Finally getting a canister filter.. few questions.

**mpmistr** · 10-03-2012, 4:19 PM

Hey there I finally picked up an Eheim 2217 for my 40B. I currently have two Whisper 40i on the tank but I wanted something with more filtration and I find that internal Whispers are huge and take up a lot of space.

I was kind of curious how long I should keep the Whisper filters in before I let the Eheim fly solo? Would putting some of the Whispers media bag 'gunk' in the Eheim help?

Also I am kind of worried my Eheim may be a bit beefy for a 40B.. I have african clawed frogs which are *huge* poop machines so I want to have a lot of filtration but not turn the tank into a river rapid. I was thinking about just pointing the spray bar towards the glass I figure that would be fine?

**Fish_Bone** · 10-03-2012, 4:28 PM

I left my aqueon hob on for 1 month, probably over kill, but it worked for me.

Also I have eheim able to filter 60 gal. On a 30 breeder tank. Over filtration is better than under.

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**Rbishop** · 10-03-2012, 4:31 PM

media you now have to the canister.. +1

diffuse output with a spray bar, even if it is DIY...

**mpmistr** · 10-03-2012, 5:13 PM

It came with a spray bar. Can't wait to set it up.

When you say use media in canister you don't mean put the actual bag in there do you? LOL

**Rbishop** · 10-03-2012, 5:14 PM

Why not if it fits in one of the trays?

**67chevelle** · 10-03-2012, 6:39 PM

Eheim classics don't have trays, but it will still fit in there. Even when the canister is full of all the new media, I would then put all of your old media in the Eheim. Then you can remove the old filters, and have all the bacteria in the new filter.

**oo7genie** · 10-03-2012, 8:17 PM

Yep, put the media bags from your Whispers directly into the new Eheim. Insta-cycle. I can't remember the last time I actually cycled a tank, as I always use ceramic media from my established tanks this way, in order to kickstart my new tanks. Worst case scenario in doing this (for me) has been a mini-cycle, never lasting longer than a couple days. And that's in tanks with no BB in them at all. Yours still has BB all over the surfaces inside the tank.

I'd also recommend that if you decide to remove it after the new media has a chance to get all BB'd up (like if you want to use the Whispers again on a different tank) to remove one bag at a time, in order to reduce the impact on your new cycle.

**mpmistr** · 10-04-2012, 1:32 PM

I decided to just keep the Whispers in the tank until the Canister picks up some BB after a month or so.. I have to say that in hindsight hooking up the Eheim was easy though the instructions are terrible.

One thing I did do, and I guess this is funny, is I was priming the canister the old fashioned way (sucking the hose).. I forgot to clip the canister top shut................ let's just say the results were tragic

but I 7 towels later I got it under control and the filter is running great now. LOL

**Fish_Bone** · 10-04-2012, 1:40 PM

I agree the instructions are in German I swear. And I recently forgot to close the valves.....drip...drip....drip, oh no! Lol

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