My Review: SunSun "Outside Filter" HW-302

**thtsapaddlin** · 03-09-2010, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by accordztech

deposit 5 dollars =)

If I had $5 to spend willy-nilly, I wouldn't be making my own CO2 reactor.

Thanks for the replies. Are there any more definitive instructions anywhere (so I can avoid being annoying)?

Any thoughts on the filter situation?

**jmowbray** · 03-11-2010, 04:35 PM

I was wondering where you all get you replacment parts from?

OverStocked · 03-11-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmowbray

I was wondering where you all get you replacment parts from?

I have contacted sunsun and did find that you can get parts from them. I have not needed them, however.

bigboij · 03-11-2010, 06:17 PM

just to chime in i just hit the 6 months mark, on my ownership of my SunSun other than the having a o-ring tear/fail on the quick release for me it has been running perfect, still as silent as the day i bought it. haven't cleaned it in 3+mos now. so my mostly bio media setup (pot scrubbers and quilt batting) seems to be doing its job as my water is crystal clear and all my levels are ideal still plenty of flow only cleaning ive done is rinsing a prefilter i added to make it shrimp safe.

juanynfante · 03-11-2010, 07:43 PM

nice to heard this filter is working good,...because i just buy one for my 180g tank...i was worry because i didnt find no much reviews about it...i hope my works fine.

**jmowbray** · 03-11-2010, 10:06 PM

I was also looking for part under there other name, I believe it's aquatic pro; I forget.

But, I couldn't find anything either. I was wondering if anyone has tried putting Marineland parts in them to see if they would fit/work; since the rumor is that Sun sun makes some of the parts.

jmhart · 03-12-2010, 01:30 PM

The ability to find replacement parts is key, so good job over_stock contacting Sun Sun.

I think a direct side by side comparison of the Marineland and the Sun Sun would be very beneficial. Some of the issues I'm seeing here may be design issues, not build issues. Since the design is practically, or exactly, the same as the Marineland, any design issues can't be attributed to the "cheap knock-off" argument.

Build issues, such as cheaper materials (i.e. thinner plastic, flimsier o-rings, etc.) and quality issues can be attributed to the "knock-off" argument.

The two big questions I'd like to have answered(and only time will tell) are:

1) Pump reliability...how long will it last?

2)For the UV models, is the plastic that is exposed to the UV shielded? If not, that's gonna be an issue sooner than later.

I think the one other issue here could be quality, and I mean in the manufacturing sense. Will every unit produced be as good as every other unit produced, or will there be duds, and if so what percentage. With Eheims, Renas, Fluvals, etc. quality is key. Yes there is the occasional lemon, but they seek to minimize it. I think the issue with a lot of the Chinese products is that they don't seek to minimize the number of lemons...they just ship them/sell them anyway.

**jmowbray** · 03-12-2010, 05:30 PM

Over_stocked how did you cantact them> I have tried both email addresses for the US and have not yet recieved a reply. Can you order the part online or do you have to call?

RLee · 03-13-2010, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmhart

2)For the UV models, is the plastic that is exposed to the UV shielded? If not, that's gonna be an issue sooner than later.

No it is not shielded so after time the plastic will degrade. The issue is how much and will it ever become a problem with the function of the filter.
I work in a harbor on boats and see plenty of plastic pieces used on boats for various things exposed to sun light all day. The plastic parts that fail are under some kind of stress due to use. The u.v. makes the plastic brittle then it fails.
How much stress is on the plastic inside the filter?
It remains to be seen but i am sure someone will have an opinion.

As for me I do not run the u.v. lamp all the time. Only if I get green water or have an ich scare, both I have not had in quiet some time. Its kinda ironic that the better I get at this hobby the less I need the u.v. but its still nice to have it, just in case.

**thtsapaddlin** · 03-14-2010, 09:08 AM

I've had my SunSun 304A for about 5 hours now, and it seems to be working well.

I had a hell of a time priming it, but that's probably because the thing is so damn massive. In the process, the blue piece of plastic on the priming button cracked -- but I think it's just aesthetic, and the priming button is intact beneath it.

I too am having some noise issues. I spent an hour or so trying to get all the air out and (mostly) succeeded, but there's still some air in there. The impeller is about as quiet as you'd expect, considering it's powered by a 55W motor.

This is a brand new tank, so the particulate matter from the Flourite is everwhere...but I have no doubt this beast will power through that in no time.

It's my first canister filter, and it looks to be (for sure) the best comparably-sized filter you can buy for $78.

BTW, for those who may be concerned about shipping time (as some folks were earlier), I received my unit less than 72 hours after I bought it...

cichlidude · 03-19-2010, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heartnet

Got a few questions about the SunSun filter.

How long are the intake and outflow tubes? Do you think the SunSun filter might be a bit of an overkill for a 10 gallon?

Regarding the skimmer, is it a detachable feature or not? I couldn't tell judging from the pictures.

Yes, overkill for a 10 gallon. The smallest Sunsun might be used on a 29 gallon minimum.

fischman · 03-19-2010, 03:49 AM

Got mine today. Setup was easy and straight forward even without any instructions. Baskets were a little tough to remove, but some careful jiggling pulled them right out. I have it running on my 26 gallon and it is working slick as can be. I do need to work on getting the last of the bubbles out of the canister but I think I got 95% of them out.

Josh

cichlidude · 03-19-2010, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fischman

Got mine today. Setup was easy and straight forward even without any instructions. Baskets were a little tough to remove, but some careful jiggling pulled them right out. I have it running on my 26 gallon and it is working slick as can be. I do need to work on getting the last of the bubbles out of the canister but I think I got 95% of them out.

Josh

Tilt the canister back and forth, front and back. Then if you have to turn it off and wait a few seconds and turn back on. Should get them all out.

**thtsapaddlin** · 03-20-2010, 05:08 AM

I had some issues with the filter leaking when it was tilted to the side, but the problem has somehow resolved itself.

kabuto · 03-24-2010, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLee

Ya the u.v. in the 303b works well. It is only 9w but is enough.
I purchased my filter from the same seller, good guy and fast shipping.

Care to share a lil more of your experience on the UV of this filter?

I just got this model recently, and after a lot of reading, 360+ gph through a 9W UV is generally too much flow rate.

Did you experimented this to clear up green water or did it helped in removing some disease?

03-11-2010, 06:17 PM	#154
bigboij Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 885	just to chime in i just hit the 6 months mark, on my ownership of my SunSun other than the having a o-ring tear/fail on the quick release for me it has been running perfect, still as silent as the day i bought it. haven't cleaned it in 3+mos now. so my mostly bio media setup (pot scrubbers and quilt batting) seems to be doing its job as my water is crystal clear and all my levels are ideal still plenty of flow only cleaning ive done is rinsing a prefilter i added to make it shrimp safe. __________________ my 20 gal high Big's Fluval Ebi SunSun Pimp #2 Fluval Ebi Pimp #4

03-12-2010, 01:30 PM	#157
jmhart Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (30/100%) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Atlanta,GA Posts: 1,578	The ability to find replacement parts is key, so good job over_stock contacting Sun Sun. I think a direct side by side comparison of the Marineland and the Sun Sun would be very beneficial. Some of the issues I'm seeing here may be design issues, not build issues. Since the design is practically, or exactly, the same as the Marineland, any design issues can't be attributed to the "cheap knock-off" argument. Build issues, such as cheaper materials (i.e. thinner plastic, flimsier o-rings, etc.) and quality issues can be attributed to the "knock-off" argument. The two big questions I'd like to have answered(and only time will tell) are: 1) Pump reliability...how long will it last? 2)For the UV models, is the plastic that is exposed to the UV shielded? If not, that's gonna be an issue sooner than later. I think the one other issue here could be quality, and I mean in the manufacturing sense. Will every unit produced be as good as every other unit produced, or will there be duds, and if so what percentage. With Eheims, Renas, Fluvals, etc. quality is key. Yes there is the occasional lemon, but they seek to minimize it. I think the issue with a lot of the Chinese products is that they don't seek to minimize the number of lemons...they just ship them/sell them anyway. __________________ 60-P Planted Journal __Methods of Algae Control__http://jeffs120.blogspot.com/

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03-11-2010, 04:35 PM	#152
jmowbray Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Standish, MI. Posts: 1,717	I was wondering where you all get you replacment parts from?

03-11-2010, 07:43 PM	#155
juanynfante Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: new york ny Posts: 1	nice to heard this filter is working good,...because i just buy one for my 180g tank...i was worry because i didnt find no much reviews about it...i hope my works fine.

03-11-2010, 10:06 PM	#156
jmowbray Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Standish, MI. Posts: 1,717	I was also looking for part under there other name, I believe it's aquatic pro; I forget. But, I couldn't find anything either. I was wondering if anyone has tried putting Marineland parts in them to see if they would fit/work; since the rumor is that Sun sun makes some of the parts.

03-12-2010, 05:30 PM	#158
jmowbray Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Standish, MI. Posts: 1,717	Over_stocked how did you cantact them> I have tried both email addresses for the US and have not yet recieved a reply. Can you order the part online or do you have to call?

03-14-2010, 09:08 AM	#160
thtsapaddlin Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 52	I've had my SunSun 304A for about 5 hours now, and it seems to be working well. I had a hell of a time priming it, but that's probably because the thing is so damn massive. In the process, the blue piece of plastic on the priming button cracked -- but I think it's just aesthetic, and the priming button is intact beneath it. I too am having some noise issues. I spent an hour or so trying to get all the air out and (mostly) succeeded, but there's still some air in there. The impeller is about as quiet as you'd expect, considering it's powered by a 55W motor. This is a brand new tank, so the particulate matter from the Flourite is everwhere...but I have no doubt this beast will power through that in no time. It's my first canister filter, and it looks to be (for sure) the best comparably-sized filter you can buy for $78. BTW, for those who may be concerned about shipping time (as some folks were earlier), I received my unit less than 72 hours after I bought it...

03-19-2010, 03:49 AM	#162
fischman Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 240	Got mine today. Setup was easy and straight forward even without any instructions. Baskets were a little tough to remove, but some careful jiggling pulled them right out. I have it running on my 26 gallon and it is working slick as can be. I do need to work on getting the last of the bubbles out of the canister but I think I got 95% of them out. Josh

03-20-2010, 05:08 AM	#164
thtsapaddlin Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 52	I had some issues with the filter leaking when it was tilted to the side, but the problem has somehow resolved itself.