Well...just sprung for the rena xp3 and got it all set up. I have a feeling that splitting up the 12 star things they gave us between 3 filter trays isn't the most efficient thing in the world....what do you suggest for the different filter trays? Right now its set up exactly like it shows in the manual.
Canisters: Rena xp vs Penn-Plaxx Cascade vs ?
- Thread starter Moloch
- Start date
I would just spend the extra money and get a $200 Fluval FX5 on ebay... you will probably want to upgrade the tank at some point anyway, this way you will already have an oversized filter to do so.
Moloch;4459679; said:
Spend a few bucks and buy a bag of rings and get a polishing pad. Even at Petco or Petsmart you may have another $12 wrapped up in that stuff.
Cool...so what exactly do I need? 
Should I just google around the rena filters and try to find some setup advice thats already been given? (yes...duh...)
Should I just google around the rena filters and try to find some setup advice thats already been given? (yes...duh...)
do you need advice on getting it running or media? as far as set up, it shouldve came with the black pads in bottom tray, some stars and maybe a pad up top? Just keep the black pads where they are, buy some rings and put them in with your stars and use the top tray for the polishing pad. to get it running: make sure tha canister is empty and you have the lever at disconnect up. unscrew the top on the intake line and fill it with water. once that is filled, screw the top back on, flip the lever down (make sure disconnect is properly seated) and it will prime itself! easy! the
Ah sorry I wasn't clear.
No I've got it running fine, it was actually VERY easy to do. I was asking about what filter media to stock it with. They only provide you with 12 of the star things, the 4 black pads (2 20's 2 30's) the white pad and the bag of crystals or whatever it is. So I've got the white pad & bag in the top (where they came) and the black pads in the bottom (where they came). From there I've just spread the 12 stars out evenly, 4 per section where the manual tells you to put them.
So I'm thinking just leave all the pads it has, go buy a thing of the ceramic rings and fill the empty space with those?
No I've got it running fine, it was actually VERY easy to do. I was asking about what filter media to stock it with. They only provide you with 12 of the star things, the 4 black pads (2 20's 2 30's) the white pad and the bag of crystals or whatever it is. So I've got the white pad & bag in the top (where they came) and the black pads in the bottom (where they came). From there I've just spread the 12 stars out evenly, 4 per section where the manual tells you to put them.
So I'm thinking just leave all the pads it has, go buy a thing of the ceramic rings and fill the empty space with those?
^^ I personally have the black pads on bottom, all my stars and rings in the middle (2 trays for mine bein an xp4) and the polishing pads up top.
creepyoldguy;4459951; said:
Cool, same thing I'm saying basically...do you pack in as many of the rings/stars as you can throughout the middle layers? Leave them loose? Thats where I'm mostly clueless.
I wouldn't say you would need to pack them in there as tight as you can, but for your xp3 you only have 3 trays. So 1 bag of rings and the stars given should be plenty of bio in the middle tray. In my opinion that is lol....
wow you havnt cleaned out your hoses for 2 years? I must be really anal about mine12 Volt Man;4459418; said:
