Rena API Filstar XP Canister Filter Aquarium Canister Filters at Pet Mountain

On May 1, 2013:
It takes me a few tries to get it primed but no big deal. The API Filstar XPL is quiet and powerful. My 75 gallon turtle tank is crystal clear. The tubing that comes with it is very nice. I do wish they would make the intake and output pieces better, they are a little cheap feeling. The instruction book is easy to understand. I also like how you can customize the filter media. Pet Mountain's price on this was awesome, less than half the price at a pet store.

On April 8, 2013:
Last year I setup my first salt water tank. After reading a zillion reviews, and comparing the designs of various canister filters, I settled on the XP3. This thing is always primed, is more than super easy to clean, you can put whatever filter material combination you want and change it just as easily, and it just runs quiet and great. There are also replacement parts readily available online. I'm a happy customer and would buy a Filstar again in a heartbeat!

On April 7, 2013:
I was supposed to receive my filter on Friday and was very happy to hear I got it on Wednesday. Bringing it into my apartment I began investigating this filter. First I will start with my first impression: unboxing. The packaging by Pet Mountain was fantastic. However MARS seems to think that shippers treat their equipment like fragile glass because they had NO styrofoam holding the filter in place. Their styrofoam parts kit was replaced with their parts tossed into a ziploc bag!!! This is an issue since the two port connectors are hanging out naked waiting to be slammed by a shipper. MARS also discontinued their original intake/output ports removing any chance for a spray bar. They cheapened an excellent product. I was lucky enough to say that I received my filter without broken intake pipes. I configured mine as follows: first container 2 20mm and 2 30mm filtration pads. second container : Biohome red and gray. This is an excellent filter media that removes not only Nitrite but also Nitrate! On top of that I put a dual-density fine filter pad. finally in the third I used the resin bag and cotton candy filter pad that came with the filter. SETUP: First thing I did was measure the distance to the top of the aquarium to ensure I"m inside the required range of the water column. I then got Vaseline and q-tips and wet down the o-rings removing quite a bit of oxidation on the rubber. The Vaseline removes the oxidation, prevents further oxidation, and provides a seal that keeps the o-ring from fusing to the plastic of the filter canister when closed. Next I hooked up the tubing and used the water from my old filter to partially fill and begin population of my new filter material. (the Biohome came from the old pump so it was already filled with bacteria) Next I opened the disconnect valve which shuts off water flow to the filter. It took only 2 cups of water to fill up the tubing with water and then I replaced the cap on the intake and snapped the valve open. It took only minutes for the unit to fill up and I've been running this ever since then. No noise. No air bubbles in the output valve. No problems and no leaks. Everything works just great. The best thing about this filter is that all of that material filtration is needed to make certain that the Biohome is getting only clean water flowing over it. I'm giving this filter a 5 stars but would give it 4.5 due to the packaging and loss of the spray bar.

On March 30, 2013:
I love these filters and will always buy them and recommend them. I will always order from Pet Mountain from now on. Not only are they very reasonable but the shipment was very fast. So, one very happy customer.

On March 17, 2013:
This filter is great. Wish it came with four foam pads and more Bio stars. Had to buy them separate but other than that, great product!

On March 13, 2013:
Works great, fast shipping, great deal online. I will come back. Thanks.

On February 27, 2013:
This is my second filstar. My first one lasted about 7 years. The clip on the housing broke so I replaced it with the newer model. There have been some good design changes on the new model. I also have a Fluval which I would not buy again. The Filstar is far superior. I have a 125 gallon cichlid tank and the filstar is a workhorse. Pet Mountain had the best price and free shipping. The service was great. Had my order in 2 days with the free shipping due to my close vicinity.

On February 23, 2013:
I have had this filter (large) running for about a week now on a 50 gallon. So far it is working like a champ. I love the large media bays, and the self-priming design. Cons: only comes with 6 chem stars, where even API recommends 30. All included accessories are actually tossed in a ziplock bag (which API even states is normal) and no spray bar unlike the older xp series.

On February 22, 2013:
I inherited a 40 gal hex tank with an 11" pleco. Wrong environment for such a big guy, but soon he will have a nice tank upgrade. The original hanging filter couldn't keep up with his mess and the water stayed dull and greenish. With the Filstar and a 50% water change, the tank glitters like a jewel, and pleco is actively swimming about. He does barrel rolls in the outlet stream. Filter is silent and I couldn't be happier with the beauty and health of this tank. The Filstar will be right for the new larger tank too.

On November 29, 2012:
I upgraded to a canister filter from a HOB on my 55 gallon fish tank. So far I'm liking this filter because I can choose what to put in my baskets. It's a quiet unit and I don't hear it during the day but during the night I wish it was a bit quieter. In comparison, it's probably makes the same noise as a Tetra Whisper 40/60. Make sure you buy your bio media with the product because it only comes with five (5) bio chem stars. It does however come with an API Bio-Chem Zorb to help absorb "organic waste, toxic gases, water discoloration, foul odors and phenols in fresh and saltwater aquariums in the water". My biggest disappointment to me of this unit is that the Filstar XP XL is rated at 450gph (US), but they lack to mention that the flow rate goes down to about 190gph once it's filled with all you media. It's understandable so other than that, I love it so far. Inside media: 1x 20 PPI Foam 1x 30 PPI Foam 5x API Bio Chem Stars 1x Progressive Microfiltration Pad/Foam 1x Bio-Chem Zorb Size 6 10 oz. Treats 55 gallons.

On September 28, 2012:
I have been using these for years and have never had a problem. The quick disconnect is so easy to use and there is more than adequate space for certain types of media. Reliability is the name of the game. It is a breeze to clean.

On September 20, 2012:
I am back to update my inital review. I still have not changed my mind about the Rena filters, they are the best still!! I don't regret investing in this filter, just regret not buying sooner. I now have 2 saltwater tanks as well, & one is my quarantine tank, that has the Rena Filter. So, if you have any questions about fresh or salt, it works great for both. WORTH THE MONEY IN MY OPINION!!

On September 6, 2012:
The only negative I have is there was not enough media in the box. The Bio chem stars were too few for the size of the filter and I had to purchase 20 more to fit the filter size. Other than that it is a great filter. Simple to hook up and plenty of power and really quiet.

On August 15, 2012:
The filter was very, very noisy. I could hear it two rooms over. Returned it and got an Eheim 2217 which is much quieter.

On August 14, 2012:
I recently purchased the Rena XP2 to replace a Rena XP1. The XP1 has been great, I've had it 5 or 6 years and it worked fine. I think the impeller went bad on it and since it was borderline for the 44 gallon tank that I had it on (rated for a 45 gallon), I decided to upgrade to the XP2 rather than replace the impeller. So far I have no complaints about the XP2. It is quiet (as was the XP1) and I really don't even know it is running. The tank stays as clear as a bell. Hook up was a breeze, but I didn't have to change hoses, connections or anything from the XP1 so that was nice. I would have no hesitation buying another XP filtration system if I were to set up another aquarium. Oh, the one bad thing is that my local pet stores have quit carrying the media for the Rena filters. While I buy most of my filter media from Petmountain (much cheaper), I did like knowing that I could buy locally if the need arose. So if purchasing one of these filters, you may want to check whether or not filter media is available in your particular area.

On April 18, 2012:
I have used and LOVED Rena's XP series canister filters since they first came out. I currently purchased and installed an XP1 on a friend's freshwater aquarium. Though only a 16 gallon tank and the XP1 is rated for 40 gal., this tank is waaaaaay overpopulated and waaaaay overfed. She was changing her whisper cartredges every week, spending a small fortune. With the great pricing and free shipping at Pet Mountain, she'll save time, money, and greatly improve the quality of her water. When I convince her to move to a larger aquarium, the XP1 will go right along with it. You have to LOVE the Rena XP Series. It's practically silent and a breeze to maintain - no fuss, no bother. (PS, used one on a 16 gal saltwater nano for years.... changed the media every 3 months or so, and that tank THRIVED. So it's great for salt OR freshwater)

On March 31, 2012:
Rena filstar xp3 hooked it up to my 75 gallon american cichlid tank, the next day the water was crystal clear. I ran three filters before the Rena, never with results like this.

On March 23, 2012:
This is my 2nd Rena Xp canister filter. They both replaced HOB filters. The Rena Xp filters are very user friendly. Easy to set up, easy to clean, easy to prime. My only complaint is that they color code the inlet and outlet pieces. The intake is pale blue which makes it really stand out in the tank. I paint mine black before installing.

On March 20, 2012:
I have always been leery about canister filters, but the Rena XP3 has cleared my worries. I wished I had gone to this filter sooner. The assembly is time consuming, but taking the time & following the instructions, everything will be great. The hoses are hard to put on, you can use a little bit of cooking oil, to help on this. I have had this filter for over a month, my tank has never been cleaner or clearer!! I have this filter on a 150 gallon tank with goldfish, & it keeps up with the mess that goldfish make. I bought a Fluval for my 60 gallon, BIG MISTAKE, the water is staying cloudy, & my tank is not over stocked. I will be getting a XP for this tank for sure. I will be getting it from Pet Mountain, they have the best pricing I have found.

On March 14, 2012:
My xp3 leaked all over my floor the first night!! I called the # on the box at Mars Fish Care. Not only did they tell me to go buy new o rings myself, they were rude about it. I have two other rena xp filters running for years and really like the filters when they don"t leak, which seems to be a chronic problem with them. I will be trying something different next time just so I don't have to deal with rude customer service. Thanks for nothing Mars Fish Care!!

On February 9, 2012:
I felt so good when I set this thing up an it worked right away! I had been fighting with a Fluval for months, and I'd replaced that with an Aquatop that didn't work after spending more than an hour setting it up. I really liked the funnel priming system on the Filstar. It worked so slick compared with the chinzy little pump priming systems on other tanks that don't work half the time if at all.

On November 2, 2011:
Bought the Filstar XP3, had it for 2 weeks now and the water has never been this clear. I have a 90 gallon tank with many large expensive fish including a 1'1/2 Arowana and the water quality has made them more active than ever!:) Took almost 2 weeks for saver delivery, filter was easy to assemble, very quiet and WORKS GREAT!! and this website has awesome prices..

On October 29, 2011:
BOUGHT THIS FILTER OVER A YEAR AGO, KEEPS THE TANK CLEAN. STARTTD A LARGE SALT TANK, MAKES MAINTANCE A BREEZE. uSED SOME LIVE ROCK TO HELP STABILIZE MY WATER. wATER TEST PERFECT EVERY TIME. BUY IT YOU WONT REGRET.

On October 25, 2011:
This is a superb product! Easy to use and maintain while providing excellent mechanical, biological and chemical filtration.

On October 24, 2011:
Love the XP3 filter! Just moved my juvenile red ear into a 55gal & this filter actually keeps up with turtles! Can't wait to save up and get another for my new hatchling RES!!! Great price & great filter!!! Thanks :)

On August 24, 2011:
I have tried a lot of different filter and this one is the best that I have used. It is very quiet and very easy to set up and clean, and it keep my tank looking great.

On July 14, 2011:
Love this filter, it has so many features!!

On May 27, 2011:
Found it about $40 dollars less than any other on-line retailer that included free shipping!

On April 3, 2011:
We have had a Rena XP for over ten years. I bought it for my wife because she enjoys an indoor fish tank and she loves how easy it is to clean. I just had to buy her a new one, and the quality remains the same.

On March 23, 2011:
The filter works perfect! The packaging was excellent and the shipping was fast. One of the only companies that will ship to Alaska. Thank you so much! I will do business again for sure.

On March 9, 2011:
I already have an XP3 and XP2 filter. The XP3 is on my 75 gallon and the XP2 is on my 55 gallon. I picked up a couple of the XP1 filters, one for my 20 gallon long and one for my 34 gallon Red Sea that I am using as a freshwater planted tank. These filters are awesome. I use to have a HOB filter on my 20 gallon. It was always clogging up and the splashing noise was driving me nuts. The XP1 is super quiet. On my 34 gallon Red Sea, it has a sump area on the back of the tank. I put the intake pipe in the last chamber and left my bio-media in the middle chamber. I removed the two red sea pumps and added the outflow pipe right into the main tank area. The water has never been clearer.

On January 2, 2011:
I bought the XP3 just days before Christmas and it arrived on the 23rd!!! Great job Pet Mountain!!! This filter is UNBELIEVABLY quiet and it works perfectly!! I am writing this review 8 days after it has been running. All the reviews I read convinced me that this was the way to go and they were right.

On December 7, 2010:
The Rena xp3, So far so good, setting up the filter was longer than expected, about 45 min. The hoses are quite difficult to get on but soaking them in hot water helps. Cleared up the cloudy water fairly quickly and it is super quiet. It would be wise to buy more of the Bio Chem Zorb or some bio media because they do not give you a whole lot with the filter. Overall I am very happy with the Filter.

On October 29, 2010:
I like the XP3 so much I'm buying my seconded one for my new 90 gallon freshwater. I love the filter and Petmountain has the best price anywhere

On October 23, 2010:
I will never buy another Rena filter ever again, it just altogether stopped working while i wasn't home came back and had a dead stingray in my tank. then once i got it working again i came home from work and the power cord is leaking water.

On October 20, 2010:
The first filter I received was cracked along the top edge. This was causing it to leak. As the box didn't appear to be damaged, I fault the manufacturer. A quick call to Petmountain and a new filter was on its way. The 2nd filter appeared to be in good shape. Unfortunately, it too began to leak. A recheck of everything showed no signs of cracks, so we reconnected everything back up. So far it appears to be working fine. I have a drip pan underneath just in case it does start leaking again. I'm still not 100% sold on the quality, but only time will tell.

On October 14, 2010:
I now have two Rena filters, an XP2 and an XP3. Both are great. Water hoses are better quality than most canister filters. Control valve and option for spray bar or jet nozzle are nice touches. Quiet.

On October 13, 2010:
This is by far the best canister filter for your money. Easy to assemble, easy to prime, easy to maintain. PetMountain has it for cheaper than ebay, amazon, and drfosters.

On September 18, 2010:
The Rena Filter is the most superb product you will buy for your aquarium whether it be for freshwater or saltwater fish. This is the only filter I will buy!

On September 8, 2010:
I bought this filter to replace a Fluval 305 which had been nothing but trouble for years. The Fluval was always extremely difficult to prime and was loud in comparison to this filter. The Filstar is super quiet and EXTREMELY easy to prime. Comes with both a concentrated spray nozzle and a spray bar which is nice. The only difficulty is attaching the rubber hose to the fittings. This was tough and I was afraid I would break the plastic fittings. Best result was to push as hard as possible which would result in the hose sliding on 1/8 - 1/4 inch then let the hose sit and stretch a little and try again - you're supposed to push it 2" onto each fitting so this took awhile. The clamps (which don't really do anything because the hose is so tight) are too small - barely fit around the hose and require pliers to tighten even slightly. Petmountain had the best price by far and overall I am very happy with the filter and the buying process.

On September 2, 2010:
I received my XP3 a couple of weeks ago. After my experiences with two defective Emperor 400's, this canister is a dream come true. I was impressed with the fast delivery. This canister is very quiet. I am impressed. After my nightmare experiences with the Emperor 400 I have learned to truly appreciate this canister. The first Emperor 400 was missing an end piece & blew water everywhere. The second 400, was very noisy and after two and a half weeks I still had very cloudy water. The XP3 had the water clear in three days! To be fair, I had heard nothing but good things about Marineland products and maybe just had some bad luck. I am running a Marineland filter in a 29 gallon. That filter is very quiet and does a good job. Nonetheless, I will be buying Rena products in the future.

On August 28, 2010:
when buying the xp3 make sure you read the warranty. if something does happen to it, make sure you have another filter to replace it. they charge you to send it back then charge you to receive it back. it takes one month.

On August 26, 2010:
Have 4 RES turtles that create an awfully dirty and smelly water environment. It was getting tiresome to continually drain water and refill tank. With this filter XP3 for a 50 gallon aquarium I can go between 2 to 4 weeks until it the filter needs to be cleaned. Does a tremendously great job in keeping water clear and the smell to a minimum. I might even step up to a XP4 when this XP3 wears out to possibly lengthen the time even more. Bottom line this is a great product that is well worth the cost.

On August 23, 2010:
I bought a new 150 gallon aquarium and did not know what filter to use. A fish store recommended this filter canister. I found this site where it sells them for a cheaper price so I bought one. At first, I was not sure whether I made the wrong choice since I saw some bad reviews on XP4 on the internet. I have attached the XP4 to my new aquarium for almost a week. So far, it has been excellent. It is quiet and outflow is good. Price was excellent too.

On August 21, 2010:
Setup was simple and quick, good instructions and materials. Works very well clearing up the water. have this on a 55 gal and works very well. Also Petmountain, way to go, shipping was very fast, will definitely order from again

On August 18, 2010:
easy to use and powerful for turtles. i highly recommend the xp3. very quiet.

On July 28, 2010:
I love this filter!! Easy to maintain and easy to put together

On July 28, 2010:
After a year or so, my Marineland C350 canister decided to blow as much as air as water thru my 70 gal marine setup. It chattered and was reluctant to restart (after cleanings) and wore my arm out trying to use the prime button. So after a great deal of research, I decided on the the Rena XP3. They guaranteed self-prime starting and quiet running. So far, its met/exceeded expectations on both points. Sooo quiet, in fact that my paranoia over the former filter has me checking periodically to ensure its working, although the crystal clear tank tells me that. Absolutely no leaks at the canister lid or the hose connections. Hoses were adequate and flexible. Hint: a small amount of vegetable/corn/olive oil on the fittings make getting the hoses in place much easier. I debated the XP4, but didn't have the under-tank room. The XP2 might have sufficed, but am passing outflow thru a chiller and UV filter and needed the extra power. I really like the discharge options. Overall, I'm pleased, but was a little disappointed that the filter materials included are NOT as shown in the manual (ie bio Zorb carbon bag and no ceramic rings). It made the initial setup a little confusing.

On July 25, 2010:
I've had a turtle tank for 1 year and already had to get 2 new filters. Finally i switched to the xp3 for my 55 gallon aquarium and people have asked if there was any water in it, that's how clear the water is.  Its also very silent.

On July 23, 2010:
I purchased an Xp2 for my 50 gal tank and it was wonderful and so easy to use. I purchased an Xp1 for my 30 gal tank and it has not been wonderful. It is very, very difficult to get the lever down and in place. My husband has to do it and even he has a hard time getting it t seat properly so the lever can be pushed down. I know it must be this one unit but I can't afford to replace it so I have one wonderful unit and one not so much. Also I found the media pretty expensive.

On July 21, 2010:
Best price I could find on a canister filter recommended by one of my favourite fish forums. Pet Mountain was also speedy in their responses to me when I had questions, too.

On July 5, 2010:
I bought the XP 2 about 5 months ago. It is the perfect filter for my 29g. At first I thought it would create a river in my small tank but it is perfect! The spray bar is awesome and the flow control is convenient during feeding. I was deciding between this and the Marineland C-220 and I am very happy that I want with this one! I am using 2 20 ppi pads, 2 30 ppi, Seachem Matrix and Seachem Purigen. Perfect!

On July 4, 2010:
very easy to clean and a great quick disconnect system. I'm buying another one because i have a huge aquarium

On July 3, 2010:
I've had one of these hooked up to my 55 gallon tank for about 5 years and was always impressed with the easy of maintenance and how well this filter worked. We recently moved our fish to a 150 gallon tank and purchased another Rena Filstar 3, not to replace, but in addition to the other filter. I used 2 “Tee” fitting to allow both filters to feed off one line for in and out flow of water. This provided awesome circulation and filtration of water in the 150 gallon tank. As for service and price, I could not have asked for faster service or better price for this purchase. I highly recommend them Pet Mountain and will be using them again. Regards

On July 3, 2010:
My son came home from college with a turtle and a 100 gallon tank. Do not know about flow rate, but seems turtles are dirty and recommendations were to get a filter to handle twice the size of the tank, so the XP3 seemed to fit the bill. The XP3 was easy to setup and runs quiet. Would recommend the product and I am anal about product quality. They could make it easier or change how the hose connects to the filter. I could NOT get the tube more than a 1/4 of an inch over the connection, only just enough for the clamps. I even tried using pliers to push the tubing more, no dice. Seems solid but still concerned about one coming off and dumping 50 gallons of water on my hardwood floors. Plan to order more parts and try again at first cleaning. HOWEVER this is still an excellent product and I highly recommend it.

On July 2, 2010:
The Rena XP3 is by far the best filter on the market today. I've had aquariums for over 30 yrs. This is the quietest I have ever owned. And I've wasted a lot of money finding this out so don't have to. It's color coded inlet/outlet tubes even make it idiot proof. Along with several options on what and where you can put your chosen filter media. I highly recommend this filter.

On June 30, 2010:
I just recently purchased the XP2 model for my 55 gallon Cichlid tank. I love it! I have never owned a better filter. It is whisper quiet and cleared my tank up in no time. I had read some bad reviews before about this filter. They were way off. The quick disconnect works like a dream. It was a little tricky getting the hosing together. Other than that, I don't have anything negative to say! It also was shipped sooner than expected!!

On June 28, 2010:
This is a great filter and very quiet. It was very easy to setup and get running. I was also very please with how quick I got the filter and the GREAT price.

On June 23, 2010:
A great product at a great price

On June 23, 2010:
The Rena xp3 has to be the quietest filter on the market.It's ease of use and color coded inlet /outlet tubes,make it fool proof.I've been into aquariums for over 35 years and I'm very impressed with the many different capabilities this filter has.Through the years I've owned dozens of filters.I've seen them come and go.The Rena xp3 is by far the best!

On June 22, 2010:
This is an awesome filter that is every bit as good as filters costing twice as much. Save your money for more fish or accessories, this filter is the one.

On June 16, 2010:
I find that this is an excellent product and was glad I purchased it. Only complaint is that the bottom of the intake tube has a screen to keep chunks out of the filter but mine gets surrounded by small pieces of plants and detritus. I am not sure how to keep this area cleared.

On June 5, 2010:
I have had this filter for two months and I love it. It is quiet, keeps the water clean, is very easy to set-up and is easy to clean. I would highly recommend this filter. I'd give it 6 stars (if they had six stars).

On June 3, 2010:
fantastic filter the best bang for the buck!!!

On May 28, 2010:
I bought the Rena filter for my 75 gallon tank. I was running two Fluval underwater filters and just not getting good filtration. After hooking up the Rena, my water cleared up in two days! I highly recommend.

On May 27, 2010:
I have searched all over the web for the Filstar XP2, but not with this price! This is an awesome product and you can't beat the price here!

On May 18, 2010:
I have been using this filter for several years, and I love it! I have a 75 gallon freshwater tank and it is crystal clear, I would recommend it to anyone!

On May 13, 2010:
The Rena Filstar XP3 definitely meets my needs when it comes to a canister filter. Quality is good and you can't beat the price!! I would recommend this filter to anyone!

On May 5, 2010:
I bought an xP3 for a turtle tank, which has a heavy waste load. It has kept the water very clean, even without using the included bag of activated carbon. It's very quiet, and easy to clean. I like the ability to custom tailor the media in the 3 baskets. My only gripe as a turtle owner with a low water line is that the outlet pipe doesn't extend far enough down. It would be great if it had additional pieces to allow it to extend further into the water, like the inlet pipe does. I had to do some creative workarounds. Otherwise, I'm very happy with this product.

On April 25, 2010:
I have been running a Rena xP2 in my 75 gallon aquarium up until now, but I felt that my expanding fish population could use more filtration. I added the Rena xP3 in combination with the Rena SmartHeater, and the water clarified very nicely. I am pleased with the result, and I am pleased as always with Rena products.

On April 25, 2010:
Excellent filter; water quality much improved over that achieved with traditional filter. Easy to maintain, just disconnect, clean, and replace filter media as needed. More expensive than traditional filters, but worth it.

On April 18, 2010:
This is my first xp3 and it is working great so far. This is the first purchased from PetMountain and the experience is awesome. Shipping is super fast and great communication too. Will buy again. Thanks

On April 7, 2010:
I PUT IT ON MY 75 GALLON ITS FANTASTIC!

On April 6, 2010:
I just recently bought a Rena XP2 filter for my discus tank. The price was $70 less than the competitors and they shipped it pretty fast. I am very satisfied with my transaction and highly recommend Pet mountain.com.

On March 24, 2010:
I replaced a MagnumPro HOT filter / bio-wheel and power head on a under gravel uplift tube on my 70 gal tank with this Reva. Very impressed with how quiet it is, the power, and the ability to use a variety of media in the trays. Only problem is it is too tall to fit on the shelf underneath my tank, so its on the floor to the side. So far at least, my 18 month old has ignored it...

On March 18, 2010:
I love this filter I think it is one of the best out there. I have owned two different models. One I had in my 105 gal fish tank always kept my tank clear and clean. Now I bought another for my turtle tank. Turtles are very dirty and need a good filter system we have feeder fish and shrimp in there with them. After installing the filter the water is so clear... its clearer then the tap water!

On March 17, 2010:
Product works great.

On March 3, 2010:
This is the second Rena Filstar XP3 filter I have bought, and I love it! My first was purchased 8 years ago for a 90 gallon (filled 3/4 of the way) for turtles. It is still working perfectly! The second I purchased (2/2010) was for another 90 gallon I have recently set up - again filled 3/4 of the way for turtles. There have been a number of upgrades made to this filter (including color-coding the in and out tubing) that make it an even better unit. I highly recommend this filter. I have absolutely no complaints, and PetMountain was FAR cheaper than any other online dealer I found.

On December 26, 2009:
I have an XP3 on my 90 gal. african cichlid tank and it is the sheeat! It keeps the tank spotless and is easy to keep clean. I use the spray bar and the flow is better than I expected it to be.And almost as important , the thing is pretty close to silent. I can leave the door open to the stand and still not hear it from 2 feet away!

On November 22, 2009:
This is the first canister I have owned and will never buy a hang on the back filter again. The only thing is you have to clean all the hoses once in a while but that's no big deal. It's super quiet and easy to maintain.

On September 15, 2009:
I wanted to polish the water in my 220 gallon fowlr. I wasn't sure if the xp4 would be able to handle this size tank. I hooked it up and after about 24 hours the tank is crystal clear. The tank has a large bio load with 3 angels, 6 butterfly fish and a 6 inch porcupine puffer. I would highly recommend this filter. It was easy to hook up and runs silent.

On March 9, 2009:
I recently purchased an XP2 filter I choose it based on the comments I found about it: silent, efficient, versatile. All that is true. It is really silent and very efficient. It has compartments where you can place filter media for your particular needs. Me and my wife decided to move the aquarium to a different stand so we had to remove all the sand. As you can imagine the water was turbid after the move. The next morning the water was crystal clear!!! it took less than 8 hours to leave the water absolutely clean. You can't go wrong with this filter. Good price too.

On March 4, 2009:
I have a xP3 on my 55 gallon and have just pruchased 2 more to put on a 125 Gallon. I really like them. Very Quiet operation and Very Efficient Filtration.

On November 9, 2008:
Fish have been a hobby of mine for 40 years. These filters are the best & easiest to maintain. I have 2 XP2s & 1 XP3. My only dissapointment was on the XP3 I didn't get the ceramic rings that I got with the XP2s. I had to go buy them, so in essence I had a 3rd basket and nothing to put in it. I notified the manufacturer & I go a TS for an answer.

On August 11, 2008:
I have this filter on my 120 Gallon...one of THE best filters I have ever owned...and I have owned quite a few of them over the years...keeps my tank super crystal clear and healthy...highly recommended to anyone.

On July 29, 2008:
Easy to maintain, creates crystal clear water. Baskets and cleaning are awesomely simple. 4 stars to the XP3 because mine wouldn't self prime.

On February 1, 2008:
This is one of the best filters I own. It's easy to clean, easy to install & easy to prime. You will not be disappointed. Also very quiet. This is my third purchase for the Rena XP3. I use one on a saltwater tank and the others on a fresh water tank. I also have other filters on freshwater tanks. If I had a chance to do it over again I would replace all my canister filters with Rena. It only takes about 5 minutes to clean it, my other filters take me about 15 min. just to get the top off. I love my Rena's and would not trade them for anything. Now on the other hand I would gladly trade my other canisters for a Rena. The performance is just as good or better than the most expensive filters you can get. I know because I have the more expensive filters running side by side with the rena. If you are looking for an excellent quality, easy to clean filter, look no futher...you just found it.

On February 1, 2008:
This is one of the best filters I own. It's easy to clean, easy to install & easy to prime. You will not be disappointed. Also very quiet. This is my third purchase for the Rena XP3. I use one on a saltwater tank and the others on a fresh water tank. I also have other filters on freshwater tanks. If I had a chance to do it over again I would replace all my canister filters with Rena. It only takes about 5 minutes to clean it, my other filters take me about 15 min. just to get the top off. I love my Rena's and would not trade them for anything. Now on the other hand I would gladly trade my other canisters for a Rena. The performance is just as good or better than the most expensive filters you can get. I know because I have the more expensive filters running side by side with the rena. If you are looking for an excellent quality, easy to clean filter, look no futher...you just found it.

On January 29, 2008:
This filter is extremely quiet, and is easy to set up and maintain. A spray bar and nozzle are included for the outlet which allows flexibility in the setup.

On January 29, 2008:
I have one Rena and one Fluval on my 75 Gallon tank! Bought them both 1 and a half years ago, and my Fluval is "acting up." I am buying my second Rena! It's easier to use and works great.

On December 27, 2007:
I bought the XP3 to keep my Red Ear Sliders tank clean and make it so I don't have to do as much manual cleaning as I used too, and it does just that. My Red Ear Sliders tank is crystal clear all the time and I have had no major problems since I have had it. RES's are fairly aggressive with objects in there tanks and my RES managed to knock of most of the inlet tube during her daily thrashing around. That can be solved with some aquarium silicone if you find you need it. The setup was easy and very straight forward. I suggest cleaning the charcoal bag outside with a hose, it made a very big mess of my tub but I managed to clean it up.

On December 11, 2007:
I bought a Rena XP1 as a replacement for a marineland Emperor 280, and I could not be more pleased. It is very quiet, have a very good flow rate, and has a great deal of media volume and diversity.

This is on a 38 gallon fairly heavily panted tank, and it is sweet. My next tank, which if all goes well will be larger will surely have a larger Rena XP filter.

On September 17, 2007:
This company makes a great product

On June 25, 2007:
more gals per $ good filtration at a good price any one with a large tank or pond would be happy with a filstar low maintenance hi quality

On June 19, 2007:
This filter works great! I wouldn't use anything else again. Keeps water crystal clear which is a must for a turtle tank! Recommend to anybody who has an aquarium.

On June 16, 2007:
I have owned many different canister filters, and this one has the best performance for the money. Yes, the Eheims are quieter in general, but the Filstars have great flow, no bypass, and are less than 1/2 the price.

On May 28, 2007:
We have this filter for our tank, and it worked great for about nine months, but now I can't get it to work anymore.

On May 24, 2007:
This is an OK product for the money. It is a little bit louder than my Fluval. And I don't really care for the priming system, you have to unscrew a cap on the suction hose and pour water in it. On the Fluval you just pump a plunger.

But it works good and is a bit less expensive than the others.

On May 23, 2007:
It works wonderfully keeps water crystal clear its quiet and easy to maintain

On April 10, 2007:
I own 5 for all my saltwater aquariums!

On March 3, 2007:
just put an xp2 in a 55 gallon long with 2 turtles and a catfish. Keeps the water clear and a constant current that they love and play in. Must have for aquariums over 50

On March 1, 2007:
I have run a Rena Filstar 3 on a 150 gal aquarium 24 hrs a day for 5 years now and it still works as it did when new. It is the easiest filter I have ever cleaned in the 30 years I have had aquariums. It's hard to find a product nowadays that actually does what it is supposed to for any length of time. This product is awesome!

On January 23, 2007:
This is by far the best and easiest filer system I have bought..its quiet,strong,easy to maintain,and no mess...A++++++++++++

On January 8, 2007:
I have tried a number of big brand name cannister filters. This is, by far, the best. For a NUMBER of reasons. First, the unit is designed so well. Easy to maintain, easy to clean. Self priming. SILENT operation (a biggie for me), and holds LOTS of different media in the seperate baskets. This is just a super well designed, and a great working filter unit. I am thrilled with the thought that went into the design of every component, even the little things, like the tubes that click together to prevent seperation. I give this a two tumbs WAY up.

On December 16, 2006:
Love this product!!! Makes the water crystal clear, my freshwater tank has as much color as a saltwater tank. Really helps to oxygenate the water. My fish were on the verge of dying from a failed biological filter and the filstar saved them in no time!