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Has introduced... am using it now.
I've only used it for a few weeks, so I can't really do a full review as yet.
If you have used the Pro, Pro 2 or Ecco series before, you will already know how convenient the media trays are. Design for the parts are similar, so dismantling for maintainance is a breeze and familiar. The convenient latches makes it easy to open and close the filter. The old 2250 and 2260 filters come with 8 clamps which are quite hard to release and secure.
The wheels make moving the monster around a breeze, even when it's full of water.
It's quiet. The 2250 vibrates a fair bit, so even when enclosed in the cabinet, you can still hear it buzzing in the background and can be quite irritating. You won't hear the 2280 running unless you sitting right next to it.
The drip tray for moving wet media trays around is very useful.
The only flaw I've found is the with the priming of the dual intakes. This is an inherrent flaw of multiple intakes, hose position and simple physics, so I don't see it as a Eheim flaw. If you prime when both (i.e. the very first time) or one intake hoses is empty of water only one hose might prime completely. The other hose will not prime properly and will not draw water when you start the filter. Users must take care to look out for this. The solution is easy. Simply kink or press the primed the hose while the filter is running... the suction will start to draw water from the other hose.
I think in my case it was because one of my hoses actually dip down a little, thereby creating an airlock in the hose when it fills with water. That airlock interferes with priming. If users are able to install their hoses properly without the dip, this problem should not occur.
I miss one "feature" from my old 2250. On the 2250/2260, the inlet for the filter is at the bottom of the filter, like the Eheim classic series. I can easily empty water in the filter via the inlet (into a pail) before moving it off to clean. In the 2280 Pro III, the inlet and outlets are at the top (like the Pro, Pro II and Ecco series), which means I have to move it to the washing point before I can pour out the water. Having said that, Eheim did put in those wheels for easy moving and it does make it a whole lot easier. Don't forget, for the 2250, I still have to transport the pails of water via heavy lifting.
This filter is meant for tanks in the same range as the old 2250 and 2260 filters. In comparison, the 2280 outweighs the the 2 older filters in features:
- Dual intakes improve filtration of large tanks.
- Media trays.
- Easily accesible mechanical pre-filter.
- Flow indicator.
- Flow control.
- Built in primer.
- Wheels makes moving the heavy monster (when it's full of water) easy.
- Very much quieter. Not noticeble when enclosed in a cabinet.
- Convenient latches for easy opening and closing of the filter.
Overall, it's a vast improvement over the 2 older "dustbin" filters. My only gripe will be the price, but I guess we're paying for all the bells and whistles.
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