Eheim canister filters

[lesley]

Just to beat an old topic into the ground...

I'm looking into switching to a canister filter. What is the difference between the ECCO's and the Eheim plus series? It seems like the Plus series is a little more costly, and doesn't come in a model for a 30 gallon tank. Aside from that

My tank is a 29 gallon that I currently have an Eclipse 3 system on. I hate the thing. I'm sure anything I switch to will be better. I am pretty heavily stocked with fish, mainly cories and black neons. I will eventually upgrade my lights to power compact so that I can plant a bit heavier and with more variety. So for plants I guess I will need to get a spraybar.

My main concerns for a canister would be that it run silently, not leak and be easy to clean and maintain.

I've read through some of the old threads, and they all seem to come to the conclusion that Eheim is the best, but I wanted to make sure that they addressed my particular concerns.

[Skittyfish]

I don't have an ECCO but I do have a PROII (2026). It is silent. The only way I hear it is to put my ear directly on the pump. It is very efficient. I really like it, it's easy to take apart and put back together (after the first couple of times anyway), primes easy, runs smoothly.

[Alex]

I have three of the Eheim Ecco series filters and they work very well, just a little smaller than the Classic or Professional line but just as quiet. For a 29 I would say the middle size would be good, the 2233. Just make sure you read the directions carefully and pay particular attention when you put the top back on as the handle can be broken if you put it on incorrectly and use a lot of force.

Alex

[famman]

I'd go with a classic 2213. Silent, inexpensive, easy to service.
good luck
:)

[rdmpe]

I'll put a second vote on the 2213. I like it's "in at the bottom, out at the top" style. It is inexpensive, quiet and very well made. I have four of them. Two on a 55g african cichlid tank, one on a 30g and one on a 29g tall. I love them.

I bought all of mine new on Ebay. Including shipping, I paid $60 for the cheapest one and $66 for the most expensive one. Much cheaper than I've found anywhere else.

The cheapest online dealer I've found (for just about any aquarium supplies) is www.bigalsonline.com

[Sumpin'fishy]

I give my vote to the ECCO 2233 for a 29 gallon tank. I have one running on my 20 gallon planted tank, and things are doing very well. I did buy additional media to suite my needs (EHFIsubstrate Pro, Extra fine filter pads, micron filter pads), I would use this filter all the way up to a 40 gallon tank.

I also was looking at the Classic 2213, but what made my decision is the lack of media trays in the classic series filters. All the media is stuffed into the "main" canister chamber. This gives unsurpassed filtration, but is a real pain to clean. You have to dump everything out to do maintenance. You said one of your 3 concerns was being easy to clean and maintain. The classic cannot compare to the Pro or ECCO series filters in this way. These models are made for ease of use as well as dependable filtration. It also meats both of your other "concerns". ECCO and Pro series also come with quick-disconnect hoses and are self-priming (which is real nice!). If this is going to be your only filter, do yourself a favor.

If a filter is not as easy to clean, then you probably won't want to clean it as often, and your tank suffers. You also disturb your bacterial colonies when you dump out your canister in the Classics. This is more of a concern (ease of cleaning/maintenance) when it is the primary filter. I would look first to the Classic line for supplemental filtration such as "bio-only" filters with nothing but EHFIsubstrate and a prefilter, though!;)

Also, on a side note.....none of the Eheim filters come with spraybars. You can order it separately though!

[JSchmidt]

I don't own any of the Ecco series, but the few I've looked at didn't seem to be built as ruggedly as the Classic or Professionel series. If it were me, I'd get a 2213 over an Ecco.

As for the spraybar, every one of the Eheims (including Classic series, Professionel series and the wet/dry canisters) I've bought came with a spraybar and all the other tubing, inlet pipes, etc. needed to run the filter.

Jim

[Sumpin'fishy]

I don't believe any Eheims currently come with spraybars. I looked at the Pro II, ECCO, and WET/DRY canisters straight out of the boxes at my LFS and NONE had any spraybar attachments. All models do come with all hoses, outlet and inlet pipes, and any other equipment needed to run them, though. Do you have older models? They may have started doing this since about the time of the "AquaBall" was introduced, since the spraybar attachment is available as one of the "add-ons" to this kit. I can't verify any attachments available before about 6 months ago, since this is when I looked at the Eheims in person (they finally started carrying them at my LFS).

Please let me know if I am wrong and the Pro II series come with spraybars. I would love it if they do. I will get one of these filters for a larger tank in the future. If they do come with the filters, then something was missing from the box in my LFS. It was opened (from manufacturers packaging) right in front of my eyes, so It would have to be a manufacturer error! I know the ECCO series don't come with the spraybars, though. Saw one in the LFS and ordered the 2233 and neither had it!

[Skittyfish]

My PRO II came with everything. I ordered the one that had the media too. I've had this one for about 18 months.

[lesley]

Thanks for all of the input guys. This is exactly the kind of information that I wanted to know. I think at this point, I am thinking I will go with the ECCO 2233. I like the basket idea.

The information from Eheim says that it comes complete with media. I take it I don't need to use chemical filtration all the time? Should I replace it with something else? It seems like people here are really fond of the "noodles." So the Ecco 2233 and a spraybar. Do I need anything else while I'm at it?

[JSchmidt]

Sumpin'fishy, what do you mean by 'spraybar'? I'm referring to a rigid tube, about 12" in length, with holes drilled every inch or so for most of the length. Every Eheim I've ever ordered (or seen) has included one. (I haven't seen the Eccos, but I can't believe they expect a person to order an Aquaball kit to accompany a canister filter.)

What Eheims don't include as a standard part is what they call a 'wide jet spray return'. This is essentially a rigid tube bent to hang on the back edge of the tank, with a bend to direct the output out at water level. The outlet end is crimped to direct the water out in a wider pattern. I wish these were standard, but they're not. (The can be ordered separately for a few bucks from most places that sell Eheims.)

On ThatPetPlaces' website, this statement accompanies the description of the 2226/2228: "Comes with all the parts needed to set it up except the filter media." Moreover, the picture of the Classic series shows a spraybar included.

Is your LFS trying to encourage you to buy extras by scavenging some of the parts out of its Eheims?

Jim

[lesley]

Just wanted to mention that I found lots more info using "spraybar" in the search feature rather than canister filter.

[Sumpin'fishy]

I am refering to the same piece of equipment (spray-bar)that you are, Jschmidt. I own an ECCO, so I KNOW they don't come with them. My LFS had just received a shipment of their first Eheim supplies, and I just happened to arrive when they still had all the boxes out in the open. I told the owner I was interested in them and wanted to look at one personally and see exactly what each one was like. He opened up a Pro 2026, ECCO 2233 (my model), and 2227 (wet/dry). I sat there as he removed the packing and I opened the boxes (for the first time) myself......straight from the wholesaler, still in manufacturers packing. None of the ones I looked at had the spraybar attachment included! I did not look at any of the Classic series myself, so I cannot say anything about them, and any equipment shipped with or without them. There may have been a problem with the spraybar being left out of the box on the Pro series that I looked at (accidents do happen). This is one of the features I was SPECIFICALLY looking for. I WANTED a spraybar.

I ended up ordering an ECCO 2233 from Dr. Foster/Smith, online, not from the store. I know that you can order the spraybar attachment as well as a "strainer" attachment separately that work with the AquaBall or the canisters. They are modular so that everything is able to be used with other Eheim equipment. They are sold as "Eheim Water System Installation Kits" in the Foster/Smith catalogue. Kit 1 is the strainer, while Kit 2 is the spraybar. Each can be bought for different sizes (12/16mm or 16/22mm sizes) and can be bought for $22.99 and $24.99, respectively. I'm not making this up.....just giving the facts as I am aware of them. I can give you the Item Numbers, if you like also....let me know.

I never saw these kits advertized until I saw them with the AquaBall in the catalogues and in TFH magazine, etc. Look at adds of the AquaBall in mags, and you are bound to see the spraybar too! I think that Eheim is trying to go modular with all equipment, when possible, to facilitate changing out parts between filters. They discontinued their internal filter series when they came up with the AquaBall and some type of smaller hobby pump (or something) that you can add as many strainer baskets with sponges onto as you like. This is similar to the AquaBall, but they are square, not round. I'm trying to find the add I saw this in right now. I'll try and get back when I find the magazine and which issue. It's something pretty recent....:confused:

Anyways, I hope all this rambling helps!:)

[ROLLIN]

Lesley, I sent you a pm about your eclipse hood. Please respond.

[TomFromStLouis]

Sumpin'fishy: sounds like something really is fishy with that shipment you looked at. My Pro II 2026 from BigAls included the spray bar, but then I ordered the BigAls number which included media. But since the media came on the side and the spray bar was inside the brown box with all the other green tubing, methinks you looked at a faulty package.

lesley: fyi I ended up drilling a few small holes in my spray bar to get slightly less current in only one direction. And I ended up ordering Eheim's sponges for mechanical filtration at the intake. (The plastic cage kept getting cluttered with plant parts but the sponge seems to stay clean - in any case it is easier to remove and replace the sponge than try to clean bits of the intake.)

[Sumpin'fishy]

I'm starting to think so, too, Tom! So, I guess the Pro series comes with spraybars.....great!

[famman]

I'm pretty sure the classics come with the spray bar too.
good luck
:)

[RTR]

The Eheim web site still shows the spraybar as part of the standard setup.

[carpguy]

My recently purchased 2213 came with a spray bar.

I have it running on my 30g… its a nice filter for smaller tanks. I'd read some bits and pieces about the Eccos not being quite on par with the Classics and the Pros, so I went with the Classic. No actual bad experience with the Ecco, just my read on the chatter.