Is there any real reason an XP2 couldnt run a 55

[Toby_H]

Thanks for reviewing your figures 12 Volt… I am being this persistent as you seem to be representing what I feel is a very common misconception… which is that AC 110s hold less media than typical canisters…
　
A dry AC 110 sponge is 3.75” x 3.75” x 9.375”… which is 131.8 cubic inches… which is 0.57 gallons… which is 2.15 liters…
　
If I am reading your post correctly you are suggesting that you are fitting 2.15 liters of sponge in one of the two baskets of a filter that holds less than 2.15 liters… If this is accurate you are suggesting that the XP2 can hold 4.3 liters of media, despite all other claims that it holds less than 2 liters…
　
The only two explanations for this that I can see is either A) the sponge is being compacted thus changing it’s volume thus making it inadequate for representing volume… or B) You have made a mistake about the type of sponge you used… or C) every suggestion than an XP2 holds 1.75 liters under rating the capacity by 60%…
　
　
And my direct response to the Author of this thread, despite the debate between 12 Volt and I, I think the reason why an XP2 will likely not be an adequate filter by itself for a 55 gal tank, is that 175 gph is likely not enough circulation to keep a 55 gal tank healthy…
　
Therefore I suggest supplementing the tank with at least a powerhead, preferably a second filter…

 

[12 Volt Man]

If I am reading your post correctly you are suggesting that you are fitting 2.15 liters of sponge in one of the two baskets of a filter that holds less than 2.15 liters… If this is accurate you are suggesting that the XP2 can hold 4.3 liters of media, despite all other claims that it holds less than 2 liters…

thats exactly correct. I am going to be cleaning my XP's in a few days, I am going to verify that it is in fact one full AC110 sponge that I have cut up in the first basket. if you cut it into chunks it fits fine..I will take pics of my cut up sponge next to a brand new AC110 sponge just to make sure lol.

it is the AC110 sponge for sure because thats the only one I buy (I like it because it comes in a box so it is protected from dust etc. during shipping)

 

[12 Volt Man]

I just grabbed an AC sponge. its easy to see how it fits in one basket.

the rena basket is 6x6 surface area = 36 square inches

the AC sponge has a long side surface area of 9.5" x 3.5"= 33 square inches.

you cut it into chunks and it fits. with a bit left over. If I recall, I used a bit of another AC sponge to fill the small gap..

so, yes, it does fit, but I will verify when I clean my filters for sure..

what I want to see is how much compression (as you mentioned) I might have applied to the sponge (if any) to get it to fit such that the basket above it can still fit snug...

stay tuned..lol

 

[Toby_H]

Can you include adequate information to use cubic inches as opposed to square inches... since we are talking volume here...