Never Had An External Filter Before

[lilacamy931]

Please dont laugh, at least just to a snigger. I have only ever had internal filters before and have been given an aquaone external. I have pics of the bits and pieces but help me put it together and get it running!

So here is the main unit with the inlet and outlet (figured this out)

So here is the piping, and it has written in and out so can match up the screw ends to the main unit just about

I then opened one of the drawers in the cabinet and there were these random pieces and unsure if they are with the filter or not (for instance there was a glass casing for a heater in there...random!)

These things had prior piping and have been cut..

I guess what I need to know is the pipes connect to the main unit, what needs to go on the end of the pipes running into the tank. The pipes are really curvy (as can see in the above pics) can I straighten these out or how do I run them into the tank so they are flush with the glass and not just curving or do I just have to live with it?

Thanks for any help as always especially in this blond moment!

 

[Biulu]

The piece with the green tube on it is your inlet, but it seems that the other hose is missing an outlet.The random pieces have valves on them,and it looks like they have been connecting hoses. You should go to your lfs with the hose and buy an outlet for it. I suggest you buy a so-called spray-bar, which is a piece of plastic with lots of little holes in it. You connect it to your outlet and fasten it to the back glass of your tank. These provide for a very nice and gentle current and lots of oxygenation.

Good luck!

 

[mossy69056]

hi
in the 2nd pic the pipe with the green pipe connects to your "IN" on the filter
on the filter there should be "OUT" and "IN" where the pipes connect
on the other pipe,at the end, you should fit a spraybar,a straight pipe about 10" long with small holes in it and connect it to the "OUT"
to get the curves out of pipes i would pour hot water on them to make them more flexiable so you can work them a bit easier
rgds

 

[OohFeeshy]

The white tubey bits in the picture could possibly be a spraybar- is one end plugged with lots of holes in the pipe?

Looking at the pipes, it might be worth getting new ones. They aren't that expensive, you've already got all the valves you need (and extras).

Play about with the valves and see how they work. I like to have two in series per tube- that way, you can isolate both the tubes to the tank and the tubes to the filter. Stops you getting water everywhere come cleaning time.

So it might go

Filter
Filter output/input tap
Short bit of pipe
Valve
Valve
Tube
Intake tube in tank/output in tank or spraybar

 

[lilacamy931]

Wow guys, thanks so very very much that really is excellent, I will see if the LFS have my spray bar but pretty tempted to get that and the pipes new perhaps. Thanks so much for the detail that really is great

 

[lilacamy931]

p.s. when buying new tubing do LFS usually do this? Have found spray bars for sale but wondered how you go about getting new tubing and perhaps a new filter end?

 

[Biulu]

Take along your old hoses so you can check the diameter in the shop. Determine also the length you need (measure from the place of the filter into your tank and add a little more).

 

[OohFeeshy]

The tubing/valves in the first picture look to be from an Eheim, so if the shop does Eheim spares then they should all fit together. Possibly the stuff in the second picture is from the original filter, I'd guess the tubing diameter is the same though.

As for length, you shouldn't need loads but obviously get more than you think you'll need.

 

[lilacamy931]

Hey peeps, thanks for all the great help. Went and got all the new parts today including the correct new tubing. We got it up and running for abit but have turned it off for now as we managed to have two mini floods going and think we are going to pester the LFS to pop round if they will to check it is running smoothly as we are abit nervous something goes wrong when we are out and the tank empties itself on our top floor flat living room..

Thank you so much for all the help xx

 

[england]

i will pop over and have a look..

 

[lilacamy931]

We are les idiotes I ended up having to try to draw the water through the pipe again but at least this time clean piping (I keep fish again because? )