46g Filter

seastaar88

seastaar88

Superstar Fish
#1
Feb 1, 2004
1,705
1
0
43
middletown, CT
#1
DEFINITLY get a rena xp2!!!!!! i have one and im so pleased with it. super quiet, lots of room for media, you can configure it in whatever way meets your needs.....

i do not run an HOB with it. there's really no need to. if you use the spray bar attachment for the outlet, it creates pleanty of surface movement. people might use an HOB also for CO2 injection, not for filtration.

an XP2 is worth every penny. the intake and outtake, as you thought, do run behind the tank. they are U-shaped to fit over the back wall of a tank. the intake/outtake are connected to the canister via flex tubing.

EDIT-- why did my post appear before cowboys?! it's 6:00pm not 10:00am! wierd..........!
 

I

iamcowboy

Large Fish
#2
Jan 14, 2007
194
0
0
Crandall, TX
#2
Ok guys, this is the first of many questions regarding the set up of the 46g bowfront that I bought on craigs list.

What type of filtration would you suggest?
My only experience is with HOB and UGF. I have been looking real hard at the Rena Filstar XP2. What I don't understand about canister filters is that it seems that many who use them also use a HOB. Is this a necessary failsafe? Is it just to add some surface turbulence? Why do they use the additional filter?

Also to make sure I understand, can you just run the intake and outflow tubing over the back of the tank?

Are there other filtration suggestions? I use aquaclear HOB on the 29 and have been very happy with it.Just thought it might be time to take the hobby to the next level. Keep in mind that it will be planted.
 

T

tropicalfish

Large Fish
#3
Oct 15, 2006
525
2
0
#3
yes that is weird! Your post comes before iamcowboys in order AND in time!!

Strange.

I would go with the canister. Definitely more versatile. Undergravel filters are useless. They collect a load of junk under the plate, and cleaning it is a pain in the butt and back. :D lol
 

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iamcowboy

Large Fish
#4
Jan 14, 2007
194
0
0
Crandall, TX
#4
OK, that's two for the XP. Anyone else? Anyone had bad experience with canister filters? Anyone know why some people use a HOB along with a canister? Has anyone used both but prefer the HOB?

Canister filters are alot of money comparitively speaking. I want to be sure before I spend that money that could be used for other parts of my setup.
 

FroggyFox

FroggyFox

Forum Manager
Moderator
#8
May 16, 2003
8,589
10
38
42
Colorado
#8
I have a fluval on my 46, it seems to do the trick, but is a pain to take apart and put back together. I've never had a Rena, but I hear great things about them. My other canisters are Eheims and I really like them, if you can get them for a reasonable price they are quality filters and easy to use.

Personally I dont feel the need to run an HOB with a canister...I arrange the output of the filter so that it breaks the surface of the water enough to create plenty of surface agitation for gas transfer and thats it.
 

I

iamcowboy

Large Fish
#10
Jan 14, 2007
194
0
0
Crandall, TX
#10
FroggyFox said:
Personally I dont feel the need to run an HOB with a canister...I arrange the output of the filter so that it breaks the surface of the water enough to create plenty of surface agitation for gas transfer and thats it.
Click to expand...
Is surface agitation truly necessary for gas transfer. The reason I ask is for floating plants. I am not a big fan of the constant circular motion.*crazysmil
 

FroggyFox

FroggyFox

Forum Manager
Moderator
#11
May 16, 2003
8,589
10
38
42
Colorado
#11
in one word. YES. If you don't have the surface of the water being broken there is probably not going to be enough oxygen in there for your fish. Now when you add a heavily planted tank with injected c02 into the mix there are other considerations...since c02 will be released out of the tank faster if you have more surface agitation, but on a couple of my tanks if I don't have any (or enough) surface agitation my fish start darting to the surface.

A certain amount of gas transfer will happen with no surface agitation...but IMO not enough.
 

I

iamcowboy

Large Fish
#13
Jan 14, 2007
194
0
0
Crandall, TX
#13
got it

You won't believe this. I planned all along to purchase my filter for the 46 at one of the big box retailers (i just find them to be much cheaper on equipment) so I clicked the link on the mft forum home page that refered to $15 to $30 of the rena xP line at petsmart. I wanted the xP2 and it was $65 on petsmart.com with the coupon but I didn't want to put it on a credit card so I printed the coupon to be used in a store. Well I got to the store and the price was $140 making it $125 with the coupon. So I asked if they would match the onling price...to make a long story short not only did they match the online price, they matched it then took of the $15 for the coupon. I'm pretty sure this was a miscommunication between the manager who didn't seem to want to spend too much time on this and his cashier. But I did not do anything deceptive to make this happen so before I knew it I had a Rena Filstar xP2 for 50 bucks. I also bought some media to go with it. I know in my business we make almost nothing on equipment it is the accessories that we make the bucks on. I hope this is true in this case, I honestly did not intend to screw them over and to be honest now I feel kind of bad and happy.:(
 

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