Equipment Review and Discussion :: Rena Filstar xP(3) question..or 3..(help me!)

[Twoster]

so yea,
the xp3's do not come with bio-filtration media!

...so im looking around...probably going to go with the Lava Rock (Eheim's Ehfilav)..because i heard it serves its purpose very well and is a lil bit cheaper..


any opinions based on experience with the different bio-filter medias?



ANY help would be greatly appreciated, as always..

[Twoster]

also...this bio chem zorb stuff...it says "rinse it until water is clear"..and i rinsed it for like 2 minutes..and its still not clear..lol..i just wanted to make sure im not going to ruin this by washing all of it down the sink..

any suggestions?..is it alright to put it in the filter if the water still isnt crystal clear?..sorry it jumped from 2 to 3 questions..

[marisa]

Twoster,

Sometimes XP3's have come with biomedia (mine came with ceramic rings), but when they do, it's most likely for promotional purposes, and I don't know how much the company thinks that promoting the filter (it's quite popular) is necessary.

Almost any biomedia would be fine as long as it fits in the basket (or baskets if you really want to load up on it). I used the ceramic rings and stars. I've also used Fluval biomedia, Aquaclear's biomax and lava rock in other filters. I have heard that Eheim's biomedia is good as well.

For the jet nozzle and spray bar, try each one to see which you/your turtle prefers. How big a tank is the filter in? Since your turtle is quite small, the spray bar has a more gentle output, and if you put it under the water's surface, it would be very quiet (same for the jet nozzle). To me, the jet nozzle isn't THAT powerful, you can adjust the output with the spigot on a piece that's before the nozzle, but it's not good to keep it turned way down for long periods of time. I've never tried both at the same time---how would you do that and why?

I've never used the bio chem zorb, just activated carbon. The water doesn't have to run totally clear with the carbon (it would take forever) I'm assuming that it wouldn't have to with the bio chem zorb either, but try to get the color as faint as possible. You're really rinsing off the excess.

[Twoster]

big thanks marisa!

and i wish mines came with some rings!..haha

and thanks, ill keep those brands in mind when im bargain shopping tonight.

and thanks for the response on the power jet nozzle, i edited it because after observing the pieces better, i realized what they did..haha

and i kind of worded it wrong when i said using the spray bar and power jet nozzle in a combination..

but i connected the smaller elbow pipe to the "power jet nozzle", minus the final attatchment (they call it part "F" in the manual) and i connect the "power jet nozzle" valve type thing to the spray bar..so pretty much its just like a carb. or regulator or something..lol cant think of the word..not as complicated as it may sound in my typing..

and finally, the bio chem zorb came with the xp3..thats why im using it..im sure its just as good right?

[SpotsMama]

I use the bio chem zorb and all you need to do is rinse it for maybe 20 seconds to get the loose dust off, then it's ready for the filter.

[Twoster]

thanks spotsmama,
i let it chill after i rinsed it for a good bit, then rinsed it again and the water was a lot clearer..

and alright, so i got some cascade ceramic rings (just for now, im impatient!..trying to see the xp3 in its beauty..haha)..and i just order 2 liters of the Eheim's Lava Rock Eheim's, and ill prolly combine the 2 (rings and rocks) when they arrive..

one final important question:

i know it takes several weeks for the bacterias to form well enough on the rings and or rocks..

but about how much time does it take for the filter to start working fine enough to put my turtle back into his aquarium?

(hope you all understand that!..lol..pretty much..after i install the new filter, get it up and running, when i can put my turtle back in?)

i read on the computer somewhere that someone upgraded filters and their turtle didnt make it..not sure what the exact details were, like age and health of the turtle..but i want to make sure i do this right..even though i want to get it up and running!..dont wanna wake up to anything bad..if you know what i mean...

[SpotsMama]

Strictly speaking, you can leave your turtle in the tank while it cycles, even when it's all cloudy. If you've got another place to keep them while it cycles, though, you can sure do that. When I started my new tank and filter, I put Spot iin there for a day so he could start the bio filter (by peeing and pooping!) then put him back in his old place until the water cleared up maybe 10 days later. I also used Freshwater Biozyme to "jump start" the bio filter. This illustration is from drsfostersmith.com. You can get it over the counter in the fish section of a store.



Back to the biochem zorb - I believe the directions say you do NOT have to rinse it until it runs clear before you put it in the filter.

It's great stuff but like all carbon you have to change it about monthly,so you might as well order some more of it now.

[Twoster]

thank you ma'am..so when you say it was "maybe 10 days later", im pretty sure that my tank is going to be cloudy?..and how "cloudy" do you mean?..sorry for asking for so much..lol..but thanks again!

[SpotsMama]

Cloudy like dense fog. Things in the tank are somewhat indistinct but you can still see them. The water looks whitish, like someone spilled milk in it. I think pretty well all new tanks/filters go through the cloudy phase. It's called "new tank syndrome".

But when it finally clears, it clears completely, so you can hardly see the water! You will appreciate it a lot after having looked at the cloudies for two weeks!

[Twoster]

lol...awesome..you use filstar xP's? spotsmama?

[SpotsMama]

I've got an XP3 and love it to pieces!

[Twoster]

good to hear!..so now i know who to holler at when i have another question?..haha

[Twoster]

im diggin it already!..easy to assemble/disassemble, easy to prime..and a LOT queiter than i suspected(hopefully itll stay that way!..haha)..i would recommend

[SpotsMama]

It's quiet and easy to maintain. Does a good job. What more could you ask?

[Twoster]

so my tank never got cloudy?..even after i added the additional lava rock..

its only been 3 days, does the cloudiness come after?, or have i lucked up and skipped the new tank syndrome?


(p.s.
has anyone else here read up on Dr. Masaru Emoto?)