Should i get the cascade 1000 or xp3?

[troutking]

Well im deciding on picking up a xp3 for $80 or a casade 1000 for $40. Which should i get? Is the xp3 worth the extra $40?

 

[naten]

I way overpaid for my XP3, trying to support the LFS. It has been well worth it! It is quiet as can be and the 100 gal tank is crystal clear.

 

[zspidel]

i never used a cascade, but i have an xp3 on my 55g and 2 xp4's on my 120 and a spare xp4 i just got at a yardsale that i plan on doing something with. i love the xps. theyre very quiet and have a lot of media.

 

[Heffie]

Go for the xp3 i have one and i love it .........

 

[12 Volt Man]

XP3. more output options (spray bar or powerjet nozzle) is a great bonus.

 

[kallmond]

I just upgraded from a cascade 1200 to an xp4 for my 55gal because the water was always full of suspended particulate. Now with the xp4 its back to crispy within an hour of feeding. I couldn't be happier with the Rena.

 

[alexmuw]

It's a no brainer. If you have $40, buy the Cascade, if you have $80 buy the XP3, IF you have $120 buy BOTH!

 

[alexmuw]

I just upgraded from a cascade 1200 to an xp4 for my 55gal because the water was always full of suspended particulate. Now with the xp4 its back to crispy within an hour of feeding. I couldn't be happier with the Rena.

Kinda comparing oranges and apples....

I have a cascade 1200 on a 180, it works very good (along with other filters). the 1200 is 350 GPH, WHEREAS the XP4 is 450 gph. One would expect the XP4 to perform better!

 

[uncwnells]

I own both and both work great, I would buy both if I had the money. If money was tight I would buy the cascade

 

[kallmond]

I just came back to this thread to correct myself, I went from Cascade 1200 to xp3, not an xp4.

Which is pretty close to an apples/apples comparison. The cascade I had was pretty old, came with the tank. (which was free and sitting in someone's back yard half full of rainwater.) simplistic flow rate calculations put the cascade at just over 100gph, so even figuring in a 50% margin of error It was still only operating at 1/3 of its stated GPH.

Still, in my experience, the Rena is smaller, quieter, has more configuration, and is way easier to prime after cleaning.