Rena Xp4 cleaning? (how often on 100 GAL)

xeonox · 03/09/2008, 09:59 PM

i bought a Rena XP4 for a 100 gallon tank. I notice that i have to keep cleaning the darn thing every 3 to 5 days and that gets annoying. If i do NOT clean it by 5 days, i notice that the water begins to cloud pretty bad. Does anyone else have this problem with the XP4?? im running salt water.

Blown 346 · 03/09/2008, 10:05 PM

This is one of the reasone I do not like the use of canister filters, alot of maintenance.

Cleaning it out every otherday seems about right.

A sump will help eleviate the problem, the crap will get trapped byt he baffles and will sit int he sump. then you can easily siphon it out without having to take things apart.

kevin2000 · 03/09/2008, 10:16 PM

I am not familiar with your particular canister filter ... but in general you should not have to clean your canister filter every few days to keep clear water. Further .. new/young tanks are prone to various algae/bacterial blooms and mechanical filters don't eliminate those "growing" problems that many tanks experience.

Perhaps patience is the solution ... if that doesn't work then more filtration or a hard look at stocking may be in order.

xeonox · 03/09/2008, 10:41 PM

how much would it be for decent cheap sump setup for a 90 gallon?

Blown 346, can u explain the sump theory of yours a little better, would my filter be filtering the sump then into the tank or from the tank to the sump, im kinda lost.

Blown 346 · 03/09/2008, 10:48 PM

For example, I have 90 gallon with a homemade sump. I made a 40 gallon breeder into my sump/fuge.

A normal acrylic sump from any store etc in a decnt size will run over $200. I built mine for under $120

You would get rid of your filter completly,and strictly use a sump.

Here is a pic of mine to help you understand.
The far right is where the water from the tank enters the sump, The water travels to the left up and over the baffles into the fuge. (You dont have to use this area as a fuge if you dont want)
Then the water cascades thru the teeth I routered and into the return area, where the ruturn pump takes the water back to the tank.

As you can see from the pics, the crap thats was pulled out of my tank is sitting in the middle part(fuge area) of the sump. This makes it really easy to clean up, do water changes from, and hide my heater,skimmer,pumps etc.

drparker · 03/09/2008, 10:51 PM

A few questions.

How old is the tank? What's in the tank?

What media is in the Xp4 and what do you need to clean?

xeonox · 03/09/2008, 11:18 PM

Blown 346, is that like a "natural filter"? you mean to tell me that you run no other filter, just that sump?

---------------
drparker, the tank is about 3 weeks old, my "5 test in 1" test strip passed and has all the right levels. i have had some 6 damsels living in it for about 3 days and only 1 has died (i think i bought him sick). i just pull out the entire filter and clean, i notice at the bottom of the filter there are sometimes crap that gets stuck at the very bottom (not even stuck the the media, i mean the dead bottom of the filter) the top sponge just seems like it is kinda slippery so i rinse it. i have it setup in this order from top to bottom. i have the dual density micro filtration pad, super activated carbon, bio chem zorb, Filstar Phos Zorb, bio stars and ceramic stars, 4 foam pads. any ideas??

Blown 346 · 03/09/2008, 11:20 PM

Correct, the sump and the liverock I have in the tank is my filter.

The filter is most likely becoming dirty like this as the tank is still new, and there is alot of sedimant that is coming off the rock. But all in all a sump is a much better option.

xeonox · 03/11/2008, 12:02 AM

do you know any steps by steps on how a sump works and how to make one (i have a old 20 gallon laying around)?

zojro · 03/11/2008, 08:46 AM

This site was very helpful when I was building my sump. I built the model F out of a 55gal ( I used glass rather than acrylic though)

http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

kzickovich · 03/11/2008, 09:31 AM

most people only use a sump-refugium live rock and a good skimmer as there filter. clean your skimmer as often as you need to (I do mine twice a week) blow of your rock with a turkey baster every other week and clean your sump when you do water changes(I do this one once a month) but I do water changes every other week. Like zojro said melevsreef is a great site to learn from!

Blown 346 · 03/11/2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xeonox
do you know any steps by steps on how a sump works and how to make one (i have a old 20 gallon laying around)?

PM me I can walk you thru making a sump.

xeonox · 03/13/2008, 08:50 AM

zojro, those seem like good explanations and instuctions, what do you think of that sump.

Blown 346 what do u think to the sump that zojro suggested?

zojro · 03/14/2008, 11:07 AM

The sump (model f) on melevs site has been working well for me. I especially like the fact that the water flowing from the refugium returns unskimmed. I feel that that layout lets more of the pods make the ride back up to the tank. However, I did use valves to limit the flow to my fuge so that the bulk of the flow goes to the skimmer.

xeonox · 03/18/2008, 11:32 AM

what do you guys think of a 55 gallon sump with a AETech Skimmer and a Dolphin 3000 GPH Pump and plumbed with PVC piping.
take into consideration that i may want to upgrade to a 300GL later on and i dont want to buy/build things over again, i want to do things right the 1st time.

03/09/2008, 09:59 PM	#1
xeonox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 65	Rena Xp4 cleaning? (how often on 100 GAL) i bought a Rena XP4 for a 100 gallon tank. I notice that i have to keep cleaning the darn thing every 3 to 5 days and that gets annoying. If i do NOT clean it by 5 days, i notice that the water begins to cloud pretty bad. Does anyone else have this problem with the XP4?? im running salt water.

03/11/2008, 08:46 AM	#10
zojro Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 24	sump info This site was very helpful when I was building my sump. I built the model F out of a 55gal ( I used glass rather than acrylic though) http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

03/11/2008, 09:31 AM	#11
kzickovich Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Zion Il Posts: 959	most people only use a sump-refugium live rock and a good skimmer as there filter. clean your skimmer as often as you need to (I do mine twice a week) blow of your rock with a turkey baster every other week and clean your sump when you do water changes(I do this one once a month) but I do water changes every other week. Like zojro said melevsreef is a great site to learn from! __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 90 Gal mixed reef 55 Gallon basement pump up Sump 25 Gal fuge 2 Mp40 DIY led light fixture Bubble King Mini 200 Gen2 skimmer BRS Duel reactor

03/09/2008, 10:05 PM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	This is one of the reasone I do not like the use of canister filters, alot of maintenance. Cleaning it out every otherday seems about right. A sump will help eleviate the problem, the crap will get trapped byt he baffles and will sit int he sump. then you can easily siphon it out without having to take things apart.

03/09/2008, 10:16 PM	#3
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	I am not familiar with your particular canister filter ... but in general you should not have to clean your canister filter every few days to keep clear water. Further .. new/young tanks are prone to various algae/bacterial blooms and mechanical filters don't eliminate those "growing" problems that many tanks experience. Perhaps patience is the solution ... if that doesn't work then more filtration or a hard look at stocking may be in order.

03/09/2008, 10:41 PM	#4
xeonox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 65	how much would it be for decent cheap sump setup for a 90 gallon? Blown 346, can u explain the sump theory of yours a little better, would my filter be filtering the sump then into the tank or from the tank to the sump, im kinda lost.

03/09/2008, 10:48 PM	#5
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	For example, I have 90 gallon with a homemade sump. I made a 40 gallon breeder into my sump/fuge. A normal acrylic sump from any store etc in a decnt size will run over $200. I built mine for under $120 You would get rid of your filter completly,and strictly use a sump. Here is a pic of mine to help you understand. The far right is where the water from the tank enters the sump, The water travels to the left up and over the baffles into the fuge. (You dont have to use this area as a fuge if you dont want) Then the water cascades thru the teeth I routered and into the return area, where the ruturn pump takes the water back to the tank. As you can see from the pics, the crap thats was pulled out of my tank is sitting in the middle part(fuge area) of the sump. This makes it really easy to clean up, do water changes from, and hide my heater,skimmer,pumps etc.

03/09/2008, 10:51 PM	#6
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	A few questions. How old is the tank? What's in the tank? What media is in the Xp4 and what do you need to clean?

03/09/2008, 11:18 PM	#7
xeonox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 65	Blown 346, is that like a "natural filter"? you mean to tell me that you run no other filter, just that sump? --------------- drparker, the tank is about 3 weeks old, my "5 test in 1" test strip passed and has all the right levels. i have had some 6 damsels living in it for about 3 days and only 1 has died (i think i bought him sick). i just pull out the entire filter and clean, i notice at the bottom of the filter there are sometimes crap that gets stuck at the very bottom (not even stuck the the media, i mean the dead bottom of the filter) the top sponge just seems like it is kinda slippery so i rinse it. i have it setup in this order from top to bottom. i have the dual density micro filtration pad, super activated carbon, bio chem zorb, Filstar Phos Zorb, bio stars and ceramic stars, 4 foam pads. any ideas??

03/09/2008, 11:20 PM	#8
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Correct, the sump and the liverock I have in the tank is my filter. The filter is most likely becoming dirty like this as the tank is still new, and there is alot of sedimant that is coming off the rock. But all in all a sump is a much better option.

03/11/2008, 12:02 AM	#9
xeonox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 65	do you know any steps by steps on how a sump works and how to make one (i have a old 20 gallon laying around)?

03/13/2008, 08:50 AM	#13
xeonox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 65	zojro, those seem like good explanations and instuctions, what do you think of that sump. Blown 346 what do u think to the sump that zojro suggested?

03/14/2008, 11:07 AM	#14
zojro Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 24	The sump (model f) on melevs site has been working well for me. I especially like the fact that the water flowing from the refugium returns unskimmed. I feel that that layout lets more of the pods make the ride back up to the tank. However, I did use valves to limit the flow to my fuge so that the bulk of the flow goes to the skimmer.

03/18/2008, 11:32 AM	#15
xeonox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 65	what do you guys think of a 55 gallon sump with a AETech Skimmer and a Dolphin 3000 GPH Pump and plumbed with PVC piping. take into consideration that i may want to upgrade to a 300GL later on and i dont want to buy/build things over again, i want to do things right the 1st time.