur carbon with new carbon rinseing it out as well. Then put ur rings in the top basket and put ur lid back on. Connect ur hoses and base back to ur filter. Then pull down the lever filling up ur canister. After that plug it back in.

[CHH777]

...To maintain it, all u do is pull ur lever up on top of the lid to stop ur syphin. Then unplug the filter...

I could be wrong but shouldn't you unplug before releasing the top?

[Pretender]

The box has instructions in it. I was able to follow them to set it up, and I'd never run a cannister before either.

Instructions are a wonderful thing. I always wonder why more people don't use them!

[jmk2888]

Tnaks for the replies, I'm not lazy to skip the instructions. I'm wondering if anyone knows any trick of the trade or caution when I install the XP2 ?

[nursie]

Skip the carbon. You don't need it unless you are clearing some specific med of chemical out of the water. it's only good for a couple of weeks anyway. I didn't use the sorb stuff either. I did buy the biostars for extra biofiltration..they were cheaper that the ceramic rings..but hey..go for it if you have the $$. What I do use is stuff some polyester fiberfill in the top basket to fill up the extra space.

I have technical difficulties getting it to prime if the hoses are empty, but it does work, just be patient.

When I clean my filter...I unplug the thing and take ot to the sink. I have a tub of declorinated water that I use to clean out the sponges. I don't reuse tank water..the principle of the matter is not to kill off your bacteria in the sponges,,and if the water is declorinated it will be ok.

The thin white pad on top wore out first. I pitched it..just use the poleyester fiberfill in it's place, but did take one of the smaller pore sponces from the bottom basket and put on top, with the divider on it to keep it away from the impeller. When you replace your sponge filters, don't replace all at once. I replaced half of them, and will do the other half soon. I started this up the beginning of MArch,and am still running half the original sponges.

I recently took the tubing off the tank and cleaned it out by pouring hydrogen peroxide in it and then rinsing it out, and soaked the spraybar in bleach..it had algae growing on it. Rinsed well...put it back in and it's fine.

Also...after I clean my filter I fill it at the sink with declorinated water and then hook back up. If you still have air in it, gently lifing each side, rocking back and fourth and thumping it down helps to clean the air out. Gently....

Hope that helps.

[jmk2888]

Wow, thanks very much for the advice.

So I should skipped the Carbon right ???