Rena XP3 Help

[stevenjohn21]

I recieved a XP3 for free Its on my 125 gallon tank along with a emperor 400. The tank houses a turtle, breeding convicts, pleco, Kribensis & Tiger barbs so it has a lot waste.
No media came with the filter so i stuffed all 3 of the trays with quilt batting from walmart which i change every month.

My question is, will this be ok long term ? or do i need to buy media of some sort ?

 

[Bderick67]

That will work fine for mechanical media, but you are not getting any biofiltration from the filter.

 

[stevenjohn21]

When i bought my last tank a few months ago the seller gave me a tub of Kent Nitrate Sponge & Aqua Pure Ammonia reducer. If i place these granuales into a media micron bag and place in the middle tray will they act as biofiltration once they become non active ? Im guessing this stuff will be like carbon and become non active ?

 

[Lusus_Naturae]

I would use the top tray for some ceramic type media at least. When you clean the filter you would just give it a quick shake in tank water to clean it and then you wouldn't lose all your bb when you change out the filter floss.You could also throw in a bag with Purigen instead of carbon if that was a concern.

 

[wrslrcichlid]

Well, the filter floss will collect bacteria, just not nearly as much as a bio-media like ceramic rings or something. If just using batting works for you then you could continue with that, but if you increase your stock or something then you will likely need more bio. Just make sure you don't change out all of the batting at once. You could just switch out one tray per week or something, that way you don't lose all of your bb each time you change batting.

 

[stevenjohn21]

Just make sure you don't change out all of the batting at once. You could just switch out one tray per week or something, that way you don't lose all of your bb each time you change batting.

Thats a good idea, thank you !

 

[Redearsunfish]

I would use the top tray for some ceramic type media at least. When you clean the filter you would just give it a quick shake in tank water to clean it and then you wouldn't lose all your bb when you change out the filter floss.You could also throw in a bag with Purigen instead of carbon if that was a concern.

This. agreed.