Eheim 2213 Problems

[C3Galaxia]

Hi Guys,

Good morning. This is my first post here and I just wanted to tell everyone hi and that I am currently running accross my first issue with an Eheim 2213. I am running a 20 gal tall tank with the eheim pre-filter and have the Eheim about 3 feet below the output tube going into the tank. When I first got the eheim it started up with no problem at all. Everything was beautiful for about a month, and then just yesterday the filter stopped pumping water and all I could hear was a rattling sound on the inside. I thought maybe the power went out briefly and maybe that stopped the filter. So, I tried to reprime the filter following the instructions by removing all water from the filter and tubes and letting the water force all the air out of the filter before plugging it back in. This didn't work, so I checked the impeller assembly and as far as I can tell there was nothing inside clogging it up. Are these filters just really hard to prime? I would think it should be easier than this. As of now, I don't have a priming pump as I have to use my mouth! :mad: :eek: I am willing to take a few swigs of fish water! :D

I am going to go ahead and order the priming pump because I am sure it will make it easier. I just hope that something in the impeller assembly isn't broken. I do notice that a lot of air seems to be coming from the filter even after the water has forced its way into the output tube. Could my canister seal be broken? I would think I would have water leaking if that were the case, but no water leaks that I have noticed. Any ideas on what I am doing wrong? Do I just need to try to prime it longer?

Thanks,

[famman]

If you had a broken seal,water would be pouring out of the thing. Is this a newer 2213? If not, the impeller may need replacing. The rattling sound is usually air in the impeller, or too much filter padding causing cavitation. Check your intake tube for air leaks, make sure you only have a single layer of ehfisynth.
I've never had much trouble priming my 2213s, I just fill the canister with water and seal it. I sometimes blow into the outtake to force water from the cannister into the intake tubes and then start the pump.
good luck
:)

[C3Galaxia]

hi Famman,

This 2213 is almost brand new. I looked at the impeller and it seemed to look ok, of course I didn't know exactly what to look for, but there was no gunk and it didn't seem worn down. There is a small wedge in the magnet where the impeller is supposed to sit and I wonder if this could be slipping? It would seem that the cap would hold down the impeller tight enough so this wouldn't happen.

It's probably just a lot of air in the filter because I do notice a lot of bubbles coming out of the output when I suck the water out. I'm just curious as to why it's not pumping when I plug in the power when it pumped fine when I first installed it. The filter IS trying to pump... I can see water moving up and down in the output hose, it just seems like maybe the air bubbles are keeping the impeller from doing its job.

Thanks,

[JSchmidt]

If your prefilter is too dirty and is impeding intake into the canister, this can happen. Try removing the prefilter, repriming and start the filter again.

Jim

[C3Galaxia]

Hi Guys,

Well, I finally got my primer pump and I restarted from the ground up. I even tried removing all filter media and made sure all hoses were clear. Still no luck. So, I looked at the impeller again and here is what I found.

There is a round magnet that goes into the head of the filter. This magnet should turn the impeller shaft. It appears that the impeller shaft is completing broken down towards then end of the magnet, so the impeller shaft will not stay secure with the magnet. When the magnet start spinning in the shaft I think the impeller shaft is slipping. This would explain why there is no suction from the filter. My questions is: Is the plastic impeller shaft that fits into the magnet supposed to be two pieces or is it one piece (in other words is the impeller shaft supposed to come out of the magent; I'm not refering to the rod)? Is there anyway to fix this or do I just need to return the filter?

Thanks,

[famman]

You may have a broken impeller shaft or impeller assembly or both. Get an impeller assembly or shaft assembly for your 2213 at bigalsonline.com

The fiberglass shaft should be a single piece and fits into the rubber end pieces that fit down into the impleller cavity and into the top of the impeller lock.

The impeller itself is a single gadget with plastic fins. The plastic shaft is in two pieces that the magnet fits onto kinda like a plastic fork. It should spin freely on the fiberglass axle but not slip off the plastic fork so to speak.

good luck
:)

[C3Galaxia]

Hi Famman,

Thanks for the suggestion. But, the actual fiberglass rod (shaft) isn't broke, but the plastic shaft that fits into the magnet is in two pieces like you say. So, perhaps my impeller assembly isn't broke after all... which takes me back to square 1: why isn't my filter generating enough suction to suck the water from the input tube and force it through the output tube? Even when I try to use the filter primer, I can pump it all day and the only thing I see in the input tube is a the same air pocket going back and forth so I know air is getting trapped, but at the same time I know I am syphoning water from the input tube. Would air bubbles cause the impeller unit not to be able to generate enough suction and would it cause a persistant rattling noise? As of now, I don't know if I should purchase a new impeller unit or just return this filter to Big Als because nothing I am doing is working.... :(

Thanks,

[JSchmidt]

If you remove the filter head from the canister and briefly plug it in, does the impeller spin? If it does, it sounds like some sort of air lock problem. (If it doesn't, the problem is more obvious, I guess.)

Two things to try:

1. Empty the canister and all hoses.
- Fill the intake hose with water
- After filling with water, close the valve on the intake hose.
- While keeping the intake end submerged, attach the other end to the canister. Make sure the outlet hose is empty, and the actual outlet spraybar (or return) is above water. Make sure the outlet valves are open.
- When the intake hose (filled with water) is attached, open the intake valves. You should see water flowing into the canister. You should be able to feel air being expelled via the outlet tube.
- Water should continue to flow into the intake until it fills the outlet tube. If you've done it correctly, there will be little or no air in the system. (There might be just a little in the end of the outlet, but don't worry about it.)
- Place the outlet in the tank.
- Turn on the filter. You should be able to feel (not hear) the pump running. Any air in the outlet tube should be expelled.
- All should be right with the world.

2. If you suspect a bubble is lodged in the pump head (causing the pump action to fail to start) try turning the canister (when filled) upside down. This should start the water flowing and when you right the canister, the bubble will be chopped up and expelled.

On a functioning Eheim Classic (I've got several) this has never failed to work. I find the first procedure (#1 above) to be much more reliable than using any priming aid.

Good luck. Hope you didn't get a rare bum Eheim.

Jim

[famman]

The impeller is really a magnet on a clutch assembly to prevent it from spinning backwards. If your clutch assembly were worn out, the impeller magnet would spin but the plastic fins would not, creating a rattling sound with no pumping action.

When I prime my 2213, I fill the canister nearly full with water, seal it, and suck water out of the outtake hose to start the intake siphon. I use the double tap connectors. When the siphon starts, I turn off the valve as I hear the air leaking out, sometimes letting the water start to come up the outtake hose. I put the valve back together, start the pump, open the valve. With the double tap connector, I always leave the intake tube full of water unless I'm cleaning it, and the siphon always starts by itself.

good luck
:)

[Slappy*McFish]

If you do need to replace some parts, I'm sure Eheim would send them to you free of charge...I would give them a call.

[C3Galaxia]

Hi JSchmidt,

I've tried the procedure you outlined to the tee and I will narrate what happens as I go along:

1 The filter is off
2 The intake tube is full of water leading from the aquarium
3 All other tubes and the filter are empty
4 I re-attach all tubes and open the outlet tubes keeping them above water
5 I open the input tube and water fills the filter forceing air out
6 Once all air is out I turn on the filter and no water suction is occuring and all I hear is a rattling noise. There is an air bubble in the output tube at this point.

I've also tried this same procedure and before I turn the filter back on I use the primer to make sure all air is out until all that comes out of the filter is nothing but water... but as soon as I stop priming the flow stops and the rattling noise persists...

The impeller is starting... I know the magnet is turning as I witnessed this when inspecting the impeller system. I tried running the system outside after turning it upside down just to see if the magnet is spinning and it did. The only thing strange I saw was that the plastic shaft housing that goes through the magnet is in two pieces:

shaft piece 1 magnet with hole shaft piece 2
=|--- OOOO -|

Shaft piece 1 does not look worn and does fit snug within the magnet but shaft piece 2 I guess is supposed to be separate?
Shaft piece 1 looks almost as if it has been roughly cut or broke from shaft piece 2. This is the plastic shaft, not the thin fiber glass impeller shaft.

As a recount, the filter stopped operating properly when I was at work and it wasn't until I came home and checked on the tank that I heard the sound the filter was making and that no suction was occuring. Also, I found no gravel or anything else caught up in the impeller assembly. When I first setup the filter it worked like a charm and was no effort at all to start...

Famman, according to what you say, it sounds like my assembly may be worn out... this is the first time I have ever dealt with this type of filter so I am not sure what to look for in a worn out assembly.

Thanks,

[C3Galaxia]

Hi JSchmidt,

I forgot to mention, I will try turning the filter upside down after I have forced the air out and before turning it back on just in case there is an air bubble causing problems.

Thanks,

[JSchmidt]

Man, I hope that fixes it, 'cuz I'm running out of idea....

RTR?
Anyone?

I think we could use some help here....

Jim

[famman]

If you hold the impeller in your hand by the magnet and turn the plastic fins back and forth, do the fins stop rotating after 1/2 turn or does it spin freely?
By squeezing the tines of the plastic fork together at the fins end, you can pull off the plastic cap and fins. What you have left should be a single molded piece of plastic and magnet. The magnet and plastic piece should be solid and not separable. Through the center of the plastic shaft which the magnet surrounds, there is a hollow metal shaft through which the fiberglass shaft passes. There is a rubber cap on each end of the fiberglass shaft, the cavity cover and impeller lock. That's it 7 parts counting the rubber caps and the fins as seperate pieces. If you have 8, it's broken.
:)
good luck

[C3Galaxia]

Hi Famman and JSchmidt,

Famman, I think you have hit the problem... that plastic shaft that houses the fiberglass shaft is definately broken into two pieces... as a result when the magnet rotates it is not catching the impeller notch. It looks like I need a new impeller assembly. What could have caused the plastic shaft to snap in the first place? I noticed that it is snapped at the bottom opening of the magnet opposite the impeller....hmn...maybe the plastic shaft was just weak?

Thanks for everyone's help!

So, SlappyMcFish, would Big Als or Eheim hook me up with a new assembly? I've only had the filter for about 3-4 weeks.

[C3Galaxia]

Hey Famman,

One thing I forgot to mention... you mentioned a "metal shaft" inside the plastic shaft.... Mine doesn't have a metal shaft!!! This may explain why the plastic shaft broke! :eek:

Thanks,

[JSchmidt]

I think my Eheim Classic impeller have a ceramic shaft, not plastic. They won't ever bend out of true, but they can snap fairly easily. It sounds like famman has lead you to the solution. (I always stock a spare impeller for each canister, just in case I get clutzy while cleaning/reassembling the pump head.)

Big Al's, ThatPetPlace, or Drs. Foster & Smith should stock the correct part.

Hope this solves your problem...

Jim

[C3Galaxia]

Hi Guys,

Yesterday I received an impeller replacement and as we suspected, everything is now working fine! Thanks to everyone for the time and suggestions. Now I get to clean all the algae and decaying plant matter out of my tank...

Thanks,

[Heady]

Heh, I just ordered one of these this week from BigAl's. I hope I have more luck with mine than you've had with yours. ;)

[superjohnny]

Wow, there is some amazing communication going on in this thread. Nice job guys :)