Goldfish and Aquarium Board Articles
Filter Profiles: Rena Filstar xP3
By Marilynn

Type:	External Canister filter
Manufacturer:	Rena
Types of filtration possible:	Mechanical, Biological and Chemical.
GPH:	350
Canister size:	9 1/2" Long x 8 1/4" Wide x 15" High. UL listed - 30 watts.
Tank Size:	175 gallons
Pros:	Extremely easy to clean. Quick disconnect valves. They are also really easy to set up. They have a height adjustable inlet and a customizable outlet with spray bar. Three baskets to fill any way you'd like. I own 8 of these as they are relatively inexpensive. You can get them at Bigalsonline for $85 on sale or $104 regular price.
Cons:	They are not as efficient as the eheims but do a decent job for the price. I had one break under pressure...the sides cracked and blew out. I don't know why...just glad i was home to catch it and it was still under warranty. The tubes get gunked up easy compared to the Eheims. My husband attached a long wire to a bottle brush to keep them clean. Which is important because when you restart the filter after cleaning it blows a lot of crap from the tubes into the water. So it is best to do the cleaning on a water change day. After cleaning the filter you return it empty to the tank. It primes itself. If you should happen to get air in the lines it is easy to prime though. You just unscrew the top of the intake tube and fill it with water.

The filter sits under the tank and the tubes come up the back. You can place the spray bar vertically or horizontally. They come with plastic clamps to connect the tubing to the intake and output tubing which I do not trust as several have broken. I replaced them with metal clamps. Also, the spray bar when the canister media is full of gunk will decrease the output as evidenced by less holes spraying out water.

You can see the placement of the baskets inside. It also allows you to visit the fry that ALWAYS end up in these canisters.

The top basket lid inside the filter.

Underside of the motor housing. You turn the center piece to access the impeller.

The impeller is easily accessible.

I generally clean it every 4-5 months. Yucky.

Micron pad in the top basket. It polishes the water up nicely.

These grates separate the contents in the baskets.

Bioballs are kept in the middle basket or what ever kind of biological media you use.

I tend to put more biological media in verses mechanical.

The bottom basket i have 2 coarse and two medium sponges to catch debis.

All cleaned and ready to go back.

The top just pops on and clamps closed.

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