help with rena filstar xp4

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zspidel

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Feb 21, 2010
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ok. so some of you may be tired of hearing from me. im new to the canister filters. i have a rena filstar xp4. the tank is currently cycling.
1. sometimes i notice the water level in the canister looks lower than what i think it should be. sometimes i hear water trickling? is this normal?

2. i know the tank is still cycling but i have a film at the top of the tank, what can help fix this?

3. i will be having a predatory tank. the first canister contains all the black foam pads, second contains the black carbon bag on the bottom with the stars up top. third basket is full of ceramic rings. last is the white polishing pads. is this right?

4. do i need to rinse the black carbon bag til no black water is coming from it? if so, ill be at it forever

thanks for all your help
 
on my xp4 i have the black foam pads on bottom, than the other to baskets have ceramic rings, and those black stars that come with it, the top basket has pot scrubbies and that fine filter pad on top, the water doesnt fill all the way up to the top just where that pumps meets the basket.
 
csnmusic02;3964497; said:
on my xp4 i have the black foam pads on bottom, than the other to baskets have ceramic rings, and those black stars that come with it, the top basket has pot scrubbies and that fine filter pad on top, the water doesnt fill all the way up to the top just where that pumps meets the basket.


ok thanks. that helps alot. i thought i got a bad pump or something. how do you like yours? do you know anything i can do about the film on top?
 
did you start it up just like they recommended?? lift the locking lever between the hoses so you can romove the canister....go empty the water from it, bring it back and seat the hoses down in the top of the canister but don't push the leaver down....remove the cap from the top of the intake line and pour water down the line til it fills up......replace the cap........push down the lever that locks the lines in place this should create a siphon and begin to fill the canister they recommend 2 mins of waiting at this point, (mine doesn't take that long you can see when the water stops filling) the turn on the pump mine runs so quiet you can't even hear it when properly started sometimes i have to feel it to make sure its running....lol
 
well u can use the spray bar and have it shoot the top of the water to move it around it also helps with oxygen in the water, i have mine set up to go thru normal pvc pipe, i had if for 2 years now works great, i have it running with my fx5 under my 220. i have no complaints about it.
 
hastyryan;3964519; said:
did you start it up just like they recommended?? lift the locking lever between the hoses so you can romove the canister....go empty the water from it, bring it back and seat the hoses down in the top of the canister but don't push the leaver down....remove the cap from the top of the intake line and pour water down the line til it fills up......replace the cap........push down the lever that locks the lines in place this should create a siphon and begin to fill the canister they recommend 2 mins of waiting at this point, (mine doesn't take that long you can see when the water stops filling) the turn on the pump mine runs so quiet you can't even hear it when properly started sometimes i have to feel it to make sure its running....lol


well, i thought i did, but ill try that again
 
The film on the top of the water is easy to get rid of. Just need surface aggitation. I use a long airstone to create a great deal of surface aggitation. If you dont like the bubbles you can use a powerhead to get the same effect just aim the output at the surface. If the XP4 came with the spraybar you can aim the output from that at the surface of the water and that should help. Either way there needs to be more surface aggitation than you have if you are seeing the oily film on the surface of the water.
 
SupeDM;3964538; said:
The film on the top of the water is easy to get rid of. Just need surface aggitation. I use a long airstone to create a great deal of surface aggitation. If you dont like the bubbles you can use a powerhead to get the same effect just aim the output at the surface. If the XP4 came with the spraybar you can aim the output from that at the surface of the water and that should help. Either way there needs to be more surface aggitation than you have if you are seeing the oily film on the surface of the water.


hey thanks alot. in ever thought about pointing the spraybar upwards. i thought about getting a powerhead, but i have a gar, and hes so lazy if he floats by the intake tube he gets sucked to it. lol i thought i was having major problems but since you guys cleared some things up the day is a little brighter
 
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