i was not that happy with the flow of my xp4 so i tested it by filling 10L into a bucket and timing it, i did this serveral times and i found the max from rate i could get was 820lph, this filter is rated at 1500lph
in = into tank
out = out of tank
filter media
basket 1) 2 course and 2 fine sponges,
basket 2) filled with biomax,
basket 3) empty,
basket 4) biozorb pouch and fine filter pad
using the standard out tube and syphoning the filter only gets 670lph so if this is all that gets to the filter then it cant return it any quicker
i replaced the out pipe and bends with 22mm plastic plumbing pipe and 22mm bends to suit, this then fed 1200lph to the filter by syphon, using the standard clear tubing as its quite big
the filter in standard form was delivering 660lph using the spray bar or nozzle, i removed the biozob and fine pad but this made little difference so that was not slowing the flow down
i fitted the media back in and then replaced the inlet tubing to 22mm plastic bends and a 22mm elbow as a nozzle so there was no flow resistance and i got 820lph, i did the same test with no media or baskets in the filter and the filter returned 850lph so this proved my medai was not having a big effect on the flow rate
so with upgraded pipes this xp4 only it producing 850lph without media and 820lph with media however once i have the basket s filled with bio media i should be getting quality water even though the flow rate is only 820lph, the huge filter area i have for bio media should work well for my water.
so people dont assume your getting anyhting near the rated flow rate, this xp4 is not even close to its 1500lph, that was why i bought it too as it had a better flow rate that the likes of a fluval 405
i did this test with my fluval 304 (modified the pipes too) 1 month ago and i got my 304 to deliver about 800lph so about the same as the xp4 so i assume the fluval 405 would give a higher flow rate than the xp4 is the piping was modified.
the xp4 is very quiet and very easy to maintain, the flow rate is dissapoing though
here it is with the grey plastic 22mm tubing
in = into tank
out = out of tank
filter media
basket 1) 2 course and 2 fine sponges,
basket 2) filled with biomax,
basket 3) empty,
basket 4) biozorb pouch and fine filter pad
using the standard out tube and syphoning the filter only gets 670lph so if this is all that gets to the filter then it cant return it any quicker
i replaced the out pipe and bends with 22mm plastic plumbing pipe and 22mm bends to suit, this then fed 1200lph to the filter by syphon, using the standard clear tubing as its quite big
the filter in standard form was delivering 660lph using the spray bar or nozzle, i removed the biozob and fine pad but this made little difference so that was not slowing the flow down
i fitted the media back in and then replaced the inlet tubing to 22mm plastic bends and a 22mm elbow as a nozzle so there was no flow resistance and i got 820lph, i did the same test with no media or baskets in the filter and the filter returned 850lph so this proved my medai was not having a big effect on the flow rate
so with upgraded pipes this xp4 only it producing 850lph without media and 820lph with media however once i have the basket s filled with bio media i should be getting quality water even though the flow rate is only 820lph, the huge filter area i have for bio media should work well for my water.
so people dont assume your getting anyhting near the rated flow rate, this xp4 is not even close to its 1500lph, that was why i bought it too as it had a better flow rate that the likes of a fluval 405
i did this test with my fluval 304 (modified the pipes too) 1 month ago and i got my 304 to deliver about 800lph so about the same as the xp4 so i assume the fluval 405 would give a higher flow rate than the xp4 is the piping was modified.
the xp4 is very quiet and very easy to maintain, the flow rate is dissapoing though
here it is with the grey plastic 22mm tubing

