Habitat - Indoor :: FilStar Canister Filter XP3 and

[hdaisog]

I'm checking into buying a new canister fileter and noticed that several people recommend the XP3. I have two questions though:
1. Has anyone every added the Rena Smartheater for integrated heating?
2. What additional types of media do you recommend? Ceramic rings? Carbon?

Thanks,

HDAISOG
3 RES

[Vtolds]

It comes with Carbon and Rings or stars are personal preference. I dont think I have read of anyone using a integrated heater.

[hdaisog]

Foster and Smith recommend the heater I mentioned above. I'm assuming it fits into the canister itself. I just thought that might help visually with one less foreign looking thing in the tank.

[grey goose]

I think those heaters connect to the filters output hose. I have no experience with inline heaters, but what if the filter stops working? Does the heater shut down if there is no water flow? Can it continue to heat the water if the filter stops?

[hdaisog]

From what I can tell this one fits into the canister itself. I use a different brand of canister filter right now and I've never had an issue of not having water flow. I'll check into what would happen if that occured. Its only an additional $35 so I could monitor it for awhile and try it out and see what happens.

[erinemcgreevy]

I would check the website to see if the filter comes with any bio media. I got my xp3 from bigals and it did not come with stars or rings. You should also double-check the heater description from what I read you attach the heater to the intake tube inside of the tank.

[VelvetAlley]

I use Fluval Ceramic rings in my xp3. The Rena Bio-Stars are nice, but they float, and that bugged me, so I replaced them.

[TheComputerGremlin]

I put a combo of Fluval Ceramic rings and Rena Bio-Stars, the stars upset me cuz they were awfully expensive for only a handful of them ...

[SpotsMama]

I use a combination of rings and stars too but if I had to do it again I'd just get two packs of rings. I agree with velvetalley, those floating stars are a pain.

[RockyAndRambo]

Foster and Smith recommend the heater I mentioned above. I'm assuming it fits into the canister itself. I just thought that might help visually with one less foreign looking thing in the tank.

and

I think those heaters connect to the filters output hose. I have no experience with inline heaters, but what if the filter stops working? Does the heater shut down if there is no water flow? Can it continue to heat the water if the filter stops?

The Rena SmartHeater can operate independently, as a normal aquarium heater, with the advantage of having a plastic, non-breakable housing a la the Visi-Therm Stealth heater. However, for those who own a Rena xP series canister filter, you have the added convenience of replacing the inlet strainer with the SmartHeater. What I think is cool is that maybe the heater, in place of the inlet strainer, would be harder for the turtle to knock off (a behavior that I've read about in numerous posts), often leading to one of the poor turtle's appendages getting sucked into the inlet tube!

Since Rena states that the heater does not require its use in conjunction with one of their filters (external SmartFilters and Filstar xP filters), even if the filter stops working, I would imagine the heater would function as a normal heater would sitting underwater.

I actually like the "Abnormal Temperature" LED alert feature of the SmartHeater which flashes whenever the water temp is +/- 5 degrees from the set value.

Unfortunately, I already picked up a 250 watt Steath for my tank. However, if I end up needing additional heating, I am definitely going to try out the SmartHeater for use with my xP3.

[hdaisog]

Thank you RockyandRambo I'm going to go ahead and order it and see how it goes. Worst case scenerio is I'll have to get another stealth heater later on. I'll post what happens.