SUNSUN HW-302 Outside Filter setup & test

[CWO4GUNNER]

Dont know why the handles would be broke unless yanks on, can tell you that they do come heavily siliconed with lubricant because they are tested with water for leaks and why you will find them damp inside. be easy on the basket handles and lube the basket edges with Vaseline a tiny bit as the baskets fit inside the canister tight for no bypass.

 

[odinthejd]

I just ordered the 1 for my 150g thats rated for a 250g tank

 

[Saje]

Just a heads up - the 302s is back on eBay finally - still listed at $43.99, with $15 shipping.

Heading to order mine now.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Just a heads up - the 302s is back on eBay finally - still listed at $43.99, with $15 shipping.

Heading to order mine now.

Great news and good find Saje. I think this particular in-line basket canister has the best combination of large format design, low bypass, quality and price value that you can get.

If I was on a budget and I had a 120 tank to setup, I would buy 2 and combine shipping if possible..

That deal is so good I have to keep reminding myself that I do not need another filter and shake that bargain from my head LOL.

 

[archer772]

How do you think this one would work on a 120 as the only filter
http://cgi.ebay.com/FRESH-WATER-SAL...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c529f1076
or would I be better off with 2 of the 302's

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I don't think IMO you would get as much benefit as you would from two 302s. The obvious is dual filtration at each side of the tank, spare back-up, and perhaps better overall GPH and filter surface area using two that are only 3" shorter and 2" narrower that the largest model.

Of course I'm just speculating based on the data specs of the larger models compared to the 302 model that I own. Example, knowing what I know now if I only one budget choice to buy between 1 magnum 350 or 2 magnum 250's for a 120 gallon tank, I would definitely go for 2 Magnum 250's. Again given that narrow choice as obviously spending twice the money for two Magnum 350's is obviously better. In this particular case however I think the 3 Sunsun models are even more closely matched. Remember thats pure speculation based on what I have read not first hand. In reality model 304 could be matched with the FX5 in GPH like advertised, something I doubt it.

 

[archer772]

I have 1 SunSun 302 and a Fluval 304 on the tank as of rite now and I want to take the Fluval off and use it on my 40 long. I like saving money just like the next person but just thought I would check in here. I know the larger one uses 55 watts and the 302 uses 18 I think so it would be cheaqper to buy the 302 and to run 2 of the 302's and that was why I asked for opinions.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I have 1 SunSun 302 and a Fluval 304 on the tank as of rite now and I want to take the Fluval off and use it on my 40 long. I like saving money just like the next person but just thought I would check in here. I know the larger one uses 55 watts and the 302 uses 18 I think so it would be cheaqper to buy the 302 and to run 2 of the 302's and that was why I asked for opinions.

Well being the owner of two 404's currently offline due to re-design and major modification, I am sure the WT-302 will runs circles around your F-404 in performance, that I have absolutely no doubt.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I promised someone that I would post the Sunsun setup. I recently installed it on my 60 tank to establish it in prep for use on my used CL 93 acrylic tank that is in the process of restoration. So here are the photos with individual captions.

Below you see the first and bottom basket which I recommend be filled with a porous media to allow water to get started entering which filters from bottom to top basket. Here I have placed lava-rock.

The second or middle basket should be filled with a somewhat porous filter pads (NOT micron). The white filter pads provided by Sunsun seem to be effective at catching allot of dirt and yet porous enough to allow good water flow without causing premature clogging. Below I place a 1 layer bed of bio balls to prevent matting against the grate with 2 stacked white Sunsun filter pads taking up all the space in basket number 2 so flapper bypass does not occur (when bottom water flow has room to lift the corner of a filter pad and bypass).

Below you see the last and top basket which I recommend be filled with a porous media to allow water room to get exit filters from the top basket so that the impeller can easily maintain prime and pump flow. Here I have placed a full basket of established bio-balls.

Below place the final top grate on the top basket and never place any media op top of this grate as it is for water pooling pump use only. Before placing the lid on make sure all your basket water inlet pipes are aligned from top to bottom as shown above and that the lid is in proper alignment to both mater with the top basket inlet tube and for proper lock-down handle alignment.

Make sure the lid below is aliened and the 2 cam handles (my hand touching) without the metal wire (shown opposite) are shut first as you simultaneously push down on the top of the lid to seat the lid O-ring.

Below the other 2 wire handles which reach to the top of the lid are simple lid locks as an additional safety to keep th elid on are simply locked down.

Below attach the flexible clear hose provided by cutting in half evenly and allowing hot tap water (as hot as you can stand it) to flow inside and outside the new hoses to make them supple and pliable for a custom fit. Then apply Valvoline to both the lid valve block and end intake and outflow nipples & screw crimps as shown below using one fitting as example, all the rest are similar.

Insert the valve block with the paddle facing away from the blue hand pump and make sure it is lubricated and fully incerted as shown below.

Then with the valve block fully inserted move the valve block paddle toward the blue hand pump which simultaneously locks the valve block in place and opens the valve block. Then feed the hoses behind the aquarium making sure the the respective intake and outflow end fittings correspond to the hose labels on the valve block IN/ OUT respectively. Make sure the the outflow fitting or spray-bar remains out of the water for the initial priming. Then pump the blue hand pump and water will immediately fill the canister and the outflow hose to the aquarium water level. Place the outlet house inside the aquarium and plug in the Sunsun. You can assist the removal of the remaining residual air by making long slow hand pumps or tipping the canister while running from side to side.

The Sunsun 302 IMO has allot more GPH then my Fluval 404's and really moves water with little bypass even with 2 stacked polishing pads which have allot of surface area for a canister filter. At $58 new & shipped a super bargain.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

The auto admin "time-out" stopped me from posting the photo showing the paddle in the locked position facing the blue hand pump so here it is meant to be posted before the last photo above my last post.