air in filter? ideas? help?

[Irene0100]

Hi , my big external filter - eheim prof ll -has started to make a lot of noise and lots of bubbles coming out of the outlet. hubby has added extra jubilee clips to the input pipes and joins , and they look ok anyway, so wonder if it could be the seals on the filter.
as shops are shut today so cant get hold of any, and not sure which seal it would be, I wondered can I try vaseline on the seals and see if it helps .
BUT is vaseline (petrolium jelly) safe for fish?? will it make it worse?

or does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[GrubbyGirl]

Hi , my big external filter - eheim prof ll -has started to make a lot of noise and lots of bubbles coming out of the outlet. hubby has added extra jubilee clips to the input pipes and joins , and they look ok anyway, so wonder if it could be the seals on the filter.
as shops are shut today so cant get hold of any, and not sure which seal it would be, I wondered can I try vaseline on the seals and see if it helps .
BUT is vaseline (petrolium jelly) safe for fish?? will it make it worse?

or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Fluval sell seal lubricant for their filters, might be worth checking if eheim do

 

[Andrew]

Irene
One of my cannister filters dos that every so often and dos stop working every so often.
I clean it and the hoses when it happens, and get it going again, and it hasn't leaked, i do have two cannisters on the tank so don't worry too much about it stopping for a day or so.

I think mine is caused by a bad postion of the cannister in relation to the tank, there was only one place i could put it and it only gives a difference in height of 1ft between the top of the tank and the top of the cannister, if i had the room i would lower the filter down to get more difference in height, as none of my other cannisters do this and they have a decent height between them and the tank.

Hope that helps.

 

[Irene0100]

thanks, yes the canister height is not ideal, but cant move the bookcase -lol.
I have cleaned the pipes from algae build up etc - I do this every few months.

the pipe going in appears clear wheras the pipe out I can see air bubbles , so is either the entrance or exit joint to the unit or the seals around where the top opens. has been working fine for a couple of years.

 

[2wheelsx2]

When my 2028 did this, it was the main seal. I hope it's not that for you, because in my case, it started to leak gallons of water whenever the filter was stopped (I have to stop the filters for feeding).

 

[Irene0100]

does anyone use vaseline?

 

[GrubbyGirl]

does anyone use vaseline?

Personally I wouldn't as it a petroleum based product. The proper lubricant isn't expensive, if eheim don't do one you could by the fluval one http://www.aquariumsdelivered.co.uk/catalog/fluval-silicone-lubricant-p-317.html

 

[Irene0100]

thanks for that, I will see if I can get any from shops otherwise will order (the web link you suggested are closed til 4 jan)
I was supposed to visit relatives today, but the overnight snow has made the roads bad again so we cancelled. I am hoping it will thaw enough for me to get to lfs, but might not! have tunred filter off now as was getting worse. will have to clean out completely now as the bacterial will be dead. I do have another smaller filter running in thetank, that with some daily w/c should keep fish OK till I can sort this problem out.

 

[macvsog23]

I would guess its the gasket. They are the weak point on the pro range.

A easy job to do and as already stated once the unit is shut down they pee water out.

If it is not the gasket it will be the two O rings inside the valve /tap assembaly. not easy to change. I always keep a large selection of spare parts so I can "Swap out" any item that failes and do a repair in my own time.

Should you wish send me the tap and I will fitt the O rings for you.

Eheim do a grease for the filters should you fail to find some one who sells this I have a large amount and can spare some.

regards B

 

[macvsog23]

Irene
One of my cannister filters dos that every so often and dos stop working every so often.
I clean it and the hoses when it happens, and get it going again, and it hasn't leaked, i do have two cannisters on the tank so don't worry too much about it stopping for a day or so.

I think mine is caused by a bad postion of the cannister in relation to the tank, there was only one place i could put it and it only gives a difference in height of 1ft between the top of the tank and the top of the cannister, if i had the room i would lower the filter down to get more difference in height, as none of my other cannisters do this and they have a decent height between them and the tank.

Hope that helps.

This is a common problem with external filters ideal position is the head should be below the bottom of the tank thus allowing good old gravity to provide the flow to the filter. With a filter in the wrong position ie the head above the bottom of the tank the filter is using a large amount of its "power" to suck water out of the tank and up what amounts to a hill.

On the subject of the filter stopping for a day or two.

the bacteria will change from aerobic to an-aerobic in that time so be very carfull you may have got away with it up to now but some day this will crash the tank.

Regards

 

[Irene0100]

many thanks for info and kind offer.
I have dismantled the filter and washed all the bits, I have ordered new gasket and rubber washers etc from on-line (fish and fins) but I guess will take some days to arrive. in the meantime I will see if I can rearrange the furniture so the filter can sit at lower level.

 

[Irene0100]

total disaster today.!!
Ithough tank would be ok with the second eheim classic andan internal aquaball. I keep double filtration in case of any problems when I am on holiday.
having disconnected the eheim pro, I also had to switch off the uv.

I think something must have died at the back cos this morning the tank was almost total wipe out! 4 BIG LDa33 and 3 L200 and 2 Gns all floating!

BN and guppies and a cory were ok.

 

[macvsog23]

Dam bad luck my girl

I am so sorry

I think a big clean out and re fitt is now the only way.

Regards Bob

 

[Pete]

Oh no thats awful as Bob says all you can do is clean out and start again sorry to hear its a real shame when that happens
Pete

 

[scatz]

Totally gutted for you!!!:cry:

 

[Terry Got Hip kissed]

As Brian said, really sorry to hear this :~(
A reminder of just how fragile our beloved fishes are

 

[2wheelsx2]

Sorry to hear this. I made of mistake of misaiming the spraybar in my 15 gallon when I switched from a HOB to a canister in the fall, and wiped out my 1 year old L144's, so I know how you feel.

 

[thegeeman]

:cry:

I dont know what to say matey.

 

[Irene0100]

thanks, the big LDa33 you all saw posted with a santa hat on on the dec potm!
aslo lost adult red head geos. all that survived was a common BN and starlight BN (of some type l71 i think) , a couple of cories (the last 2 the geos had not eaten!) and some endler guppy babies (they are tough things!)

so spent most of yesterday carrying buckets of water through the house!!
The BNs think its great having thetank to themselves without being bullied by the big boys anymore!

when filter repaired and all running again I think I might try the tank for blue phantoms as I have a couple coming soon from someone I hope.