Aquatop CF500 canister filter

C

COpathfindin

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Jun 3, 2011
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Continental Devide, CO
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Sam
I recently purchased a new aquatop CF500uv 5 stage canister filter with uv filter. It cost me $135 shipped. I was skeptical that I was going to get something of quality with the money I spent. I was both right and wrong. I was unable to get the push to prime button to work. but other then that it seems to be working very well and runs very quietly. I could be wrong, but I feel there spray bar limits the flow from their claimed 525gph, but it seems to be doing a good job at clearing debris from my new tank.
The filter itself has 4 filter compartments, and a 9 volt UV lamp. No filter media was sent with the filter, just the felt compartment liners. I installed the liners and filled one of the compartments with ceramic rings. I then sealed the canister and tried my darndest to get it to self prime.. all to no avail. I found that if I opened the latches and allow just a small amount of air the push pump worked, and I was able to prime the filter and get things flowing.
So far with the filter running for about 4 hours I am impressed at how quickly it moves larger particulate from the water and with how quiet it run. Once i get more filter media such some carbon and perhaps some bio balls I will let you guys know how I feel about it then.
 
I also just recently purchased the Aquatop CF-300, I too had problems getting it to prime it seemed like the prime button was getting stuck so I smeared some vaseline around on the inside of it and then it worked just fine had the filter primed in seconds. I also like the way it filters larger particles from the water, but my tank is still cloudy and that is with the media the filter came with. Thought it would clear up the water faster. Did you get a sample of their water clarifier agent? added it to my tank and with in minutes I had white fuzzy clumps on the bottom of the tank had to do a water change to get rid of it. I would not reccomend the product.
 
I am staying away from the filter and media.
 
smokey2957 said:
I also just recently purchased the Aquatop CF-300, I too had problems getting it to prime it seemed like the prime button was getting stuck so I smeared some vaseline around on the inside of it and then it worked just fine had the filter primed in seconds. I also like the way it filters larger particles from the water, but my tank is still cloudy and that is with the media the filter came with. Thought it would clear up the water faster. Did you get a sample of their water clarifier agent? added it to my tank and with in minutes I had white fuzzy clumps on the bottom of the tank had to do a water change to get rid of it. I would not reccomend the product.
Click to expand...

It is called "Clear Magic Powder", it will bond the organic particles (which makes your water less clear) within the water column enabling the filter to pick up the debris easier, with proper flow for 8-24 hours, your filter will filter through all the condensed debris. There's no need to change the water.
 
These filters are also the same as ones branded sun sun, grech and a variety of other names. They're cheap knock offs of marineland filters.

I have one on one of my tanks.

The "media" it came with was throw away... red lava rock dust and some crushed coral. Not as promised or very useful. Unfortunately it was a mess to clean out, so you're lucky yours came empty.

I agree, they are nearly impossible to prime with the button. They also seem to lose suction every once in a while.

You might consider replacing the basket handles with nylon twine or something before filling them with media... because I've found that once they are heavy with media, the handles pull right out of the baskets making them impossible to lift out without some pliers or a lot of luck.

As far as the flocculant powder, I'd stay away from it too. There's nothing magic about flocculants, they just make debris heavier.
 
Bill I am glad to see that someone is calling it as it is.
 
now that the filter has been in operation, I am not 100% satisfied. The first thing to really catch my attention is the UV light, which is supposed to kill of algae spores. I have not noticed any less algae in the tank, I still have to go in and clean it off the glass and the plants still have some algae growing on the leaves and stems. I also found that after a month or 2 of running the spray bar has uneven flow distribution. I tried cleaning the far end of the spray bar attachments to no avail, I simply removed the 2 sections with limited flow. on the plus side, my water parmeters have been very consistent since the last nitrogen cycle, so the biologic filter must be doing its job properly.
 
UV sterilizers will not keep algae from your glass/plants/etc... it is meant to kill free floating algae... or green water! ... It will also kill any Ich parasites that flow through, stuff like that
 
I have two of them on my 125 gallon they seem to run fine. They prime alot easier if you fill them full of water before you press the prime button. I have not seen them loose suction. I clean mine once a month.
 
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