Eheim 2215 Clogged?

[karin]

I've had my Eheim 2215 running with fish and plants in a 60 gallon tank for 3 months. About 2 weeks ago I took it apart to to rinse the media (in old tank water) and it has not run well since. Last week I took it apart again and rinsed everything The last week it has basically stopped filtering. Although there is still water coming out of the spray bar I'm pretty certain the flow is reduced. I read at another site that the little glass balls (eheim bio substrate - not the ceramic rings) have a great tendency to clog and that 2/3 of these should be changed out every 3 months. Is this what is going on? I did rinse them but really change them? Any ideas for changing the media around. Or using different media? FRUSTRATED.

 

[the biffster]

i dont think its that type of clogging there on about give the basket
there in a good shake and wash in old tank water
what they mean about of clogging is the small pores
on the media its self but correct me if i am wrong
have you washed the sponge in old tank water as well

 

[saz326]

I found that with my old filter I basically needed to change the filter media for another type. The darn things floated and so got washed around in the filter unit. I changed them for heavier ceramic rings and had no further issues with it.

 

[Faffer]

It may be just air trapped in the filter. I clean my Eheim 2217s every week and occassionally the flow is reduced after cleaning until I manage to get the air out of the filter.

 

[hamfist]

It could possibly be your pipes clogging up. I need to give my Eheim 2217 and 2215 pipes a good "rodding" every few months or they just clog up with gunk. I'd advise cleaning the pipes every time you clean out the filter.

 

[karin]

Thanks folks. I'll try these things... replace 1/2 of the bio-substrate with more ceramic rings and eventually cycle out the eheim substrate and clean out the tubes. The filter seems to have all the air purged, but when I put it together this time, I'll fill it with treated clean water manually and then close it up so all the air is out.

Wish me luck. Although my water stats are perfect, there is a lot of dirt stuff in the tank.

 

[hamfist]

Just another point .... if the 2215 is your only filter on your 60 gallon, then you are really asking a lot of it, unless your tank is very lightly stocked.
Ignore Eheim's (and all other manufacturer's too) tank size recommendations. A 2215 will cope with something like 30-40 gallons on it's own, IMO.
I have a 2217 and a 2215 on a 75 gallon, and only just consider it enough. Maybe it's time to give your Eheim a little help ?

 

[karin]

Ugh, didn't want to hear that (adding more filtration) but have thought about it! It seems a bit better with the cleaning and changes, but still not where I want it. Is there one eheim that would be good for a 60 gallon? My husband is going to kill me if I come home with more electricity sucking equipment.

 

[arobinson1984]

Have you cleaned out the impeller? and is it sitting and moving freely?


Andy

 

[hamfist]

Is there one eheim that would be good for a 60 gallon? My husband is going to kill me if I come home with more electricity sucking equipment.

A single 2217 would be just about OK for a 60 gallon. Personally, I'd defo keep your 2215 and add another filter. They really don't use that much juice. A 2215 is only 15 W. I'd get your hubby sweet, then add another 2215 to your setup.

I'd get your hubby sweet

That came out all wrong. I did of course mean that YOU should get your hubby sweet, not me !

 

[snowflake311]

I would just add an aquaclear filter for extra filter power. I sware by the aquaclear filters I never have any problems with them. But my eheim 2217 seems to have a weaker flow now too but it needs to be cleaned.

I would check the perpeller and use a q tip to clean it out. Good luck.