New plan Rena Filstar XP1 or 2?

HI guys,

I'm sorry I'm blowing up the filter section! After reading more reviews and the comments I got here about using only internal filters. I have decided to try and invest and train myself to use a canister filter. After some research it seems Rena's Filstar XP series may be the winner. However, I am not completely sold on having only one filter in my 60 gallon. So, I was thinking about getting the Subcurrent wet/dry filter from Drs. Fosters and Smith as and additional filter and skimmer.

My question comes here: should I get the Filstar XP1 or XP2? The XP2 is listed for up to 75 gallons with 300 gph. The Subcurrent gets 160 gph. I read somewhere on this forum that with a canister you can get by with only 5X the filteration instead of the 10X recomended for HOB filters. So should I get the XP1 with its 250 gph and add it to a Subcurrent or get the XP2 just to be safe?

Thanks,
DB

 

My question comes here: should I get the Filstar XP1 or XP2? The XP2 is listed for up to 75 gallons with 300 gph. The Subcurrent gets 160 gph. I read somewhere on this forum that with a canister you can get by with only 5X the filteration instead of the 10X recomended for HOB filters. So should I get the XP1 with its 250 gph and add it to a Subcurrent or get the XP2 just to be safe?

Thanks,
DB

I would get a XP2 or a XP3. I think for a 60 gallon the XP1 is not big enough. I'm using a XP2 on a 40 gallon and XP3's on my 50 and 55 gallons. You will be really pushing the limit with a XP2. I always feel when considering filters don't think about getting a filter at it's limit and getting a XP2 would be at the limit of it's capacity because 300 gph would be a 60 gallon tank. The XP3 is 350 gph is more so in the ballpark of what you are looking for. The XP2 will work but understand it's at the limit.

 

+1!

If you get a larger HOB you could have a XP2 though.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. One small problem is my tank stand has a two shelves the top one enclosed with doors, bottom one open. The enclosed shelf has a clearance of 11.5 inches, once inside there is another 2 inches up under the stand frame. The bottom shelf is only 8 inches so I don't have the option of dealing with an exposed filter.

Does anyone know how many inches I will need to house a XP1, 2, or 3. I keep getting different measurements some sites (amazon, petsmart, drfs) so far I think the XP1 is 10" (some say 8 1/2") and the XP2 is 14" (though some say 10 1/2").

Anyone actually have the Filstar canister to measure? I need to be able to fit it in the stand with 11.5" clearance with an extra 2 to 2.5 inches once inside the stand.

Thanks guys!

 

YOu also have to consider the extra height of the hoses. I'm gonna go measure for you....

you're going to need at least 12.5 inches of clearance for the xp2. You should be able to fit the xp2 in the enclosed space. The tubes would have to dip to clear it, but that's not a big deal.

 

Thank you Jaysee, you are a life saver! The more I searched the more the numbers were coming up contradictory.

I am ordering my filter now from amazon. Thanks everyone for helping me make my decision!