Eheim ECCO filters

[Huyzel]

I just got a used eheim 2213 with my 50gal
i'm gonna make sure it works and get the media soon.
should i test it without media first?
how do i do this? - siphon water into the thing before i plug it in i assume? any tips for me?
also, i have some bioballs... can i use these in the 2213? SHOULD i use them?

T.I.A.
Huy

 

[famman]

I don't feel the 2233 is a cheap plastic toy, it is finely engineered if lightly constructed. If you follow their instructions to the letter it works fabulously. I like the media basket setup, self prime, shut off valves etc. I just think the bottom up flow design of the classic is simple and effective. It's just hard to engineer a better solution, although the ecco is much nicer to break down and clean. Now I see the 2233 has 480 l/hr output vs 2213 440l/hr output.

Huyzel,

Just plug it in, if it makes noise, it'll work, eheims don't fail. Be sure to clean the impeller carefully, don't snap the axle like I did.

On a 50gal I do not reccomend bioballs in your classic, insufficient space for your bacteria load. I'd use the ehfisubstrat. Far far denser bioload even if you have to replace 1/3 every 6 months or so.

good luck

 

[MP]

Richer,

I don't remember numbering of any Eheims by heart (including all those I have ), but it can be easily found on the Net or in a catalog. If you cannot, let me know, and I'll find the manuals of mine and figure out the model numbers.

You may get the smallest Classic. No, it's not self-priming, it doesn't have any trays, and it doesn't come with shut-off valves (you can buy them separately). But once you start it, you don't need to shut it off until it's time to clean the canister. If the intake is at the bottom, only a complete water change will make you to restart the filter.

The Classics are much less expensive than the modern models, and I'm sure you can buy them used on Ebay. Naturally, Professional series (esp., Prof II) are much more interesting and sofisticated and convenient, but for the tank of this size it's hardly makes sense to pay more.

As for the media, I use all my canisters in the same manner: fully filled with ceramic noodles. Most of them have regularly cleaned sponges over the intakes. In this configurarations they last for many months without any need for cleaning. And when I do clean them (every 6-12 months), I do it only because I want to remove the gunk, and not because the filters stops or the flow drops noticably. That's why my 6-12 months in some filters can be 12-18 months, depending on how lazy I am.

 

[famman]

MP,
As I recall you have heavily planted tanks, right? This would imply a far lower need for bacterial biological filtration, thus you can 'get away with' just using noodles. The reason you do so is probably because the eheims aren't the greatest mechanical filter. They rely on slower water flow across the biological media to provide time for the bacteria to take up the load.
In a lightly or non planted tank, I'm not sure you could get away with only noodles in a classic 2213 on a 55 gal tank.
That's why I preach the ehfisubstrat, it provides for several times the bioload for an equivalent volume of say bioballs.
For a 20 gal or 29 gal bowfront, a classic 2213 is IMO perfect. You could use 1 inch ehfi substrat the rest noodles and a fine pad.
good luck