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So we quickly learned that the filter that came with the new tank wasn't cutting it, regardless of the number of water changes. Today my husband went to Petco & Petsmart to price the canister filters. We were looking at a Rena xp3 and it was about $170 at both stores. I found one on E-bay for about fifty dollars less (including shipping.) We were going to go for it but than my husband concluded that if we were willing to shell out the $170 (which of course we would have if we hadn't found the E-bay one) why not see if the E-bay store had the xp4 (which, I might add, is good up to 265 gallons I searched and found the xp4 in the E-bay store, WITH SHIPPING... $185!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rena-Filstar-XP4-Ca ... dZViewItem

So.................not only did we get a great deal now, we shouldn't have to upgrade the filter again! Woo hoo! Ok, well, I just had to share. I'm very excited about the deal & the prospect of doing less water changes too

Congrats. Let us know how well it works for you.

Very nice. Just so you know the XP4 comes with:

Sponges (bottom basket), ceramic stars, and (i believe) a carbon pad and water floss. You may need to get ceramic rings, or SeaChem Matrix Rocks.

Very nice filter and i'd love to see pics.

Mine came with 2x Foam 20, 2x Foam 30, 1 pack of 20x Bio Stars, 1 pouch of Chem-Zorb, and the filtration pad (water floss), like Muirner said.

The 4 Foam pads should be already in the last basket, and the water floss on the top basket. What they give you will work, but you definetely should buy more media, without extras, there's two empty baskets in an xP4 .

Thank you for your replies. I can't wait to get it. I'd been looking at pictures of people's set ups in the forum and couldn't help but notice all of the big canisters. I knew we needed something bigger but thought we could get away with what we had for a while which has definately not been the case...

I will post pics when the filter comes as I've been wanting to post a good shot of the "stand" (more like a workbench actually) that my husband built. It's a really good solution for folks tight on space (we attached a tention rod underneath for my sons clothes & there is plenty of storage too.) Anywho, thanks for letting me gush about my filter....

I'm always happy to see someone break new ground, as they say. I'll be curious to know how you like it.

Sounds like a nice setup to me. Always having something that is neet while functional is a plus. I cant wait to see pics of it set up