My Review: SunSun "Outside Filter" HW-302

lexbomb · 07-08-2011, 10:19 AM

Hi guys just bought a 304b from flebay and im 99%sure it doesnt come with media. If it doesnt whats some cheap media i can throw in it. I do have 200gm of purigen that will go in but what cheap (to follow the cheap filter) should or can I use?
Thanks guys

**kevmo911** · 07-08-2011, 10:21 AM

Media has always come with it. But if it doesn't, you can use polyester quilt batting. Big bag of cottony stuff used for stuffing pillows. Walmart.

wespastor · 07-08-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexbomb

Hi guys just bought a 304b from flebay and im 99%sure it doesnt come with media. If it doesnt whats some cheap media i can throw in it. I do have 200gm of purigen that will go in but what cheap (to follow the cheap filter) should or can I use?
Thanks guys

I use Fluval Ceramic Pre-filter in the bottom tray, Lava Rock (small pieces) in the middle tray, and Quilt batting in the top tray (don't get the high loft you'll get better polishing).

Buy a bag of grill lava rock for gas grill at walmart for about $7.00 and use the smallest peices

Best wishes,
Wes

lexbomb · 07-08-2011, 12:02 PM

Sweet can't wait to get it they said only a couple of days!

lipadj46 · 07-08-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexbomb

Hi guys just bought a 304b from flebay and im 99%sure it doesnt come with media. If it doesnt whats some cheap media i can throw in it. I do have 200gm of purigen that will go in but what cheap (to follow the cheap filter) should or can I use?
Thanks guys

How cheap do you want to go? Lava rock is a pretty poor bio media but if you have a planted tank you don't need much. If you want better bio media than lava rock for cheaper look for those sintered clay balls used for hydroponic planters.

phorty · 07-08-2011, 06:59 PM

i put together a comparison chart for anyone interested. I think I'll do a 303A for my 55 gallon.

Stupid question, what does the UV stabilizer do?

MODEL HW-302/402B
$NA/$78
POWER 18W
H-MAX 1.4m
265 GPH
9.1" x 9.1" x 15.6"

MODEL HW-303A/303B/403B
$76/$90/$93
POWER 35W
H-MAX 2.0m
375 GPH
10.2" x 10.2" x 16.9"

MODEL HW-304A/304B/404B
$89/$120/$113
POWER 55W
H-MAX 2.5m
528 GPH
11.4" x 11.4" x 19.1"

lexbomb · 07-08-2011, 11:15 PM

Ha I think I went overboard buying a 304b for my 30 gal

wespastor · 07-09-2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexbomb

Ha I think I went overboard buying a 304b for my 30 gal

If you find that you have too much flow, you can always put a PCV Ball valve on the out-flow line to slow the flow.

Best wishes,
Wes

lipadj46 · 07-09-2011, 02:05 PM

I have a 404b on my 55 gallon and it actually is not enough flow the way I have it setup so I added a HOB on the other end of the tank.

phorty · 07-09-2011, 09:39 PM

So, let me get this straight.

The Aquatop CF300 is the same as the 402B, CF400 same as 403B, and CF500 same as 404B??

Mr. Appleton · 07-14-2011, 02:43 AM

Just stuck a 302 on my 10gal... was initially worried that it'd create a whirling vortex in my tank, but actually seems to be working out fine :P

It's incredibly quiet too! at ~$50 shipped to me, a great deal!

lexbomb · 07-24-2011, 07:57 AM

I bought a sunsun 304b with the uv sterilizer and when I got it the glass sleeve was broken. Now horrid eBay seller is refusing to send me a new sleeve unless I send the whole filter back at my cost, why no f-ing idea!! So I contacted disputes and the seller has now refunded me my money back, now I dont really care about the uv I just want to use my filter.
So any ideas what we happen if I just fill it up with out the glass sleeve on? Or any ways to patch it up

RickRS · 07-24-2011, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevmo911

Media has always come with it. But if it doesn't, you can use polyester quilt batting. Big bag of cottony stuff used for stuffing pillows. Walmart.

The only media that is standard with these filters are a few one inch thick white filter pads. Until the vendor is advertizing more, assume you're get the standard pads and nothing else.

In a rough list of increasing prices: You can use lava rock and quilt batting if you want to DIY cheaply as possible. You can look in hardware stores for cut-to-fit airconditioning filters as source of coarse pads. Avoid filters with antimicrobial properities if you go that route. Some people use kitchen scrubbies as coarse pads, but I never tried that. You can buy cut-to-fit pad material at your LFS. You can buy ceramic noodles and bio-material under other brands (Fluval, Ehiem, etc.) at your LFS.

19ginger90 · 07-27-2011, 06:35 PM

Hey guys. I bought my Sunsun 302 in April and was initially very happy. Now, I'm not so sure. I'm getting almost no flow! I just cleaned it again and took out most of the filter media, cleaned the impeller and everything around it, and the hoses aren't very dirty. The first time I plug it back it after that, great strong flow, but after a couple days it's crap again. Literally, I can see a few pond snails doing laps in the hoses! Am I missing something? Seriously, I'm not trying to be Ms. Negative, but I just need to figure this out because I'm not very happy with this filter right now.

**kevmo911** · 07-27-2011, 06:49 PM

Well, assuming there's no air in the hoses, make sure the outlet isn't blocked from inside the canister. Remember that stuffing the canister will definitely reduce flow. When you take the hose assembly off, check the little clear plastic flapper and make sure it moves freely. Make sure the intake isn't blocked - is there any sort of filter (other than the stock one) on it? Make sure there are no kinks in the line. Do you inject CO2 into the canister? Before it? Is the black plastic lever on the hose assembly all the way down? Is there any gunk in the spraybar, especially at the 90 degree turn just before it (remove the spraybar and see if there's a sudden flow increase). Do you have an inline heater, and if so is it installed in the correct direction?

That's all I can think of atm.

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07-08-2011, 10:19 AM	#496
lexbomb Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 106	Hi guys just bought a 304b from flebay and im 99%sure it doesnt come with media. If it doesnt whats some cheap media i can throw in it. I do have 200gm of purigen that will go in but what cheap (to follow the cheap filter) should or can I use? Thanks guys

07-08-2011, 10:21 AM	#497
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,751	Media has always come with it. But if it doesn't, you can use polyester quilt batting. Big bag of cottony stuff used for stuffing pillows. Walmart.

07-08-2011, 12:02 PM	#499
lexbomb Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 106	Sweet can't wait to get it they said only a couple of days!

07-08-2011, 06:59 PM	#501
phorty Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 100	i put together a comparison chart for anyone interested. I think I'll do a 303A for my 55 gallon. Stupid question, what does the UV stabilizer do? MODEL HW-302/402B $NA/$78 POWER 18W H-MAX 1.4m 265 GPH 9.1" x 9.1" x 15.6" MODEL HW-303A/303B/403B $76/$90/$93 POWER 35W H-MAX 2.0m 375 GPH 10.2" x 10.2" x 16.9" MODEL HW-304A/304B/404B $89/$120/$113 POWER 55W H-MAX 2.5m 528 GPH 11.4" x 11.4" x 19.1"

07-08-2011, 11:15 PM	#502
lexbomb Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 106	Ha I think I went overboard buying a 304b for my 30 gal

07-09-2011, 02:05 PM	#504
lipadj46 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 822	I have a 404b on my 55 gallon and it actually is not enough flow the way I have it setup so I added a HOB on the other end of the tank.

07-09-2011, 09:39 PM	#505
phorty Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 100	So, let me get this straight. The Aquatop CF300 is the same as the 402B, CF400 same as 403B, and CF500 same as 404B??

07-14-2011, 02:43 AM	#506
Mr. Appleton Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (21/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 276	Just stuck a 302 on my 10gal... was initially worried that it'd create a whirling vortex in my tank, but actually seems to be working out fine :P It's incredibly quiet too! at ~$50 shipped to me, a great deal!

07-24-2011, 07:57 AM	#507
lexbomb Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 106	I bought a sunsun 304b with the uv sterilizer and when I got it the glass sleeve was broken. Now horrid eBay seller is refusing to send me a new sleeve unless I send the whole filter back at my cost, why no f-ing idea!! So I contacted disputes and the seller has now refunded me my money back, now I dont really care about the uv I just want to use my filter. So any ideas what we happen if I just fill it up with out the glass sleeve on? Or any ways to patch it up

07-27-2011, 06:35 PM	#509
19ginger90 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 79	Hey guys. I bought my Sunsun 302 in April and was initially very happy. Now, I'm not so sure. I'm getting almost no flow! I just cleaned it again and took out most of the filter media, cleaned the impeller and everything around it, and the hoses aren't very dirty. The first time I plug it back it after that, great strong flow, but after a couple days it's crap again. Literally, I can see a few pond snails doing laps in the hoses! Am I missing something? Seriously, I'm not trying to be Ms. Negative, but I just need to figure this out because I'm not very happy with this filter right now.

07-27-2011, 06:49 PM	#510
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,751	Well, assuming there's no air in the hoses, make sure the outlet isn't blocked from inside the canister. Remember that stuffing the canister will definitely reduce flow. When you take the hose assembly off, check the little clear plastic flapper and make sure it moves freely. Make sure the intake isn't blocked - is there any sort of filter (other than the stock one) on it? Make sure there are no kinks in the line. Do you inject CO2 into the canister? Before it? Is the black plastic lever on the hose assembly all the way down? Is there any gunk in the spraybar, especially at the 90 degree turn just before it (remove the spraybar and see if there's a sudden flow increase). Do you have an inline heater, and if so is it installed in the correct direction? That's all I can think of atm.