Equipment Review and Discussion :: New Filter setup

[chrisinva]

Here come all the questions about my new Rena Filstar XP-3

Ok do you guys recommend sealant on any hoses or tubing?

How many Bio Stars do I put in??

The instructions are pretty good but they leave a few gray areas...This is my 1st canister filter

[Chrisbarnett]

no. the tubes are so tight they dont need anything.

about half a basket, or a whole basket.

[chrisinva]

I bought a box of 20 stars...Is that not enough??? It said in the directions to put the stars in several different spots...Is that the way to do it or do all the stars go in the same basket???


Ok another queation...I am having trouble with putting my new medium basking dock in with the spray bar on...What can I do to make room for it

[Chrisbarnett]

Yes, 20 stars should be fine. I would put them all in the same basket.

Hmm. not quite sure what you mean.. but are you saying that the spraybar is too long and its in the way of the bracket of the dock?

Personally, I think the spraybars are useless for turtles. It's not going to move the waste the way it should. I would go for no interference on the outflow and aim it across the tank towards the intake. just my opinion though.

[megcornell]

Can you adjust the length of the spray bar to shorten it?

One thing to remember to do is to securely attach the end "filter" cap to the tubes. A few turtles have drowned or gotten injured when those caps fall off and they get sucked in.

[chrisinva]

Can you adjust the length of the spray bar to shorten it?

One thing to remember to do is to securely attach the end "filter" cap to the tubes. A few turtles have drowned or gotten injured when those caps fall off and they get sucked in.

How do you secure it better?

[octpusgirl8]

Use aquarium silicone to glue the pieces of the intake together. I had an incident where Turtley knocked a piece off and got his leg sucked in. I came home from class and found him trapped underwater with his little leg firmly stuck in the tube. It was horrible scary, and i had to cut the tube off his leg which was awful for both of us, but i was really glad that i got home before he drowned. I would have had a hard time forgiving myself if i lost him to such a stupid mistake It's easy and cheap to glue them together and totally worth it!

[chrisinva]

Use aquarium silicone to glue the pieces of the intake together. I had an incident where Turtley knocked a piece off and got his leg sucked in. I came home from class and found him trapped underwater with his little leg firmly stuck in the tube. It was horrible scary, and i had to cut the tube off his leg which was awful for both of us, but i was really glad that i got home before he drowned. I would have had a hard time forgiving myself if i lost him to such a stupid mistake It's easy and cheap to glue them together and totally worth it!

Ok I will do that for sure


Ok speaking of getting sucked in...Should I be able to feel the suction from the intake tube..???

It seems to be working and is blowing out good from the discharge tube...

[Daniel3507]

you wont feel anything from the intake. if you look though you can see small particles being sucked up

[chrisinva]

well there is nothing to pickup...the turtle are still in the 10 gallon until I get this one done...

Do I need to prime everytime I open the filter to clean it or change media?

[chrisinva]

[chrisinva]

Where should I put the 20 Biostars...???

[blackforces get you]

hahaha chris!. i had the same prob. my tubes wore too long and i had to cut them a bit short. my tank still has the fog but its soo clean!. and look at the instructions chris! . theres 2 baskets to fill!. and plus i dont use those bio stars and rings or whatever. i have to get those soon.

the tap, i had the same problem but i assembled everything and make sure the tap is pointed toward the pipe. dont point it across or it wont pump water. if you look through it you can see its like a shut door or somthing. it was hard to assemble for me but i think youll get through fine. the instructions on mines says you dont really need to put that. i just keep it there anyway.

[chrisinva]

I guess it is pretty powerful LOL

[blackforces get you]

yes it is. my water was completely brown!!. after 2 hours or so, the water was blue and clear. yea it is pretty srong. they are soo quiet too@! . yea