Equipment Review and Discussion :: HELP WITH XP2 SETUP PLEEEEEase!!!!!

[wcrimi]

I just got a new XP2. I can't get handle on top to close to start the water flow when I start the filter. I also have an XP3 and have the same difficultly from time to time, but I jiggle it a little and it closes. This one refuses to close no matter what I do. Any ideas why it could be sticking. I'm about to go insane.

[wcrimi]

Also, I just realized that I am going to have trouble getting any real water flow going because I am trying to use this filter on the lower level tank. ground floor

Is there any hope of getting this to work or did I just waste a bunch of money?

[n00bEmpty]

For me then I had the same trouble. Try pressing the bottom part down then press the down. Worked for me, just put some elbow grease on it. lol

[wcrimi]

OK, pressing down real hard on that piece worked. I can get it to close.

But I have a much bigger problem now.

The tank I bought it for is the lower tank of a stack of two.

The top of the filter is almost as high as top of the tank (it's a 40 gallon breeder). No matter what angle I try to lead the hoses from the filter to the tank, I can't create an angle that keeps the input and output stable inside the tank. The hoses simply aren't flexible enough and they push/pull. The input hose also kind of curls in a way that doesn't allow the water to flow into the filter during the priming process. It kind of elbows like a U and the water settles at the bottom of the U. I played with the lengths of the hose and positioning of the input/output but it didn't help.

I just threw up my hands and put it all away. I think I just wasted a ton of money. I guess I now have a backup filter that I'm never going to use. I don't think I can get my money back because I ordered it online and have already washed out all the pads, opened the charcoal cubes, cut the tubes etc...

If anyone has any insights that can turn this from an utter disaster into a salvageable situation please let me know. I'm totally disgusted.

[n00bEmpty]

What I did in that situation is get a hose and try to force the water into the tube since the Rena Filters have that intake that has the top that can open. I would try to get something that can fit into the top, clog the other opening so the water doesn't go out the way and just pump the water in. That's how I did it the first time. It worked fairly well. Or if you can then try putting the filter away from the tank so the hoses extend to a straight line then you can put the water in that way but try to be flexible and don't go to the straight up approach.

[wcrimi]

Thank you for the help, but I'm not sure I understand what you are saying.

Did you clog the end of the plastic input that typically goes into the tank water, pump water into the opening where the screw off cap is to fill the tube with water, turn the filter on, then quickly screw the cap on back on, unclog the other end and put it in the tank water????

How can that work?

Once you stop pumping water in with the hose the whole suction process would stop because the cap is open, the other end is clogged, and you still don't have a good angle for the water to just drop into the filter.

I could easily just fill the filter with water, but that wouldn't get the process going either. You need to get that suction/vacuum going.

I guess I don't understand what you are saying.

Basically think it's hopeless anyway because I don't have access to a garden hose to pump water in even if I understood what you were suggesting and have no place else to put the filter other than next to the tank. Plus I already cut the tubing shorter.

I can't believe I wasted all this money and time and still don't have a workable filter for the tank

[marisa]

How short did you cut the hoses? I've used an XP3 on the floor next to a stock tank. It was hard to prime, but once I got it started, it worked OK.

[wcrimi]

I cut one in half and tried to use it for both the input and output. Then I was having trouble getting the input one to accumulate water in the priming process so I cut it shorter. Now have one that is full length and one that is about half length (and a smaller piece).

There are two issues though.

1. The tubes are not very flexible. Because the filter is almost the same level as the top of the tank (it's on the side of the tank), the tubing pulls both the tank input and output in am awkward way. That makes me feel like they are both not very stable and could pop out of the tank or detach and cause a flood.

2. The tube from the tank input to the filter doesn't accumulate water all the way down to the filter when i add water to get it primed because of the angle of the tube. The tube is not exactly U shaped, but enough so that water just sits at the bottom. So when I try to release the water to prime the filter, nothing happens. The water just sits in the tube.

I didn't even try again today because yesterday felt like a nightmare. I spent all that money and desperately need a better filter for that tank but I accomplished nothing.

[n00bEmpty]

If you can then pressure the water into the tube then prime it. Close the cap as quick as possible. You just need something to pressure the water into the tube. I have some trouble with that too but it worked.

[marisa]

I'd use the smaller piece on the input and the half length on the output (don't use the full-length hose). You could try to "shape" the hoses some. They're not that flexible as is, but if you put them in warm water they temporarily become more flexible and you can bend them a little more to the shape you want. Use something (rope, whatever) to keep them in that shape for a while to reinforce it.

[wcrimi]

I am still struggling with this issue. I've been asking around the local pet stores and most said I won't be able to prime it. One guy suggested trying to lay it on its side, but I'm worried about potential leaking.

I sent an e-mail to the manufacturer this week and they just told me it can't be primed unless its 24 inches below the water level. They also said that even if I get it primed, it won't stay primed and will burn out the motor.

So now I am trying to return it, but Aquarium Guys has a policy about not returning filters that have been used. So I don't think I'll be able to even though it was actually not used.

I guess I wasted $117 on the filter, $20 on the ceramic rings and $14 for shipping.

That's only part of the problem though. I still don't have a viable filtering option for my 40 gallon tank that I keep my African Clawed Frogs in. The Fluval 4+ I am using now is simply not cutting it. I am forced to do water changes twice a week just to keep reasonable water quality (not good quality).

I don't want to use a HOB filter for ACFs because they don't like the water fall effect and the filters are a pain in the neck to deal with anyway (already been there and done that). I thought a canister filter would solve my problems.

Ugggh!

Help @!!@@@

[n00bEmpty]

Well, I can take that filter off your hands for ~90 dollars.
24 inches below water levels? My XP4 is barely 6 inches below water level.
Can you show us an image of what you're trying to do?

[wcrimi]

I'll try to get a picture, but if you have a picture of your setup, that may help me a lot more.

Basically, the filter would be right next to the tank (I have no room to extend it far away)

If all else fails, we can talk about a deal.