How Do I Get An External Filter To Work?!

[timmystood]

Merry Christmas Everyone!

WOW! The forum got a make-over for christmas! It'll take me a while to get used to the change!

Anyways, got an external filter today for my cichlid tank but i've never used them before... how do I prime it?!! Might sound obvious but weirdly it's a question i've never come over before!

Cheers Guys!

TIM

 

[Glod]

Depends on the filter model, some have self priming features. If all else fails you can disconnect the hose at the output end and give it a good hard suck....

 

[Torrean]

might be making a fool of myself but are you talking about a HOB filter. (hand on the back)

If that the case then just take the cover off and fill the filter box with water. That should do it.

 

[three-fingers]

I got an external filter too, it just says to turn it on and lift it to water level until it fills up, then put it wherever.
Though i cant even use it yet because i dont have enough plugs in my room. Thats a disadvantage of using lots of different filter instead of 1 big one.

 

[Chri$]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...external+filter

This might help!

 

[discus dreamer]

Mine just starts up automatically if you fill the canister with water first, you don't even need the pipes to be full. That said, watch out for a problem I had. I bought the tank and set up all together and had it delivered. I got everything set up and couldn't get the filter to pump water round. I tried every way - filling the whole system and the pipes, after many days of trying and a soggy carpet I tried it just by putting the pipes into a bowl in the sink and then it was obvious that even there was a quiet humming when switched on the filter just didn't work!! because I was new to all this I thought it must be me doing something wrong.
I took the filter back (they wouldn't collect) which involved a train journey and a taxi each way to get to the out of town place i bought it and came back with a new filter, filled it, connected it up and swiched on and it worked. The next time I buy a tank it will be by ordering it from my lfs, who I am sure would have called round to help out, rather than trying to save money by going to one of the big suppliers.
Now all we need is makers of canister filters to supply a tray of the right size for them to sit in to catch the inevitable spills when you disconnect for cleaning.
DD