Rena Filstar XP-How often do you change the filter media?

by dave keller
(prosser, wa.)

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE FILTER MEDIA POUCHES IN THE XP3

A: Good Question! The manufacturer, recommends that the chemical media, BioChem Zorb, be changed monthly. For most hobbyists with an average tank setup this is fine.  If you are testing your water (all hobbyists should) then you will know if changing the BioChem Zorb monthly is adequate. Now, the BioChem Stars are not generally changed but some should be removed each year and replaced with fresh ones. The plastic material gets coated with a slime coat and/or mineral deposits over time and although you can rinse the outer surface off with aquarium water, some outer pores will remain clogged and lessen the effectiveness of the media.

The Rena MicroFilter should be changed monthly also. It is made of cotton fibers and these break down very fast. You can lengthen the replacement cycle by upgrading the filter included with XP1,2,3's with the filter included in the XP4

The foam filters require replacement only when the cell walls begin to break down and collapse which increases density and restricts flow through the filter. This usually takes place gradually over a 4-6 month period. Some users get as much as a year out of the filters. This all depends on the bio-load on the filter. We recommend rinsing these filters monthly. A good practice is to rinse the filters in any aquarium water you may have removed during a partial water change. This will insure you keep the biological filtration going in these filters along with the mechanical filtration.