Canister questions

**leesto** · 10-08-2007, 06:03 PM

I just picked up a Filstar xp2 and I've noticed that after a day or so the water level inside the canister drops about an inch. Is this because I have CO2 going into the intake or is this just a fault of the filter?

Also, because Eheim gets so much attention for the durability I was actually thinking of exchanging this filter for a 2217. However, I dont plan on using carbon or any kind of carbon analog. Is it possible to just have the biological filter beads and pads in a Classic 2217 without it screwing things up? Seems like one big basket might cause problems when it comes to changing up the media load.

**Greg Menke** · 10-08-2007, 10:48 PM

I have a 2217 about 1/3 full of the little ceramic balls & noodles, a layer of sponge and a 2" thick pad of open cell polyurethane foam to polish. The foam picks up a lot of goop, it needs a thorough rinse out once a month or so, don't know if its fine enough for green water though. It quickly takes up dirt thats disturbed from messing around with the plants. The foam considerably diminishes the filter's flow, what comes out now seems OK for a 55 gallon tank but not a lot more.

Its a pretty easy filter to service, just leave the hoses long enough so you can plunk the whole unit into a bucket before you disconnect & open up. The 2217 will exhaust whatever bubbles are left in your media, its pretty good that way- I just wish the pump was stronger. I have a fermenter that injects co2 right into the cannister intake, which it handles fine- the pump cavitates for a moment if a big chunk of bubbles hits it but its otherwise drama-free.

Gregm

**zackish** · 10-08-2007, 10:57 PM

I would say there may be some kind of leak in the xP2. I have an xP2 and it works great and that doesn't happen. If you just go it there should be a manufacturer's gaurantee on it.