Rena Filstar Xp2 External Canister Filter

[newhobby]

I recently purchased a 55 gal setup complete with Rena Xp2 filter on Craigslist. The filter didn't come with an operator's manual so i'm not sure what to do about this. I'm wondering if i can use charcoal with this filter and if so which basket do i use for it and what size do i get for it.

 

[rabbut]

You can use Charcoal if needs be, but I personally would only use it to remove meds, or if poisoning is suspected in the tank. It is saturated after a few days, and hence is an expencive and un-nessisary media to run in most cases IMO

The basket you place it in won't make much difference, just so long as it isn't before the final polishing pad The carbon will output dust that you want to avoid getting into the tank, hence why it needs to be before the floss Carbon dust has been linked to Hole In The Head symdrome in many Cichlids, giving further reason not to use it regularly and to avoid wherever possible getting any dust into the tank, for the welfare of your fish when you do choose to use it

All the best
Rabbut

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with rabbut. Chemical filtration like carbon (aka charcoal, activated charcoal etc.) is typically left on the fishkeeper's shelf until needed for a special purpose. In the case of carbon, its most common uses are to remove medications, to remove tannins (from bogwood/mopaniwood/driftwood) or to remove unusual organic odors. Usually its saturated and ready to be removed and tossed in 3 days, but often people leave it in for up to a week.

So, most commonly, a cannister like yours would normally contain a combination of mechanical and biological filtration media choices. Coarse and fine sponges are nearly always used and ceramic rings and ceramic pebbles are also quite common. A very popular order is ceramic rings first, coarse sponge second, ceramic pebbles third and fine sponge last, or sometimes floss is near the end for fine capture. Biostar/bioball type devices also compete with ceramics as a biomedia choice but take rather a lot of space in a cannister. Ceramics and sponges have the good quality of long life and ruggedness under repeated cleanings. Its nice to have media last a lifetime.

I saw a couple of links with Rena XP2 manual pdf and related entries:

http/www.aquatichouse.com/FILTRATION%20M...naFilstarXP.pdf

http/www.planetrena.com/Rena-Filters.html

Hope any of this might help a little,
~~waterdrop~~

 

[newhobby]

Thank you very much to the both of you. This helps out a lot.