About a week ago a new Resun EF-2800U Canister filter arrived and in the tradition of testing some of these new Chinese brand filters I thought I'd give it a go and see how it went.
First up the specs from Resun.
Feature:
One unusual thing was that it say it has a 11w UV but the UV globe in mine was a Phillips 18w so they might have upgraded it without updating the specs. One of the things that sets this filter apart is that it actually comes with a full user manual written in real English (not Changlish as so many are) its easy to follow and give you the information you need.
Unique amongst top motor canisters this filter has a downward flow which means that unlike all other top motor canisters the water does not go down to the bottom and then flow up through the media to the output but rather flows down through the media and then is captured at the bottom by a pipe attached to the impeller (more on that later) and then flowing past the UV it exits.
Resun have provided a diagram of the filter and its flow operation which I'll make my first pic.
A version is available without the 11w (or 18w...who knows what you might get) UV but i've never actually seen it offered for sale. The EF-2800U tested here retails for about $185 which is about right for a canister of that size without a "name" brand. Speaking of Brand Resun themselves are pretty big in the Asian market and have been around for years and while not the size of SunSun or Jebo they have a wide range of products and seem to be well placed in the market.
Now to the filter itself .. it comes in a large box with a carrying handle and various diagrams printed on it.
When you take the filter out at first you are a bit shocked by its sheer bulk this thing is HUGE and it would have trouble fitting under a few cabinets.
As you can see from the pics this is one big filter nearly 28 inches to the top of the taps when they are fitted and over a foot square. The Canister body alone not including the motor is 17 inches high. One thing it certainly is .... BIG !
Undoing the motor head is accomplished by taking off the 4 latched at each corner and then a unusual method of twisting two discs at each side which releases the vacuum inside and allows you to lift of the motor head taking care of the UV globe as you do.
Once you have opened the motor you are confronted with a large canister with 4 huge media baskets stacked together tightly with a covering screen that fits in the top basket into a o ring seal.
Media and accessories included is 4 packets of ceramic rings, about 100 bioballs, two fine pads, one course pad and one carbon pad. Hoses and inlet/outlet fittings as well as the taps for the top of the canister.
When I first saw this filter I couldn't understand how a top motor filter could possibly be top to bottom flow but Resun have come up with a simple but clever little pipe that funnels the exiting water flowing up the center tube past the UV to the impeller. Its simple and fits tightly.
The taps are a single tap variety (I'm worried about how much water will escape during maintenance) and the filter has a sturdy carrying handle that makes it easy to move around.
That's it for now ... tomorrow I'll get into the nitty gritty of set up and operation and answer some questions such as what's that plastic siphon pump for and does it leak when you undo the taps.
For now I'll conclude that the Resun looks well made and everything fits together correctly.
First up the specs from Resun.
Feature:
[*]11W UV Sterilizer ( Destroys harmful bacteria & Algae )
[*]Easy to clean;
[*]Quite operations;
[*]Modern design with high flow rate;
[*]Self priming & quick start;
[*]Mechanical, biological and chemical filtration;
[*]Powerful flow rate with ceramic shaft ideal for saltwater or fresh water;
[*]Purifies the water by using a bottom-to-top, 5 Stage filtration process -creates the best water environment for both fresh and marine tank;
[*]Adjustable flow rate;
[*]Adjustable directions for inlet and outlet;
[*]Heavy duty, durable and reliable.
- Bio balls
- Ceramic cylinders
- Carbonized sponge
- Filter sponge
- Cover for filter basket
- Quality Fittings ( Taps, hoses & spray bar inc )
[*] Built in 11 watt UV Sterilizer ( Destroys harmful bacteria & Algae)
[*]Separate on / off switch for UV light
[*]Rated power: 60W
[*]Voltage: 220-240V
[*]Output: 740gph (Largest canister filter on market, Compare Others)
[*]Diameter of inlet: 22mm
[*]Diameter of inlet: 19mm
[*]Comes with all hose and connectors
[*]Rating: Continuous
[*]Size: 30X30X48cm
One unusual thing was that it say it has a 11w UV but the UV globe in mine was a Phillips 18w so they might have upgraded it without updating the specs. One of the things that sets this filter apart is that it actually comes with a full user manual written in real English (not Changlish as so many are) its easy to follow and give you the information you need.
Unique amongst top motor canisters this filter has a downward flow which means that unlike all other top motor canisters the water does not go down to the bottom and then flow up through the media to the output but rather flows down through the media and then is captured at the bottom by a pipe attached to the impeller (more on that later) and then flowing past the UV it exits.
Resun have provided a diagram of the filter and its flow operation which I'll make my first pic.
A version is available without the 11w (or 18w...who knows what you might get) UV but i've never actually seen it offered for sale. The EF-2800U tested here retails for about $185 which is about right for a canister of that size without a "name" brand. Speaking of Brand Resun themselves are pretty big in the Asian market and have been around for years and while not the size of SunSun or Jebo they have a wide range of products and seem to be well placed in the market.
Now to the filter itself .. it comes in a large box with a carrying handle and various diagrams printed on it.
When you take the filter out at first you are a bit shocked by its sheer bulk this thing is HUGE and it would have trouble fitting under a few cabinets.
As you can see from the pics this is one big filter nearly 28 inches to the top of the taps when they are fitted and over a foot square. The Canister body alone not including the motor is 17 inches high. One thing it certainly is .... BIG !
Undoing the motor head is accomplished by taking off the 4 latched at each corner and then a unusual method of twisting two discs at each side which releases the vacuum inside and allows you to lift of the motor head taking care of the UV globe as you do.
Once you have opened the motor you are confronted with a large canister with 4 huge media baskets stacked together tightly with a covering screen that fits in the top basket into a o ring seal.
Media and accessories included is 4 packets of ceramic rings, about 100 bioballs, two fine pads, one course pad and one carbon pad. Hoses and inlet/outlet fittings as well as the taps for the top of the canister.
When I first saw this filter I couldn't understand how a top motor filter could possibly be top to bottom flow but Resun have come up with a simple but clever little pipe that funnels the exiting water flowing up the center tube past the UV to the impeller. Its simple and fits tightly.
The taps are a single tap variety (I'm worried about how much water will escape during maintenance) and the filter has a sturdy carrying handle that makes it easy to move around.
That's it for now ... tomorrow I'll get into the nitty gritty of set up and operation and answer some questions such as what's that plastic siphon pump for and does it leak when you undo the taps.
For now I'll conclude that the Resun looks well made and everything fits together correctly.
