New Filter Help Please!

FishFanatic04 · Feb 10, 2012

Hello! My new filter just arrived and other then rinsing everything, I don't know where to start. :blink:

I'm sure I can get it up and running, what I am really wondering it where to put all the media.

I have...extra filter floss, extra ceramic rings, and some sponges from my other tank's filter {though they probably won't be super matured as that tank has just finished cycling recently} Also I could take one of the filter cartridges from it to use if that would help. I had emptied out the carbon and used it to hold mature floss from petco. The bio-wheels of that filter should be holding the bacteria by now though.

There are 3 baskets...the bottom has 4 black sponges...I'm assuming they are on the bottom for a reason? The second basket is where is shows to put the 12 Bio-stars, and there will be plenty of room to add something there...The third and top basket has a thin piece of white filter floss and that's where it says to put the carbon/zorb packet, which is already in my aquarium "extras" box.

I guess I'm asking if they are in a good order, what should I put where...should I put extra floss in? Where should the potential cultured sponges from my other filter go? And should I just chuck the extra ceramic rings in with the stars?

Thanks for looking.

Cazgar · Feb 10, 2012

Put your your old cycled sponges where the new sponges are on the bottom, the "stars" or ceramic media on top of that, then & on the top put the floss or wool.
You don't need the carbon unless you've added some medication to the tank you want to get rid of

FishFanatic04 · Feb 10, 2012

Where do I use the new sponges?

I threw the carbon in a box already in case I need it sometime.

mishmash · Feb 10, 2012

FishFanatic04 said:
Hello! My new filter just arrived and other then rinsing everything, I don't know where to start.

I'm sure I can get it up and running, what I am really wondering it where to put all the media.

I have...extra filter floss, extra ceramic rings, and some sponges from my other tank's filter {though they probably won't be super matured as that tank has just finished cycling recently} Also I could take one of the filter cartridges from it to use if that would help. I had emptied out the carbon and used it to hold mature floss from petco. The bio-wheels of that filter should be holding the bacteria by now though.

There are 3 baskets...the bottom has 4 black sponges...I'm assuming they are on the bottom for a reason? The second basket is where is shows to put the 12 Bio-stars, and there will be plenty of room to add something there...The third and top basket has a thin piece of white filter floss and that's where it says to put the carbon/zorb packet, which is already in my aquarium "extras" box.

I guess I'm asking if they are in a good order, what should I put where...should I put extra floss in? Where should the potential cultured sponges from my other filter go? And should I just chuck the extra ceramic rings in with the stars?

Thanks for looking.

Hey there. Sounds like they are in the right order. I seem to remember that the water feeds to the bottom of that filter and then filters back UP through the baskets. Filtration is usually organised to MECHANICAL first, then BIOLOGICAL, and finally CHEMICAL / POLISHING. You may find that the sponges are different grades. You need the broader grade first, followed by finer grade (broad grade captures big bits of detritus, finer grade captures smaller bits). The top two sponges could be construed as biological... If your tank and filter tends to get dirty then use them all as mechanical, if your tank is mainly clean, use the first two as mechanical. 12 biostars sounds pretty mean as far as biological media goes. I saw that media in the Rena video I am about to show you a link to. Was not impressed. Think about something else. or adding to it. Finally, be wary about using too much floss. It reduces flow quite drastically.

here is the link which you may find useful...

XP3 Filter

Rena XP Series Filters

Hope this helps

FishFanatic04 · Feb 10, 2012

Thanks for the replies...I have quite a bit of new ceramic rings. I guess now my final question is that if I want to leave the sponges that came with the filter in the bottom basket....then where should I put "cycled" ones from my other filter? Would they be ok in the 2nd basket with the biomedia?

mishmash · Feb 11, 2012

FishFanatic04 said:
Thanks for the replies...I have quite a bit of new ceramic rings. I guess now my final question is that if I want to leave the sponges that came with the filter in the bottom basket....then where should I put "cycled" ones from my other filter? Would they be ok in the 2nd basket with the biomedia?

Absolutely. Personally I would put them underneath the biomedia in the second basket. That way the water flows through the colonised sponge and then onto the new biomedia.