My new XP Filter leaks

by bart
(rochester ny)

runes 7 to 10 min than starts leaking out of power cord and around seal. disconect hoses and top is full of water

A: From your description it sound like you need to re-set the quick disconnect. If you think you have a defective product contact the manufacturer directly using the information that came with your filter.

Water is leaking from the Rena Filstar Filter

by Robert
(Sanger, Texas)

last night i was under my tank cleaning my feeder/quarantine tank and moved my xp2 over to the side a little, my hoses are barely long enough so i couldn't move it much and this has never been a problem before. This morning when i woke up, the "plan b" catch pan in the bottom of my stand was full (15 gallon capacity) and everything was wet. Sure glad i built that catch into the stand when i built it.
As far as i can tell it is leaking from lid of the unit. especially out the plug hole. When i took the top of the unit it had a lot more water in it than usual, in fact i poured the water from the top cover into the bottom "bucket" part and it filled it to about a 1/4 of an inch from the top.
Is this an indication that i need to bite it and go buy another? would it be better to try to repair it? I can't afford to flood the carpet with almost brackish water again, not to mention the hundreds of dollars of livestock at risk.

Rena Filstar is leaking at electric cord connection

by Denise Driscoll
(Elgin il)

The filter is 2 weeks old, I cleaned as per the instruction manual and the unit is now leaking water where the electic cord comes out of the top.

A: First, if your filter is only two weeks old, contact the manufacturer directly. In the US that is Mars Fishcare (formerly Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) This is the information in the product manual or literature that came with your product. If you don't have that information here it is again: 

Email: docwellfish@aquariumpharm.com or Toll Free 800-847-0659

However, if you wish to fix the leaking yourself we have posted many answers to this question in the FAQ's at the bottom of the FAQ page. You can also visit the troubleshooting section at the manufacturers web site.

How do you check the impeller cover Oring/Seal for leaking?

by Guy
(Tennessee)

Is there a simple way to determine if water is leaking in through my o-ring/main seal? On my last routine cleaning on my XP2 I noticed that there was a light algea build up on the top unit that made it look as though water was entering there and bypassing the filter media. My media was also much cleaner that I expected with the top-most pad having much less gunk in its center (where the water should be pulled through) than on its corners. Also, the o-ring had a light algae growth all across its surfce, which I would think could not occur if it was water-tight against the basket housing.

Can you suggest a way that I can confirm whether my seal is working or leaking?

A: There is no "easy" way to know if your impeller cover oring/seal (#29 on parts list)is working properly to prevent bypass of the filter media. It is made of a softer material to allow bypass if the filter media gets clogged to the point that it would harm the motor or prevent circulation of the water. Short of putting in a dye of some kind (food coloring maybe)I don't know of a way to check this. However, the symptoms you describe would indicate that you are getting bypass. Bypass is also caused by other things beside a bad seal and sometimes you can fix those first and not need to replace the seal at all.

Rena Filstar XP3 media stacking order

Media Stacking Order Rena Filstar XP3

I have been running an xp3 for about 2 weeks.  The water is cloudy.  Please list in order the filter media needed for this filter.  I have from bottom to top ...the 4 black foam pads, the bag of carbon  then the ceramic rings then the bio-chem stars then on top, the white pad.  Should I get the micro filtration pads or fine foam??/ Do I have these in the correct order???  I am frustrated.  Thisfilter replace my 2 hang on back filters (tank is 90 galthanks so much! Regards,
Linda

A: Cloudy water with a new filter in an old tank is common. The tank must "cycle". This is covered in the FAQ's that have already been submitted. You can see previous Q&A's below the form on the main FAQ page. Stacking order is also covered but I have included the picture again.

Rena Filstar XP3 is leaking from the cord area. How do I fix it?

by bobby
(redding, ca)

It is leaking out of the hole where the electrical cord is coming out of the housing. 

A: This is generally caused when the Quick Disconnet is not seated well, tubing is stretched to tight or the Orings on the QD extensions aren't sealing well. All of this results in leaking around the Quick Disconnect and this migrates to the small well located under the cover around the area where the cord enters the motor. If this leak fills the well, then water will eventually end up coming out of the hole where the cord enters the motor.

The fix is to replace the orings, take extra care in seating the Quick Disconnect into the top of the filter and make sure the tubing is not stretched to tight.

How do you clean a Rena Filstar XP canister filter

by dan
(fl)

how to clean filter? linkey!

A: We highly recommend viewing the video at the manufactures web site.

Should the outflow regulator shoot water out the hole in the top of valve?Also should the valve be submerged completely?

by Mike
(Hutchinson Kansas US)

We instaled the spray bar with tube submerged but top of outflow valve is not. With valve all the way open it shoots water out hole in top of the valve.

A: It sound like you are missing a small cap that covers the hole at the top of the valve handle. Originally, this was used for the venturi air injection system but later versions eliminated this feature. A small cap is put over this hole in the new models. If the cap was missing when you purchased you need to contact the manufacturer Mars Fishcare. If the filter is older you can purchase a new flow control valve and this will have the cap installed. The valve can be installed above or below the water.

XP3 leaking from one of the 4 clamps at the top

by Michael

I have tried to re seat it but still leaked pretty steadily off the end of one of the tabs that lock the top down filters are only about 6 months old and the seal looks fine not cracked or broken please help if you have any ideas
Thanks

A: Since your product is under warranty I would contact the manufacture about this problem. In the US that is Mars Fishcare (formerly Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) This is the information in the product manual or literature that came with your product. If you don't have that information here it is again:

Email: docwellfish@aquariumpharm.com or Toll Free 800-847-0659