Need Urgent Help with Eheim Ecco!

[JazzyB]

Hi folks, just wondering if anyone here owned an Eheim Ecco canister filter?

I've set my 2231 up and it was running great. I put it in a bucket, as a pre-caution, and had it running for about 7 hours overnight. I awoke this morning to find about a liter of water in the bucket. It doesn't appear that there was any water leaking from the tubing or where the tubing joins the filter itself. I've just dismantled the filter and have taken it completely apart to inspect - everything "looks" okay.

Any ideas on what could've caused this? Or is this normal? I'm not aware of canister filters dripping water.

I'd appreciate some quick help!! If you reply to this on the forum I'd also appreciate it if you could email me (jazzybjazzy@hotmail.com) as well... that way I will hear the noise that OE makes when a new email arrives.

Thanks in advance!

 

[famman]

check the o-ring and your shut-off valves.
good luck

 

[JazzyB]

It's definitely not the shut-off valves and I don't believe it's the O-ring, if that's the interior seal, either. I'm now beginning to think there may be a small crack in the bottom of the filter. I checked everything, dried the bucket and the outside of the filter and turned it on. I went out of the house for about 3 hours and just got back to meet water in the bucket.

There is no water dripping from the valves or the seal where the top and bottom meet. So I'm concluding that there must be a miniscule crack in the base of the filter somewhere.

I'll keep looking.

Update: I think I just found the culprit. If I could figure out how to post the pic, I'd show you where on the canister I'm talking about.

BTW, do you own a Eheim Ecco filter?

 

[Sumpin'fishy]

If the seals and valves are intact, it's definately a defect or damage of some kind. And YES, I do own an ECCO 2233 model. Never had any type of leak issues. I don't keep mine in a bucket either.

 

[JazzyB]

Here's what I think I may have discovered...

I inspected the filter and couldn't find any water leaking from the filter. However, when I tilted the filter slightly to its side water came out of a manufactured opening on the filter around the top part of the filter near the seal.

I then went to the www.eheim.com site and looked at the picture of the Ecco 2231 and saw the openings on the top half of the 2231 just to confirm they were manufactured that way.

So I'm hoping I just made an error somehow with this filter... I've emailed Eheim, both in the US and in Germany to see what they have to say. I tried calling one of their authorized dealers, that was listed on their site, but the lfs techie who answered knew SQUAT about the filter. Can't say I was amused. I have the picture of the filter where the water escapes when I tilt it but I don't know how to post the pic in the forum. Tell me how and I'll show what I'm talking about. Maybe that will help...

 

[famman]

I have an ecco 2233 and I still say it sound like your o-ring.
good luck

 

[JazzyB]

UPDATE!

I think you're probably right famman.

Well, I heard back from Eheim about my filter problem. They emailed and called - impressed!

It appears it's a small sealing ring on the inside of the motor that's causing the problem. They advised I send it to their Montreal office and they'll repair it and return it at no cost. I guess the initial high cost of the filter helps to pay for the great service they're offering. Can't complain.

I'll update this post once I receive my repaired filter back from them.

 

[JazzyB]

Update:

This past Friday I had spoken with one of the Eheim tech. guys in their North American office in Montreal who informed me that not only will Eheim repair or adjust the o-rings but that they will replace the entire motor, which was 220volt (European rated), with a North American rated one.

That's great news since I had to use a voltage transformer to use the filter previously. I should be receiving the filter sometime this week and will update everyone on its use. So far Eheim gets a BIG THUMBS UP for their after-sale service!

 

[JazzyB]

UPDATE!

Well, as I said earlier, I'm impressed with Eheim's after-purchase-care. Well done Eheim!:dance

Instead of just fixing my o-ring problem the decided, without any prompting whatsoever from myself, to replace the entire 220 volt motor with a 110 volt one. Meaning I don't need to use a transformer to use my Euro filter in Canada. Great news for me!

I just hooked up the Ecco 2231 and it's running smoothly and providing lots of surface agitation and the fish are loving it!

You may pay more for an Eheim filter, but as the old adage says, "You get what you pay for!"

Well done Eheim!