General Care Discussion :: Need Some info about the XP3 Filter

[KellyP]

I just ordered the XP3 filter from Bigalsonline.com and have a few questions. I've never used a canister filter before only the waterfall kind. Does the XP3 come with filter media and everything you need to set it up? Or are there some things that I need to get seperately. Also when I was reading through some older posts I heard someone say something about some sort of rings that you need for it. What are those?

How much are the filter media refills? And how often do they need to be changed?

One last question for those of you that ordered from Bigalsonline.com. How long did it take for the filter to arrive after you placed your order?

Sorry for so many questions

[Spookster]

The XP3 usually comes with some of the media that you will need.

In my XP3 I have:

Top basket from top to bottom:
1 Filstar Microfiltration pad
1 Box of Filstar Ceramic Rings and 1 box of Filstar Bio-Chem stars

Middle basket:
2 Filstar activated carbon pouches (number of carbon pouches depends on tank size. I have a 90 gallon which requires 2 pouches)

Bottom basket from top to bottom:
2 Filstar fine foam pads 30 pores per inch
2 Filstar coarse foam pads 20 pores per inch


The chem stars and ceramic rings allow for beneficial bacteria to grow that break down turtle waste. The media prices will depend on where you buy them. Online prices from bigalsonline.com or www.drfostersmith.com are usually cheaper than petstores but you have to factor in shipping costs. Sometimes it is cheaper to go with local petstore and sometimes it is cheaper online. As for how often the media needs to be changed it depends on the media. Bio-chem stars and ceramic rings don't ever need to be changed. The activated carbon I usually change every two months. The microfiltration pads I change once a month. The foam pads only need to be changed when they wear out.

[missibsu]

I've had my xp3 for a little over two months...I haven't replaced anything yet. When it gets a complete clean once a month, I just rinse the media and place it back inside. Some of the stuff will need to be replaced eventually, but the rings shouldn't. If at some point you do, they should be replaced about half at a time. The ceramic rings, or stars should be the only additional thing you will have to purchase. There are other things that you can purchase, but it depends on what you want in your filter.

If you have a Petsmart near you, they will price match their online prices if you take a print out with you. So, if you find a good deal for them online, but don't want to pay shipping, you can go get it yourself for the same price.

[marisa]

When I got my XP3, everything came with it, including the biomedia. It would have been good to check with big al's to see if that's true of the one you purchased. Most likely you would have had to purchase the biomedia, though,---they seemed to have stopped that particular promotional offer (but could have reinstated it, I don't know). I've found big al's prices to be very competitive with other on-line retailers and regular petstores (the one exception was an aquatic store near me that was clearing out its supply of ceramic rings and was selling them at half the price of big al's). To cut down on shipping costs, I usually order big and stock up.

For biomedia, you can use just the rings, the stars or a combo of both (I do). I've had my XP3 for almost 2 and a half years, and I've never had to replace the biomedia. When you clean the filter, rinse the biomedia in the tank water (don't let it dry out, I keep a small bucket to let it sit in until I'm ready to put it back in the canister) to preserve the beneficial bacteria. One package of the rings is good for 55 gallons, the stars more.

I've never had to replace the sponges either. As with the biomedia, rinse them in the tank water (not tap water) and keep them in some tank water until you're ready to reassemble the filter.

You don't absolutely need the carbon--if you use it, it should be replaced monthly. If you don't use it, you can buy extra biomedia and put it where you would have had the carbon.

You don't need the microfiltration pads either. You'll get one with the filter, but I think they're a bit pricey for what they do. I used to cut generic ones from a roll of floss I bought a Petsmart, but I've found that the outflow will diminish more quickly when they're used, and a few times they clogged the filter, so I stopped using them. Your choice.

I think you'll also get a package of something called Chem-Zorb with your filter. I've never used it--it's been sitting for over 2 years in a box.

Your choice as to what to use, but the most important media is the mechanical media (sponges) and the biomedia (rings and/or stars).

I live in CT, too. Big Al's ships within 48 hours and it's usually taken 5-6 days from the time I've ordered to get the shipment (unless they're out of something and what I've ordered has been placed on backorder). They ship from Niagra Falls/Ontario, I believe.

[Spookster]

You don't need the microfiltration pads either. You'll get one with the filter, but I think they're a bit pricey for what they do. I used to cut generic ones from a roll of floss I bought a Petsmart, but I've found that the outflow will diminish more quickly when they're used, and a few times they clogged the filter, so I stopped using them. Your choice.

I use them and they filter out quite a bit of yucky stuff. It probably depends on the tank size and number of turtles and amount of waste produced in the tank as to whether it gets clogged up easily. I change them once a month and there has been no significant water flow loss. I only have one adult female turtle in a 90 gallon tank and we feed her in the tank so mine probably won't get as clogged as someone with two turtles or a smaller tank might.

You don't absolutely need the carbon--if you use it, it should be replaced monthly. If you don't use it, you can buy extra biomedia and put it where you would have had the carbon.

True. But it helps to reduce the smell in the tank and keep the water clear. I forget what it says on the package but I have been changing mine about every two months. I've had my XP3 for several months now and just finally put in that chem-zorb media myself. It contains activated carbon and some other stuff so I stuck it in my activated carbon basket with the other two pouches I have in there. I'm overdue on replacing the activate carbon so I figured I would supplement it until I get some more.

[missibsu]

I have two turtles and when I clean out my filter once a month it isn't too horrible. I rinse the rings in the tank and leave them sit at the bottom and I take the hose to the case and pads. It's quick and powerful. After the rinse, my pads look like new.

[marisa]

I have a 110-gallon stock tank with about 80 gallons of water in it and a male RES with an SCL of between 6 and 6.5 inches. For me, not having the microfiltration pads has made a difference in the water flow (I tried not using them after reading complaints about them on another site). With one, at the end of the month the force of the outflow has diminished noticeably. I really haven't seen a major difference in the water clarity without them. To me, they aren't worth the money (would rather have more biomedia or perhaps even some carbon) rather than microfiltration pads.

I still will use carbon sometimes (I bought A LOT ahead and still have some left). I think it's more important in smaller tanks than larger ones (KellyP said elsewhere that the tank is a 55-gallon, so maybe she will see a difference if she uses it. It should be replaced monthly, though.

I have to say there is no odor in the tank. When I clean the filter (which will be later on today) the stuff that looks so horrible has a faint woodsy smell, which to me is not objectionable. I don't really see a difference with it, so to me as long as there is adequate biofiltration and mechanical filtration, the decision on other types of media is up to the person.

[Spookster]

I have a 110-gallon stock tank with about 80 gallons of water in it and a male RES with an SCL of between 6 and 6.5 inches. For me, not having the microfiltration pads has made a difference in the water flow (I tried not using them after reading complaints about them on another site). With one, at the end of the month the force of the outflow has diminished noticeably. I really haven't seen a major difference in the water clarity without them. To me, they aren't worth the money (would rather have more biomedia or perhaps even some carbon) rather than microfiltration pads.

I still will use carbon sometimes (I bought A LOT ahead and still have some left). I think it's more important in smaller tanks than larger ones (KellyP said elsewhere that the tank is a 55-gallon, so maybe she will see a difference if she uses it. It should be replaced monthly, though.

I have to say there is no odor in the tank. When I clean the filter (which will be later on today) the stuff that looks so horrible has a faint woodsy smell, which to me is not objectionable. I don't really see a difference with it, so to me as long as there is adequate biofiltration and mechanical filtration, the decision on other types of media is up to the person.

I might try without the micro pads sometime but I have many of them to use. I thought I had ordered 6 pads and when they arrived I realized I ordered 6 boxes of pads. lol At 3 pads per box I have enough to last for quite some time.

[marisa]

Yes, you should. I went crazy with the carbon when I first got the filter, and still have boxes of it to use up as well.