I'm getting a Rena XP3 today for my planted 55G, and with so many media choices I wondered what you all are doing. Thanks.:help:
What's Your Rena XP3 Media Stack?
- Thread starter jmarsh3253
- Start date
I don't have a Rena XP3 but do have the XP2 and use both sponges, a mix of the cylinders and the bio stars, carbon (only becuase it is the initial period of the tank) otherwise going to try the BioZorb and see plus the micro pad
OgreMkV
Father of Earth's Next Emperor
Here's my list from top to bottom:
polishing pad
ceramic noodles (cheaper than biostars)
biostars
fine sponge
fine sponge
medium sponge
medium sponge
Everything except the noodles came with the filter. I'm putting in a bag of carbon today to get rid of some fish meds I had to run for a while.
To be honest, I don't know how useful the sponges are. My xP3 has been running for 3 months with two cleanings and the big sponges have never even looked dirty. The polishing pad gets fairly dark after 4 weeks though, I leave it in all the time.
I would suggest you buy an extra set of hose and some standard hardware hose clamps. The hoses take about 3 weeks to fill with gunk... algae, bacteria, whatever. If you want them to look nice, then replace one hose every two or three weeks and clean it.
According to Rena, the gunk is bacteria colonies that help the tank. I'm not sure I believe them, but it doesn't hurt me to leave the gunk as long as it doesn't clog the hose too bad.
Oh, and I wouldn't follow the recommended two week filter maintenance schedule. I've started waiting 4-5 weeks and it's perfect. A quick swipe with a paper towel and the impeller assembly is clean. The two week schedule was causing me to have mini-cycles.
polishing pad
ceramic noodles (cheaper than biostars)
biostars
fine sponge
fine sponge
medium sponge
medium sponge
Everything except the noodles came with the filter. I'm putting in a bag of carbon today to get rid of some fish meds I had to run for a while.
To be honest, I don't know how useful the sponges are. My xP3 has been running for 3 months with two cleanings and the big sponges have never even looked dirty. The polishing pad gets fairly dark after 4 weeks though, I leave it in all the time.
I would suggest you buy an extra set of hose and some standard hardware hose clamps. The hoses take about 3 weeks to fill with gunk... algae, bacteria, whatever. If you want them to look nice, then replace one hose every two or three weeks and clean it.
According to Rena, the gunk is bacteria colonies that help the tank. I'm not sure I believe them, but it doesn't hurt me to leave the gunk as long as it doesn't clog the hose too bad.
Oh, and I wouldn't follow the recommended two week filter maintenance schedule. I've started waiting 4-5 weeks and it's perfect. A quick swipe with a paper towel and the impeller assembly is clean. The two week schedule was causing me to have mini-cycles.
xP3 filter media
Bottom:
2x course sponge Bob (pad)
2x fine sponge Bob
Middle:
1x fabric pad
ceramic bio to fill conatiner
Top:
Filter floss.
This is the configuratin of both of the xP3's on my 125USFG. Contrary to other comments, I find the sponge Bob's to be very effective, My tank is HEAVILLY planted and has a moderate bioload. I clean the filters on an alternating (watch the bacteria colony) monthly basis.
Vic
Bottom:
2x course sponge Bob (pad)
2x fine sponge Bob
Middle:
1x fabric pad
ceramic bio to fill conatiner
Top:
Filter floss.
This is the configuratin of both of the xP3's on my 125USFG. Contrary to other comments, I find the sponge Bob's to be very effective, My tank is HEAVILLY planted and has a moderate bioload. I clean the filters on an alternating (watch the bacteria colony) monthly basis.
Vic
Last edited:
legendaryfrog
Tactical Refreshment Action
I have an XP4, here's my configuration;
________________________________
top:
fine polishing pad
3 chemical filtration media bag
________________________________-
top middle:
Eheim efisubtrate pro
biostars
_______________________________
bottom middle;
eheim efisubstrate pro
________________________________
bottom;
20-50 micron filter pads.
________________________________
________________________________
top:
fine polishing pad
3 chemical filtration media bag
________________________________-
top middle:
Eheim efisubtrate pro
biostars
_______________________________
bottom middle;
eheim efisubstrate pro
________________________________
bottom;
20-50 micron filter pads.
________________________________
I have a couple XP3's on a couple different tanks. One is planted. On the planted I have the sponges that come with the filter on the bottom, then filter floss in the next tray, bio balls in the next tray, and filter floss and the polishing pad in the top. Don't use the carbon with a planted tank. I believe if your tank is heavily planted, the bio area isn't as important. That's why I have more areas of filter floss to catch debris.
On my unplanted tank I have the pads on the bottom, then carbon and bio balls, then a tray full of bio balls, and then more bio balls and the polishing pad.
Each of these are on a 55 gallon and each one keeps the tank crystal clear. Good choice going with the XP3. I rinse out the sponges and polishing pad every couple months in a bucket of tank water... That's about all the maintenance I do. Like Ogre, I don't recommend following their cleaning guide. However, you milage may vary!
On my unplanted tank I have the pads on the bottom, then carbon and bio balls, then a tray full of bio balls, and then more bio balls and the polishing pad.
Each of these are on a 55 gallon and each one keeps the tank crystal clear. Good choice going with the XP3. I rinse out the sponges and polishing pad every couple months in a bucket of tank water... That's about all the maintenance I do. Like Ogre, I don't recommend following their cleaning guide. However, you milage may vary!
what I have in mine, from bottom to the top:
first tray:
AC110 sponges, cut to fit (covers the whole area)
Second tray:
four 30 ppm foam pads (the coarse ones that come with the filter)
Third tray:
biomaterial,
biochem-zorb pouch or activated carbon pouch sitting on top of biomaterial.
I don't use the polishing floss insert. My fish are too messy and my water stays crystal clear with out it.
first tray:
AC110 sponges, cut to fit (covers the whole area)
Second tray:
four 30 ppm foam pads (the coarse ones that come with the filter)
Third tray:
biomaterial,
biochem-zorb pouch or activated carbon pouch sitting on top of biomaterial.
I don't use the polishing floss insert. My fish are too messy and my water stays crystal clear with out it.
I ended up going with the 2-coarse and 2-finer sponges on the bottom, Purigen in panty hose next, then used the bioballs from my 2 AC 50s is the next tray, and finally the polishing filter on top. I left one of the 50s running to help keep my biologicals in place. Iwill probably pull it in a couple weeks once the XP3 has gottten seeded. With the 2 AC 50s and my bioload of fish and plants, I think I've been underfiltered and have had lightly cloudy water for a few weeks. Hopefully, the XP3 will take care of that. ps...How critical is the inflow/outflow placement? In my heavily planted tank, the only back wall choice puts the inflow behind a massive Wisteria, or large Crypt, or right in the middle where I certainly don't want it. Should I be concerned about the inflow circulation with it back there? Thanks for all your help. :thumbsup:
I wouldn't think so because the XP has a very high circulation rate.
it moves a lot of water, even when full of media.
you can use the powerjet nozzle attachment instead of the spay bar for even more circulation.
it moves a lot of water, even when full of media.
you can use the powerjet nozzle attachment instead of the spay bar for even more circulation.
I'm using CO2, so I didn't want to outgas it with too much agitation, but how much is too much agitation? Maybe additional flow would be OK?