Eheim 2236 Not Working Properly...suggestions?

[platytudes]

Hi everyone,

About a month ago I bought an Eheim 2236 (Ecco) used on eBay. It worked fine for a couple of weeks and then it started to do this thing where it would make a stalling out sound, then spit out water with lots of bubbles. During this time the flow was minimal, so it was not just a matter of the noise bugging me...the filter was not functioning right.

I took the tubes off and cleaned them by flushing them out with the garden hose. This seemed to restore normal function and all was well, until another while later when the same problem reoccurred - the flow was greatly reduced and it would stall out, making noises like it had air trapped inside of it, which it would seem to expel and then get air trapped inside of it again, on and on like this. Once more, I took the tubes off and cleaned them. I also cleaned the canister filter, it was not very dirty. I cleaned the ball valve (and I looked at the instructions that came with it to ensure that I had put it back in right) and I cleaned the impeller also.

This worked and everything was back to normal, but within 24 hours the problem is back. This is providing the bulk of my filtration for my 55 gallon African cichlid tank, so I need it to work right! I have another Ecco canister filter, model number 2234 which is rated for 60 gallon tanks (the Eheim 2236 that this post is about is rated for 80 gallon tanks)...I had this problem before with it after four months without cleaning it, but after rinsing the tubes the problem disappeared and has never returned. I have never had any lasting problem with the smaller Ecco filter, it is just this larger, used Ecco filter that I am having difficulty with. Any ideas?

I feed the cichlids lots of veggie material and other stuff that clogs the filters rapidly, I know, so I try to keep on top of the filter cleaning. They never go longer than four months without being cleaned. There are two other HOB filters rated for 30 gallons each on the tank, also Eheims - Liberty I believe they are called. These get cleaned like once a month or so, they clog fast.

Does anyone know what to do? Has anyone ever had this problem with their Eheim filter? I am now wishing I had just bought a used Fluval instead, ugh! This used filter was employed on a marine tank, could this have any impact on what is wrong here? Seems unlikely, but...

Ok, well, thanks in advance for your help everybody!

Nicole

 

[rabbut]

Sounds like a seal issues somewhere, letting air into the system. It usualy happens where the taps connect to the filter. There should be a seal between the two. Apply lots a vaseline to the inlet side. It could also be the main seal ring, or the motor seal ring. Apply vasaline to each in turn, and when you find the one that stops offending with the vaseline application, you know which one needs replacing before it fails completely If it still leaks after this, get a full set of replacement seals on it. If you leave it to sit turned off, but primed for a few minuites, do you get any water seapage from anywhere? This could also indicate what seal is giving the issue.

HTH
Rabbut

 

[platytudes]

Sounds like a seal issues somewhere, letting air into the system. It usualy happens where the taps connect to the filter. There should be a seal between the two. Apply lots a vaseline to the inlet side. It could also be the main seal ring, or the motor seal ring. Apply vasaline to each in turn, and when you find the one that stops offending with the vaseline application, you know which one needs replacing before it fails completely If it still leaks after this, get a full set of replacement seals on it. If you leave it to sit turned off, but primed for a few minuites, do you get any water seapage from anywhere? This could also indicate what seal is giving the issue.

HTH
Rabbut

Thank you so much, Rabbut! I didn't think it could be a seal issue because, as you suggested, when I unplugged the filter and left it primed, I didn't see any leaking. I could've been wrong though, I am not sure exactly what the issue was...

Anyway, I got it working again! Your suggestions were very helpful. I pulled off the intake and outtake, unscrewed the...well, the ring that fastens the green hose to the tap, which was REALLY HARD, I ended up having to use pliers which chewed them up quite a bit, no harm done, though, just aesthetic. I didn't warp their shape or anything, they are TOUGH plastic!

Finally, I was able to remove the green hoses from the taps. Then I added lots of vaseline to the area where the tap and the hose connect, then I refastened the rings, and just for good measure, generously lubed the main motor O-ring. (Sorry if I am not using the correct technical terms for everything!) I hope that the vaseline will not eat through the rubber, I have heard that vaseline can do this...would you know if there's any truth to that statement?

One more thing I did was I switched out the incredibly bulky intake nozzle with a much simpler intake nozzle from an old HOB filter. It fits just right. Before, the huge nozzle was jammed behind a rock and next to a plastic plant somewhere where perhaps it wasn't getting as much flow through as it needed. Now, it is pretty much out in the open, so maybe a combination of all of those things helped! Thanks again, so much, for your advice.

Take care,
Nicole

 

[rabbut]

I hope Vasteline doen't eat seals, as it is applied to all of mine whenever I do maintanance. Been doing it for years without issues mind, so I don't think it does Vaseline should make the seals last longer in theory, as exposing the seals to air after soaking them in water is supposed to make they dry out and chap. This then requires replacement seals to keep things air and water tight Vaseline acts to keep the seals wet and thus will stop them failing as quick.
I'd advise that if the vaseline fixed a leak it is only a matter of time before a failure occurs, so I'd get some new seals in stock.That said, the issue could be that the inlet and outlets were over tightlened, and this caursed the seals to warp, stopping them from bring air tight, but keeping them water tight. If this is the case, there could be damage to the seals anyway and it would be safest to replace them

All the best, and glad the fix worked
Rabbut