rena filter flow is very weak

Sirs, I purchased a brand new Rena XP filter about 4 to 6 months ago and have it in my 120 gallon tank. The flow is not what I was expecting at all right from the beginning and now it is even less. It hardly even moves the water at the top of the tank and the output is only about 2 inches below the surface. I have a marineland Penguin 350 filter on the back of the tank for extra assistance to make sure the tank is getting properly filtered for the well being of the fish and it justs outflows this Rena one 10 to 1. Please help me so I can protect my fishes!

My Brother in law has 2 of these Rena XP's and his kicks mine's butt. He recommended this filter and set it up for me as well. I get the little air bubbles now and then, but they hardly move in the tank.

I clean this thing every 3 weeks and when I do, it does have waste material in it, but even he says the flow is very weak. I have taken the o-ring out and cleaned it under the motor. I have removed and cleaned the impeller assembly every time. I prime it, let it suck new water in after cleaning for 15 minutes etc. I test it by dropping food in front of the output pipe when I feed the fish and it does not even blow the food to the front of the tank! The plants don't move or nothing.

Can I just have a bad motor or something?

Please help me out here. I want this thing to work like it should. It should at the very least flow as good as my brother in law's do.

Thank you

Steve Johnson
Henderson, Nevada

A: No it is not normal but you need to troubleshoot the problem. There have been a number of Q&A's already posted on slow flow. Please check those out first and then contact us again if you need additional help. Here are some links to those sections:

http://www.planetrena.com/rena-filstar-performance-questions.html

http://www.planetrena.com/Filstar-Rena-FAQ.html

You will need to scroll down the pages to find Q&A's that apply to your situation but there are at least 4 or 5 questions and troubleshooting guides on this subject on either page. You can also go the the manufacurer's web site at http://www.MarsFishcare.com.