External Filter Problem

[Siamese Fighter05]

Hi everyone

I'm maintaining a medium-sized tank for a company my nan works for. I scrape the glass and do a gravel vac/water change. I hadn't tryed to give the external filters sponges a clean because i was afraid that somehow the water would all come flloding it when i removed the top lid....tonight i tried it and the worst happened... only a few gallons of the water on the floor before i finally managed to get the lid back on!
Luckily every-one had finished so i got to clean it all up

Those sponges need a good cleaning and i'm worried that the same will happen again if i try so i thought i'd ask for your help

It looks like an Eheim filter, although i've compared it to the ones on ebay and i can't find a model that looks the same....

It's Biggish , Is round and a darkish green see-through colour. The top part has 3 blue clips to keep it attached to the bottom part where all the sponge/ceramic is housed. The top part also has two tubes connected one with INthe other with OUT. Couldn't see Ehiem written on it anywhere though?

I did a 20% waterchange and then was going to clean the sponges in the tank water in the bucket. So i turned off the power and waited a few minutes too allow everything even out. The i removed the 3 clips and lifted up the top part and water came flooding out. How do i stop this from happening?

Sorry for the long thread, i babble on a little
Thanks
Dan

 

[Mr Miagi]

Wh not look at the Eheim website?

http/www.eheimparts.com/client/homepage.aspx

There is their range of goods.... Pic one!

Normally, you have to turn the power off (of course lol), then the hose lines 'should' have some valves. Turn them in the opposite direction to their current position to block off watter flow, and water should stop flowing down the tubes. Then clean to your hearts content.

Miagi

 

[Ste_J]

Sounds like a Eheim classic - I just to run the 2213 on which I didn't get nor have any taps. Each time I wanted to clean the filter I had to get a bucket for the Intake and outlet tubes. Take the pipes out of the tank keeping them held upright and then into the bucket - yeah it's a pain and my new filter has taps which make it so much easier

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Thanks for your replies guys

Checked the Ehiem website and couldn't find a matching filter there either?
I think you sound right about the two connectors having shut off clips Mr M, i'll go up tomorrow and take a look
Thanks
Dan

 

[Lenna]

My fluvals have tops like that. Is there a lever at the base of the part where the in and out tubes attach to the filter? (on mine this is black) If so, pull the lever up to stop the flow, turn the filter off, then unclip the top to get the sponges out.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Thanks for that Lenna

Sounds about right to me, i'm going up tommorow so i'll do it and hopefully it will work

Dan