priming Filstar pumps

nursie

nursie

AC Members
Jan 15, 2005
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Peoria, IL
Real Name
michelle
Does anyone else have a problem with this, and has amyone developed any stratigied to make this easier.
Here's my struggle...you are supposed to ahve the lever up on the filter, closing off the tubing from the pump. You uncap the tubingover the intake, and are to fill with the provided funnel, and cap when water at the top. Then you flip the lever down, and the water is supposed to siphon from the intake down into the pump and then you plug it on and away you go.
Well I have a heck of a time with this, hubby has to help pour the water in while I man the pump...so to speak. It doesn't work like it's supposed to, but after jiggling tubing and flipping the lever and a few choice words it takes off running.
WHat I think is happening is that the water you are supposed to be pouring in to fill the tubing is actually going out the intake. ANyone have any hints on how to make this easier? I have had the idea to take the bottom of the inlet tube off, and cork it, then fill it, cap it off, remove the cork and then flip the lever to see if it will fill the pump that way and start easier. ANyone try this?
I do prefil the pumps after I clean so it's just the last 1 1/2 " of water yet to fill...
 
Hi Nursie,
Two "heights" that are very critical for the siphon to work.

1) Height of tubing on the inlet side(outside the tank) from the funnel (where you prime) to the head of the filter . The higher the better.
can be adjusted by lowering filter or.........gulp... raising tank :-)


2) Height of inlet tubing inside the tank from surface of water to funnel.Lower is better. can be adjusted by increasing water level in tank.

other than that ensure there is no blocks in the inlet/outlet.tubing.

yes when you are priming , the water will escape thru inlet into the tank when the inlet tubing outside the tank gets filled up.
The siphon still will work if you adjust the ratios of the above mentioned heights.
 
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when I prime my xp2s, I leave the lever down so water can flow through the filter. With both intake and return in the water, I open the screw top and pour water through the funnel. Since the filter is open for flow, you should be able to fill both tubes up completely. you may have to take the cap off the other one to let air escape. When they are both full, I screw the caps back on and plug in the filter. With the intake tube full, it provides enough syphon to pull the little air in the tube down and through. I've never had a problem doing it this way. HTH.
 
Nursie, have you tried not filling the cannister before you restart your siphon? IIRC, the directions indicate that the filter should be empty when priming, and I've never had a problem priming mine with an empty cannister. I have had to prime my XP3s precious few times though, since it's only necessary to do so when removing the tubing from the locking unit to clean inside of the tubing.
 
I've not had a problem priming either full or empty. I generally fill the canister and don't bother priming since the heights sploke mentioned are in my favor (high water level, long distance down to the filter). However, here is a trick you might fidn useful.
Leave your canister empty. Flip the lever on the quick disconnect down so water can flow freely in/out of the canister. Use a piece of tubing attached to the outflow in the tank. Since the pieces pull apart, I used a spare elbow, pulled off the spray bar and connected the elbow with a piece of tubing. Now inhale on the tubing and the water should be drawn into the filter. Since the water has to go down the tubing, into the filter, and back up the tubing your priming, there is no chance of getting a mouthful of fishy water. That's a good thing :D

HTH
 
Wooo..things to try! Thanks guys!!
I did try starting with an empty cannister at the beginning, but didn't like how much it took out of my tank to fill. I clean the tank..then refill and put the python away, then tear the filter apart and clean it but hey, I'll try anything.
 
The only time I had a problem priming the filter was when I left the cap off the intake. Now I remember to check for that it hasn't been an issue since. Otherwise I don't have to re-prime unless I drain too much water from my tank.


And I tend to clean out the filter while emptying and refilling the tank, and I always have it hooked back up before I'm finished filling, so it's never an issue to let the filter fill completely from the tank.
 
For some reason I have been having to reprime when I clean the filter. I didn't always have to. I am wondering if my problem is that I used the full length of tubing when setting up the 55. I think I need to shorten it and that may help. The inlet side tubing seems too long and loopy.
I'm careful not to take the water too low with routine water changes to loose the prime.
When running the tubing for the 75, I put the inlet on the side near the wall, and will be a bit of a stretch to fill. It had better behave!
 
Hi Nursie,
loopy tubes on the inlet/outlet are definitely not good for the siphon.
Take the time to refit the tubes and you will not be sorry.
Also remember to maintain the "heights" mentioned earlier before you go snip snippity snip on the tubes. :)
 
I left my tubes full length in case I ever had to move the filter. Its not a big deal, just make sure you straighten them out to get any air bubbles out when you're trying to prime it.
 
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