rena filstar xp4
- Thread starter threeguns
- Start date
I've had a lot of renas. Xp3 and xp4. Buy used if you can. The rating on the box is sooo overrated. The 4 is supposed to do a 265g tank, I would piss myself if I saw one on a 125 that kept it clean. I do like these filters for use of bio media along w a canister for polishing on a larger tank or run a single 4 on a tank 90g or smaller. If buying new, get a 3, I don't think the 4 is worth the extra money
All that said, what are your Plans for the Rena? Forgot to mention that setup is simple if done correctly but a huge pain if done slightly wrong. I also feel that the plastic is too brittle. I guess I feel they are good for some applications
All that said, what are your Plans for the Rena? Forgot to mention that setup is simple if done correctly but a huge pain if done slightly wrong. I also feel that the plastic is too brittle. I guess I feel they are good for some applications
I have read a number of reviews that say the XP4 breaks a lot, i guess the impeller needs some design work, and most people say go with the XP3.
SnukeMouse;5021970; said:
I read this too before I bought my XP4 however all posts were talking about the early generation XP4. The newer ones are pretty good.
I own all xp's except the 4. The flow for the xp3 is 187gph with media. the xp4 is 190 gph so the difference in price is because of one more media basket since flow is essentially the same. 25% more media room is worth something but I'm not sure if the difference in price justifies it.
I love my xp3's. They've been Rock solid and are very easy to maintain. Bottom basket has 20 and 30 sponges and the top 2 baskets are filled with matrix, subsrtat pro and biochem stars wrapped in filter floss.
All in all a pretty good filter for the money but I too have heard people having problems with the xp4 impellers.
I love my xp3's. They've been Rock solid and are very easy to maintain. Bottom basket has 20 and 30 sponges and the top 2 baskets are filled with matrix, subsrtat pro and biochem stars wrapped in filter floss.
All in all a pretty good filter for the money but I too have heard people having problems with the xp4 impellers.
I've never owned an XP4...but the XP3 I had worked flawlessly. Granted I only had it on a 55gal tank, but it did a great job of keeping it clean. It is very easy to disconnect and service and the self-prime is a nice feature. I used coarse sponges in the bottom tray and Fluval ceramic rings in the middle and top basket topped off with a finer sponge/polishing pad.
I guess I should add that I keep sa/ca cichlids. That has a lot to do w why I neve used them for mechanical purposes
creepyoldguy;5022348; said:
Funny. I do too but I use 2 xp3's in addition to a 400 gph wet dry on my 90. So mech is fine for me, but I really couldn't see one xp3 handling a 90-100 gallon by itself.
I guess it really depends on the application. If it were me and I were to do it over again, I'd spend the extra $50 for an fx5 and call it a day. Xp's are cool, but by no means are they even in the same league as the mech on an fx5
I keep one on my 75g and it's crystal clear. I also have an AC70 on my tank. I have filter pads cut from the blue filter roll and biorings. I occasionally find fry in the canister. Overall, I personally am very happy with it. I agree, buy it used.
I have 2 xp3's and a 2260 on my 240, I added the 2260 after I had the xp3's on there for bout a month. I bought one new for 130 and bought one used for 60. I would buy them used if you can and dont pay over 80 for a xp3 or xp4. I think they are great as far as reliability and I would def buy another on used for 60 bucks if I came across one and was looking for another filter. I have the 20 and 30 pads also on my bottom tray, bio in the middle, and filter floss on the top. I will say I wen about 3 months with out cleaning one to see how it effected the flow and it suffered dramatically, I would say it was doing about 20-30% of what it does clean, however that will differ as far as you stock goes,ect. I think they are easy to clean and maintain also though.