Filter Priming Questions

[Akasha72]

Hey guys 
 
So today I decided it was time to clean my external filter pipes as my flow was dropping. That was the easy part ... I decided to give the media a swish aswell but when it came to getting the filter going again ... well I was pumping the start button for what felt like hours! In the end I decided to open the filter, add water from a bucket, seal the filter and the pour water into the inlet pipe aswell. It took for ever.
 
This is the first time I've had any problem getting these filters going ... I've said many many time how much I love my JBL externals ... I've raved and raved about how good they are but today ... one very nearly got thrown through the window.
 
What went wrong? What am I missing? I've checked the manual for FAQ's and the problem shooting area but there's nothing about this problem.
 
I just wondered if anyone can shed some light on why I just couldn't get it to prime
 
It's running fine now
 
 

 

[Byron]

I suspect it was a case of air instead of water, in the filter tubing and the canister itself.  I find with my Eheims, and with my former Rena which was "self-priming" (my old Eheims are not) that filling the canister right to the top, sust low enough that you can get the motor head back on without water everywhere, and having water in the tubing, will help.  I don't always rinse the tubing every time, but when I do, I have found it harder to get the filter running again due to the air.
 
Byron. 

 

[Akasha72]

my Dad said the same thing Byron. His exact words were "You've got an air lock". I think I need to remember this for the next time I clean my pipes and actually fill the pipes manually before returning them.
 
I've got a very sore arm this morning

 

[Ch4rlie]

Yep, that's the most likely cause, trapped air.
 
I have an external Eheim 2211, does not have a primer button but it does get air trapped and I then worked out you have to do things in a certain order and ensure all the pipes are filled with water including the intake pipe in the tank and the external canister  to be topped up with water at max top.
 
also used to have an Tetra-Tec EX 1200 with a primer button, the most annoying thing for me was having to take the top apart and fix the spring to its proper position and put on safe grease for ease to push button every once in a while. Then press said button what feels like at least a hundred times before it would work properly before pushing all the air out. Again things had to be done in a certain order and manner to minimise the effort.
 
It's amazing how something as simple as just air can be the root cause of frustration!
 
Think a lot of externals have issues like that, hence why I love self priming filters

 

[Akasha72]

I have considered emailing JBL as I've found they are very open to feedback but I doubt there is anything that can be done about trapped air. 

 

[Ch4rlie]

Well it's not the fault of the external filters for getting air trapped inside the filter or the hoses, it's a natural occurrence that happens when you open up the filter. 
 
I have found that double taps on both intake and outlet hoses are a great advantage to have in order to keep water in the hoses. After the maintenance clean it's just then a case of ensuring the filter is full of water, as much as is possible before putting the top of filter back on. Then ensuring the hoses are connected correctly before opening the double taps to get water flowing through the hose before actually switching the filter on again.
 
Sure you can write to JBL about this, just not making it a complaint, more like constructive criticism in just letting them know of your findings about trapped air in your model of filter and they could possibly take your comments as well as other people's findings to be put into account when designing their next line of filters.

 

[Akasha72]

well I know JBL are constantly trying to improve their filters. When I got my first e901 it has a fiddly rubber seal ... come forward a couple of years and they've re-modeled the distribution plate so they could do away with the fiddly rubber seal altogether ... then they made seperate distribution plates to be sold seperately so you could convert an older version filter. This is a lot of why I can't fault these guys ... it would appear that they are constantly trying to improve design whilst still keeping what's really good about their filters.