Loaches Online Forum

I have a couple of Rena's on mine. Very silent high flow ,No bypass so they polished the water up for me. Add the cannister first. Then when you can add a UV sterilizer in line and use the X3 to drive it later . I use a 36 watt on one.The river manifolds simple setup will allow you to build it with what you have so use your power heads for that .Still leave one power head on the surface up top and lose the back filter .Use your spray rail from the X3 to add a twist to keep your food suspended long enough not to get to the intake before being eaten.I think Martin used old power head sponges for intakes unless I missed something. I am New .Tinman

FYI petsmart has a real deal on rena xp3's $75 & free shipping too. just thru May I think. Type in XP3/XP4 in the coupon spot. I'm thinking of getting 1 even though I don't really need 1 right now I'd like to try a cannister.

thanks for the heads up nancy. thanks for the info.


Is one rena x3 unit enough for a 120 gallon? Or should I get two?

Is it this?

Petsmart Rena Filstar

Yeah I tried to type in that code and it didn't do anything.

i shortened the link...shari2

LO, I'm also upgrading to a 125 gal. I also tried to type that code in and got no results. Hopefully, NancyD will check back in.

I'm very interested.

ok at petco i can get an xp3 for upt to 175 gallons for 121.49 with all codes. at petsmart i can get a rena xp4 for 197.99 with all discounts.

ok so reading a few threads has me thinking about what i truly need for this aqarium.

1)seio
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 2004&Nty=1

or this
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113040


2) rena x3/x4 unit. Is it ok to get one xp4 unit for up to 175 gallons?

3)uv sterilizer-is this necessary?

4)found the beckett prefilter for the ponds at home depot. 8$ each.
bought two of them. had to buy two packs to get the tube for each intake.

5) I have an aquaclear 70. And one jethead 50 by aquaclear.


I am heading to home depot today to pickup supplies if they have them. Probably not going to get all the pvc piping until I pickup the tank after I move.

This tank is going to be clown loaches only along with the other dither fish. If anything botia striata may be added in the future.

I belive sterilization is not neccesary but very benificial,especially when a sickness can wipeout a large population of old fish .It is hard to get the sick one out of a large tank without a tank dis-assembly at times too.Add a UV to it if you can but it is not required.That is a great price on the filters.More is always better on filtration I belive.Skimping on filters costs more in the long run I think.I would be tempted by two XP-3 at that price , one at each end with a manifold providing current at the bottom. Tinman

ok i added a link in the freshwater forum. this will help you out tinman. you can get an additional 10$ off at petsmart. the unit at petco is the taller x3 unit. this one is roughly 121$ with shipping and says it is good for 175 gallons.

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=6817

at this point i was thinking of using one large xp3 for up to 175 gallons along with my aquaclear 70 and the jethead that i have. This tank will have two jetheads with a river manifold setup. eventually i will add a uv sterilizer but right now i don't think i can hack it with all the additional money i have to put into this tank.

Sorry LO got the code wrong it's XP3XP4 (it works I just tried it)

Thanks Nancy,

I was interested too!

I went to the site, and you can get $30 off each one that you buy.

Great Deal!

You guys hooked me up .I just got an XP-3 for 80.00 to my door with the code.

If you are moving the Aqua-clear HOB from your old tank, there really won't be much cycling if you don't disrupt the media in the filter. You can take some of the media from your Aqua-clear to put in the new canister and it will get a head start in the cycling process. Plan your move carefully and you will avoid problems.

Just remember to get a quarantine tank for any new fish you want to add. I have seen too many posts about new fish bringing in disease.

Does anyone know if you have to order media when buying a new canister filter, or does it come with it?

The last two I got did not have the ceramic or plastic media but did have the foam

Thanks Tinman

I've never used one, so I have lots of questions.
Hubby gave the OK to buy two if I want them. We're preparing for a 125 gal.

I think it's this forum where someone uses plastic pot scrubbers as bio-filter. The loopy,cheap ones, lots of surfaces. I'm disappointed about the lesser filter package, Tinman.