Filter flow sluggish

[jflowers]

Hi all.

I have a fluval +4 and an ehiem 2231 on a 4ft tank. The fluval has a very strong flow from the outlet, but the eheim is little more than a trickle. I striped down the eheim and cannot see the problem. The box for the fluval says it moves 1000 l/h and the eheim says 300 l/h so I know it should be slower, but it doesn't look only three times slower, I would say about ten times slower. Anyone have the same problem or know what may be wrong?

TIA

Jon

 

[aloaring]

i recently set up an eheim ecco 2231 on my 4ft tank (shop told me i wouldn't need any other filtration after 2 weeks the flow did slow done but once i removed the carbon sponge it was fine again. What media have you got in there, maybe you need to replace some of it . How long have you had the filter running?

 

[jflowers]

Hi

The filter has been running around three months. The media is the standard sponges that came with the filter, which I rised in tank water this morning and poly pad and carbon pad which i replaced this morning. I also cleaned the impeller and chamber. Spose I could try it without the carbon pad, is that advisable?

Thanks for the quick reply by the way.

I have two filters as the ehiem box says its only good enough for a 28 UK gal tank. And the fluval came with the tank.

Jon

 

[aloaring]

Well i am no expert i'm afraid but my filter is now running without the carbon sponge. the carbon sponge only filters out chemicals in the tank most people say to have carbon for the intial setup of the tank and then to take it out!

well my filter seems to be coping with my tank and i have some really big poopers in it, i bought it on recommendation from my lfs who are very knowledgable. i have suffered with a bit of what seems cloudiness in there, though i beleive that is down to the type of light in there and an algae bloom and i had that with internal filters. Like you i was concerned with the filter flow output it does seem very slow when compared to internal filters but it does the job and the fish love it. and my water parameters seem fine and theres no fish poo floating about!

Have you tried cleaning the pipes i have noticed mine have algae growing in them that could obstruct the flow! if none of that works i'd go and ask in the shop you bought it from as it shoudl still be under guarantee!

 

[aloaring]

ohh hang on a sec!! Do you have all sponges in it ? mine has lots of little ball things inside it , this is meant to be good for the biological filtering and i sassume would give better water flow than sponges!!


on a side note i understand the instructions to turn it off and clean it but i struggled to turn it back on again!! which pipe should i open first should i empty out the water inside it? sorry but i get a bit confused on the mechanics side of things and the instruction booklet is a bit useless!!

 

[jflowers]

Took out the carbon pad and it seems a little faster. Will leave it like that I think as I am saving for a ehiem pro That should get the water flowing then I can get rid of the fluval as I am not a fan of the internals. hmmm good price for a pro?

Jon

 

[jflowers]

When disconnecting, turn off the in pipe, then turn it off [EDIT the power I mean], turn off the out pipe and disconnect. To reconnect, attach both pipes and while holding the top down (water pressure has popped mine off b4) turn on both taps. Get ready and watch the water fill the canister (oh yes, empty the canister) as it nears the top slowly move the handle up towards the closed position. As water reaches the top a little may escape (This is the only way I have got all the air out) close the canister completely. Switch on. Done. mine is sometimes a little noisy on startup but this is just trapped air and clears quickly.

Any clearer than the instructions?

Jon

 

[aloaring]

glad i could be of help( not sure how much though)!! Not sure of prices sorry!! But i personnally recommend paying the extra to buy it local, as its a struugle to send something back or get advice if you buy something soo big online (I speak from experience)

Your instructions make sense i've done it once and got scared by the noise and thought i did something wrong, now i know!!
And i just noticed we have some of the same fish in the same sized tank! Spooky!!

Amy

 

[Fat Boy]

jflowers, were you asking for a good price for an Eheim pro filter? if you were try THIS site, i've ordered this a couple of weeks a go, I think you'll have a hard job beating their price and the filters is top notch. HTH

 

[jflowers]

Great help thanks.

And I just added a pair of kribs this morning hehehe very spooky. I have had a fishy day. Spent the morning rearranging the tank in prep for the kribs and to break up existing cichlid teritories, One end of the tank is now a matrix of caves and the other is planted and bog/mopani. The kribs have already claimed the biggest cave.

Jon

 

[jflowers]

Thanks fatboy, yes I was asking and yes they are the cheapest I have seen yet, though I have only browsed local shops so far.

Jon