XP3 and outflow

Rob in (ca) · 11-07-2012, 08:51 PM

I have a XP 2 on my 45 G tank with all kinds of flow, to much to be honest, sounds like you have a issue with your XP 3. maybe try to run your XP with out the inline heater and see what happens. good luck

snakebite · 11-07-2012, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by umdterps96

there are some good videos on you tube from priming the Rena. I had a similar problem. I put a very small amount of vasoline around the seal of the lid and it solved my issue...

Out of curiosity, how did the vasoline help?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cichnatic

Video of setting up the Rena XP.

http://www.rena.net/videos/filstar-xp.html

Do you have any sagging of your tubes? That might be a problem.

I think I watched every available xp3 video on youtube. No sagging tubes, initially when I first recieved the filter I had sagging tubes but I didn't have any issues then. Last night, I cut the tube to try and maybe resolve the issue to see if that may be the issue but it wasnt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob in (ca)

I have a XP 2 on my 45 G tank with all kinds of flow, to much to be honest, sounds like you have a issue with your XP 3. maybe try to run your XP with out the inline heater and see what happens. good luck

I also tried to run the filter without the inline heater, same thing...I even tried to start it in my bathtub and still nothing.

_ _ _ _ _ _

I'm overwhelmed with all the help, I appreciate everyone chiming in and trying to resolve this matter!

snakebite · 11-07-2012, 10:40 PM

If this helps - Bottom and middle tray I have rocks and the top tray and I have four square sponges. I'm not sure if that could be the issue or not but tonight I'll try to run it without any of the baskets in the canister.

snakebite · 11-08-2012, 01:25 AM

If its a bad propeller, how would I know?

mott · 11-08-2012, 01:40 AM

I think the Xp flows bottom up so you might have your media in the wrong order than suggested. Probably not the issue, just a thought.

snakebite · 11-08-2012, 05:23 AM

Well, it's working...sort of. There was a prime(?) hole that was open on the motor. I had a plug laying around that I didn't know where it was suppose to go. The plug is in bad shape, for now I just taped it, plugged the hole and the system started working!

Does anyone know if the hole on the motor about dime size suppose to be plug? It's not on the bottom it's actually on the side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mott

I think the Xp flows bottom up so you might have your media in the wrong order than suggested. Probably not the issue, just a thought.

I thought it didn't matter but I think that may be the reason why the intake and outflow is pretty weak. I put the four layer sponge at the top, seeing a few Rena videos it says to put it at the bottom. It's a little too late to mess around with it but will try again tomorrow.

**trapperwolves** · 11-08-2012, 05:45 PM

All of my Rena XPs (I have an XP1, XP2, and XP3) have the black plug in one of the side holes on the motor. They all had the plug in one of the holes when I purchased them. Never thought that would stop the flow but I see where it could.

The XPs do flow bottom to top so you do want to put your course sponges low and the finer ones higher. I really don't think it matters where you put other media. I've tried different set-ups and never noticed any differences in performance.

snakebite · 11-08-2012, 06:00 PM

Picture provided by bsmith

This is how the trays are setup -

Bottom tray went into the bottom, top left tray went into the middle and top right tray went on the top.

There is no leak in the holes, so everything should be air tight. I would think the top tray with the sponges will restrict suction flow, other than that it could also be the rotor impeller or orings need to be replaced.

I'll get some videos up tonight of how weak the spray bar is.

wendyjo · 11-08-2012, 08:35 PM

Mine didn't do well with the spray bar but works fine with the jet spray.

What plug are you talking about? I swear I've had my xp3 for 5 years now and never noticed a plug.

Rob in (ca) · 11-08-2012, 11:22 PM

IMO .....Your trays are pack solid there, also those sponges would be a big issue with flow, think I would just stay with just Rena's Bio stars or ceramic rings.

like the other poster stated you must have The Rens's course filters on the very bottom tray & not the top tray....

on my Xp 2 I have the 2 course Rena filters on the bottom tray with 12 Rena Bio stars on top of the course filters, then on my top tray I have a small bag of JBL ceramic rings and then the Polishing filter on top.

I get great flow. I also clean the Rena about every 3 weeks as I can not go any longer than that.....it gets pretty dirty.

Good luck

jnunn · 11-09-2012, 04:55 AM

I had the same problem with one of my XP3s a couple of weeks ago. The flow could be low or high or none at all. I found that one of the nylon balls in the shut off valve was not rotating with the leaver. Ended up purchasing a new valve assembly which I did not use. If you need one contact me by PM.

jnunn

snakebite · 11-09-2012, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendyjo

Mine didn't do well with the spray bar but works fine with the jet spray.

What plug are you talking about? I swear I've had my xp3 for 5 years now and never noticed a plug.

After rearranging media trays, I got better flow but didn't do well with the spraybar either.

If you take a look at the picture below you can see the intake hole on the left then the output hole on the right. I was referring to the black plug on the output.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob in (ca)

IMO .....Your trays are pack solid there, also those sponges would be a big issue with flow, think I would just stay with just Rena's Bio stars or ceramic rings.

like the other poster stated you must have The Rens's course filters on the very bottom tray & not the top tray....

on my Xp 2 I have the 2 course Rena filters on the bottom tray with 12 Rena Bio stars on top of the course filters, then on my top tray I have a small bag of JBL ceramic rings and then the Polishing filter on top.

I get great flow. I also clean the Rena about every 3 weeks as I can not go any longer than that.....it gets pretty dirty.

Good luck

Moved the sponge tray to the bottom, the result is better flow but still not to its potential. I'll try removing a basket of rocks and use ceramic rings in one tray.

Maybe I'm just expecting too much from this xp3. I still don't see how this could filter larger tanks when there's barely any circulation/filteration in my 40g.

**OVT** · 11-09-2012, 07:10 AM

Here is a long shot: take the impeller out and check the metal jacket for a vertical hairline crack.

wendyjo · 11-09-2012, 03:49 PM

Next time I do maintenance I'm gonna have to look for that plug as I never noticed it before.

cturner · 11-09-2012, 05:10 PM

Honestly I think you have things packed too tight. You need water movement through the filter baskets. It's like trying to push water through a plastic bag with pin sized holes. It isn't going to work well. You need to allow some space in between the media and the baskets. If that doesn't work I would call Rena. I've never had a problem with my XP3 and like Rob in I have to clean mine every 3 weeks and the water I dump out is brown as dirt!

11-08-2012, 01:40 AM	#20
mott Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (31/100%) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: nj Posts: 1,771	I think the Xp flows bottom up so you might have your media in the wrong order than suggested. Probably not the issue, just a thought. __________________ EHEIM Pimp Club Member #250 2217,2026,2236

11-08-2012, 05:45 PM	#22
trapperwolves Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 208	All of my Rena XPs (I have an XP1, XP2, and XP3) have the black plug in one of the side holes on the motor. They all had the plug in one of the holes when I purchased them. Never thought that would stop the flow but I see where it could. The XPs do flow bottom to top so you do want to put your course sponges low and the finer ones higher. I really don't think it matters where you put other media. I've tried different set-ups and never noticed any differences in performance. __________________ Trapperwolves

11-09-2012, 07:10 AM	#28
OVT Carpe Diem (View User Tanks) PTrader: (123/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: SF East Bay Area Posts: 2,664	Here is a long shot: take the impeller out and check the metal jacket for a vertical hairline crack. __________________ Courtesy Integrity * Perseverance * Indominable Spirit * and Self Control* Tenets of TKD

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11-07-2012, 08:51 PM	#16
Rob in (ca) Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Long beach ca, Posts: 17	I have a XP 2 on my 45 G tank with all kinds of flow, to much to be honest, sounds like you have a issue with your XP 3. maybe try to run your XP with out the inline heater and see what happens. good luck

11-07-2012, 10:40 PM	#18
snakebite Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: LBC Posts: 51	If this helps - Bottom and middle tray I have rocks and the top tray and I have four square sponges. I'm not sure if that could be the issue or not but tonight I'll try to run it without any of the baskets in the canister.

11-08-2012, 01:25 AM	#19
snakebite Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: LBC Posts: 51	If its a bad propeller, how would I know?

11-08-2012, 06:00 PM	#23
snakebite Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: LBC Posts: 51	Picture provided by bsmith This is how the trays are setup - Bottom tray went into the bottom, top left tray went into the middle and top right tray went on the top. There is no leak in the holes, so everything should be air tight. I would think the top tray with the sponges will restrict suction flow, other than that it could also be the rotor impeller or orings need to be replaced. I'll get some videos up tonight of how weak the spray bar is.

11-08-2012, 08:35 PM	#24
wendyjo Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: DC area Posts: 2,825	Mine didn't do well with the spray bar but works fine with the jet spray. What plug are you talking about? I swear I've had my xp3 for 5 years now and never noticed a plug.

11-08-2012, 11:22 PM	#25
Rob in (ca) Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Long beach ca, Posts: 17	IMO .....Your trays are pack solid there, also those sponges would be a big issue with flow, think I would just stay with just Rena's Bio stars or ceramic rings. like the other poster stated you must have The Rens's course filters on the very bottom tray & not the top tray.... on my Xp 2 I have the 2 course Rena filters on the bottom tray with 12 Rena Bio stars on top of the course filters, then on my top tray I have a small bag of JBL ceramic rings and then the Polishing filter on top. I get great flow. I also clean the Rena about every 3 weeks as I can not go any longer than that.....it gets pretty dirty. Good luck

11-09-2012, 04:55 AM	#26
jnunn Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2010 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 4	I had the same problem with one of my XP3s a couple of weeks ago. The flow could be low or high or none at all. I found that one of the nylon balls in the shut off valve was not rotating with the leaver. Ended up purchasing a new valve assembly which I did not use. If you need one contact me by PM. jnunn

11-09-2012, 03:49 PM	#29
wendyjo Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: DC area Posts: 2,825	Next time I do maintenance I'm gonna have to look for that plug as I never noticed it before.

11-09-2012, 05:10 PM	#30
cturner Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Elizabethtown, PA Posts: 67	Honestly I think you have things packed too tight. You need water movement through the filter baskets. It's like trying to push water through a plastic bag with pin sized holes. It isn't going to work well. You need to allow some space in between the media and the baskets. If that doesn't work I would call Rena. I've never had a problem with my XP3 and like Rob in I have to clean mine every 3 weeks and the water I dump out is brown as dirt!