Eheim 2213 Problems

C

C3Galaxia

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Feb 18, 2003
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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,
 
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
:)
 
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,
 
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
 
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,
 
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
:)
 
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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,
 
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
 
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
:)
 
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.
 
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