Eheim Classic Canister Series

[AnimalHouse36]

At the moment I'm looking for a good cannister for a 55 gallon that isn't very expensive.
On fosterandsmith, this has a good rate and a good price. However, do any members have it? If so what's your advice? I've never used a cannister, just basic HOB filters so any comments would be appreciated.

I was planning on getting the Eheim Plus 2213-37, which is rated for a 66 gallon.

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Hi, I don't have a 2213, but do have a 2217......which is basically the same, just a different size, and love it. I have over the years run many different filters and must say that this "old school" style filter is the way to go. It is uncomplicated a very well made. One great thing is that the intake is at the base. This base intake allows me to feed Co2 into the intake and get excellent dissolve rates. This may not be something that you need, but is a good thing for the future. You may read that it does not self prime, etc. and that you need to buy some special part to prime it.........don't fret, because priming is easy. Here is how to do it:

Fill the filter with water, with inlet valve(bottom pipe) shut.
Replace top.
connect filter inlet(bottom hose) to the tank.
Place a catch container under the outlet pipe and open both valves.
When water flows from the outlet shut the outlet valve.
connect the outlet to the tank.
switch on.
open the outlet valve...............water flows

 

[AnimalHouse36]

Hi, I don't have a 2213, but do have a 2217......which is basically the same, just a different size, and love it. I have over the years run many different filters and must say that this "old school" style filter is the way to go. It is uncomplicated a very well made. One great thing is that the intake is at the base. This base intake allows me to feed Co2 into the intake and get excellent dissolve rates. This may not be something that you need, but is a good thing for the future. You may read that it does not self prime, etc. and that you need to buy some special part to prime it.........don't fret, because priming is easy. Here is how to do it:

Fill the filter with water, with inlet valve(bottom pipe) shut.
Replace top.
connect filter inlet(bottom hose) to the tank.
Place a catch container under the outlet pipe and open both valves.
When water flows from the outlet shut the outlet valve.
connect the outlet to the tank.
switch on.
open the outlet valve...............water flows

Thanks for the reply! And yes, while reading the reveiws I have seen a lot of people talk about the priming.

Don't judge me for asking this, but what exactly is priming!

I think I'll be ordering this one today!

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Basically priming is getting the water to flow through the filter. The water is pumped by the "impeller" and the impeller can only pump water and not air. So priming is filling the filter with water and expelling the air. If you have excessive air in the filter it cannot pump the water.

External filters(like this) siphon water from the tank, and then pump it back to the tank. So, just like siphoning through a hose you need to suck the air out. Newer filters have hand pumps built in to prime them, and start the siphoning process, but these old school filters don't. No problem though, because it is all very simple physics and gravity will do the same job as a hand pump.

Don't be put off with what might seem like a complication.........The Eheim Classic series are so good, and super reliable. I bought mine as a quick and short term replacement when my Fluval failed......and have kept it running since. I fixed the Fluval and now have the two in tandem, but like the Eheim more.

If you need more detail on setting the filter up, with medium and flow, etc. let me know and I will let you know how I have mine running now.

Cheers, Phil

 

[AnimalHouse36]

Ohhh, alright! Thanks so much for all your help.

One last thing, what additional media do you suggest I buy>? It comes with :
Ehfisubstrat - a large surface area biomedia
Ehfimech - to disperse the water and trap large debris.

Or so the website says. Do I need anything else?

 

[Juggler75]

On my 2213 I have a blue sponge disc and filter floss (to *polish* the water) on top of the Ehfisubstrat.

Hope that helps

 

[AnimalHouse36]

On my 2213 I have a blue sponge disc and filter floss (to *polish* the water) on top of the Ehfisubstrat.

Hope that helps

Thanks that did help!

I just purchased it along with a heater and some filter media. It'll be here in a week. 1 paycheck gone . This is one expensive hobby.

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

It comes with a complete set of the blue foam pads. I ditched half of them and replaced them(at the bottom) with ceramic rings. Personally I don't use polishing pads, as I keep Discus, and as they can be messy the polishing pads clog up very quickly....and I am doing a lot of water changes so that helps keep the water free from fine particles. I also have my outlet pipe hooked to the uplift of and Under Gravel filter(thus running the UG in reverse flow). This ensures I have no chance of ammonia, and also helps keep the gravel very clean.....might be a bit complex and unnecessary though.
The Eheim Classic is great which ever configuration you decide on.