Filstar XP media...

[tarquin375]

Hi all. I have an XP3 and was wondering......

Has anyone used Big Al's filter floss instead of the XP micro filtration pads, or the micro plus? Anyone know the size, in microns, of each? I know the plus pads are progressive..... How thick is BAs floss? Would it be a good idea to use both the micro pads and Big Al's floss? (I know this would depend ont the difference in sizes)

Thanks

 

[GoldLenny]

The only original media that I still have in my Rena's are the sponge blocks. I use these poly-pad medias for more refined mechanical filtration and polishing.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4231&N=2004+113808

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4353&N=2004+113808

So, the short answer would be yes, you can use other brands, just cut it to fit snuggly in the Filstar baskets. While the XP-2's, 3's and 4's offer a lot of options, for a simple explanation of how I set mine up, using just a single basket like in the XP-1, I put the large pore sponge block on the bottom so it catches the big stuff to keep it from clogging the finer media. Then I put the smaller pore sponge block next so it filters stuff that got through the large pore sponge. Then I use two layers of the blue/white bonded poly-pad, then I use one layer of the micron polishing pad and then use a Purigan pack on the top.

In my XP-2, I use more of each media and put the sponges on the bottom basket and the other media in the top basket.

When I do filter cleaning/maintenance, I remove some tank water and clean the sponge blocks out in the tank water until they're clean, so I don't kill off all of the good N-bacteria but I do wash the poly pads more thoroughly under my tap water. I have two filter systems on each tank so I only do filter maintenance on one filter at a time to avoid killing too many N-bacteria at one time to prevent mini-cycling issues.

 

[Jill-O]

We have four of these and are using bio-balls from Big Als and the original / manufacturer sponges and pads. We just clean / rinse the sponge blocks periodically

 

[ChrisK]

I use the micron pads at the bottom followed by bio stars, and "Big Als" filter floss at the top. That stuff is better (thicker) than the rena brand floss IMO not sure what the micron rating is but it also seems to do a better job filtering, and lasts longer, and is dirt cheap. Got 20 square foot for like 10 bucks.

 

[RiVerfishgirl]

You can basically use whatever media you want. Just remember that the renas flow in reverse (bottom up), so to put coarse at the bottom, biological in the middle and finer polishing pads at top.

 

[SubRosa]

I use the micron pads at the bottom followed by bio stars, and "Big Als" filter floss at the top. That stuff is better (thicker) than the rena brand floss IMO not sure what the micron rating is but it also seems to do a better job filtering, and lasts longer, and is dirt cheap. Got 20 square foot for like 10 bucks.

Since an XP filters from the bottom up the arrangement of your media doesn't make sense. Mechaical filtration should progress from coarse to fine and floss is a coarser filter than a micron pad. Try reversing the positions of those two media and see how it works out!

 

[ChrisK]

Since an XP filters from the bottom up the arrangement of your media doesn't make sense. Mechaical filtration should progress from coarse to fine and floss is a coarser filter than a micron pad. Try reversing the positions of those two media and see how it works out!

Never had a problem with my setup. Maybe you don't completely understand how I have it set. On my xp3 I have starting at the bottom 10ppi foam, 20ppi foam, followed by 30ppi foam, in the next basket up I have bio stars, and at the very top I have floss (polishing filter) which has got to be finer 30 ppi....this btw is the way the manufacturer suggests you set them up. I have 5 Renas all set up the same way.

 

[tarquin375]

Thanks for the replies. I understand that I can use "whatever" in the xp3, what I was looking for is a comparison in performance and size between Filstar Microfiltration pads ($4-$5 for three pads, I know that they can be rinsed and reused), Filstar Microfiltration Plus pads ($5-$8 for two pads) and Big Al's filter floss ($10 for 20 sq.ft.). Rena isn't real clear on the size of ther micro media, the others being listed in ppi(pores per inch), 20ppi coarse, 30ppi medium and micro being fine but no measurement given, neither in ppi or microns. Big Al's doesn't have a size listing either.

 

[ChrisK]

I see what your asking, the Rena "Foam Pads" are worth the investment IMO, you never have to replace them just squeeze them out every now and then I would not use floss in there place. I run big al's floss at the top of the filter to catch anything the foam pads leave.
I use these from rena http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752394
I use big als floss in the place of this http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752395&keepsr=0&clickid=prod_cs

 

[SubRosa]

Never had a problem with my setup. Maybe you don't completely understand how I have it set. On my xp3 I have starting at the bottom 10ppi foam, 20ppi foam, followed by 30ppi foam, in the next basket up I have bio stars, and at the very top I have floss (polishing filter) which has got to be finer 30 ppi....this btw is the way the manufacturer suggests you set them up. I have 5 Renas all set up the same way.

Well that set up is completely different from your first post. That's all I had to go by at the time. When you say "micron pad" as you did it's only natural that I would think you were usings Rena's stock micron pad which definitely should be the final mechanical stage, unless of course you're using their SuperMicron pad, or a fine filter felt. The second description is indeed the correct way.