Eheim Canister Filter Comparison

[felix_fx2]

Most folks use the corse pad to catch large debris from clogging up the other media.

The fine one for the finer ones of course.

You can decide which you feel is a better method of placement.

[Navanod]

Hi bro, the idea behind Eheim's arrangement is such that the water goes through a very coarse then coarse filter to remove large and medium particles. Then through the bio-media for the bacteria (and to also trap the small particles) and finally through a very fine wool filter to "polish" the water so nothing goes back into the tank.

To have the fine wool any earlier would cause it to choke too quickly I suppose.

[Navanod]

Oh, by the way, I did try putting a fine pad before the biomedia before but the biomedia still ended up with dirt and sludge as the bacteria themselves forms biofilm and this brown sludge.
Totally pointless at the end

[ralliart12]

...You can decide which you feel is a better method of placement.

I am just curious as to whether there's any logic that Eheim stated to use their different media types in this specific arrangement.

Hi bro, the idea behind Eheim's arrangement is such that the water goes through a very coarse then coarse filter to remove large and medium particles. Then through the bio-media for the bacteria (and to also trap the small particles) and finally through a very fine wool filter to "polish" the water so nothing goes back into the tank...

For the part in blue, even so, the EhfiMech should be on top of (after) the blue filter pad (coarse), & not below (before) it? This is assuming water comes from the bottom of the canister & flows out through the top?

For the part in green, I suppose I can accept this reasoning, i.e. last stage of polishing.

...To have the fine wool any earlier would cause it to choke too quickly I suppose.

Oh, by the way, I did try putting a fine pad before the biomedia before but the biomedia still ended up with dirt and sludge as the bacteria themselves forms biofilm and this brown sludge.
Totally pointless at the end

Actually that is what I'm thinking of doing, i.e. placing extremely fine filter pad (more like cloth, actually) before any of the other types of media, but I'm afraid it may choke too easily.

For my 2224 I jus follow what the box shows only the media is bio home plus and I double layer the white wool as shrimp poopoo too fine blue filter pad sure cannot stop

I am thinking of doing something like this (from top to bottom of the canister):

extremely fine filter pad (actually I'm using those Magic-clean DRY wipes from DAISO)
Biohome+
Biohome+
extremely fine filter pad

& totally not using the 2 layers of issued filter wool at all.

[xconnect.]

For my 2224 I jus follow what the box shows only the media is bio home plus and I double layer the white wool as shrimp poopoo too fine blue filter pad sure cannot stop

[ralliart12]

Question #1: Is there anyway to prevent the brown brown stuff from growing inside the filter pipes?

Question #2a: Can we fit all parts where the filter (rubber) hoses join other equipment, with double-taps, just so that we can easily remove any section of the filtration system without water leaking out?

Question #2b: If the answer to the above question is "yes", I've got another question; any reputable double-taps? Or must get back Eheim-branded ones (if they got sell such items)?

[xconnect.]

1. I think the brown stuff is inevitable so ya... Unless the pipe is in darkness then can reduce the brown stuff.
2.you can do that but that will cause you wallet to be unhappy
3.eheim double taps are very good and one will not risk using alternatives.because If the alternative double tap fails there will be catastrophic results.

[Navanod]

One has to weigh the benefits vs the time here bro.

A very fine material will choke in a few days. And in the long run may damage the pump. If you are going to have to open up the canister every week for this, it may make more sense to just rinse the media basket in tank water (from waterchange) every week instead.
Another way is to put a very dense fine sponge at the inlet hose inside the tank and wash that very often instead.

Actually, the blue sponge is finer than the eheim mech media, so the placement is correct in a sense. Haha.

The brown stuff in the hose is bacteria film. Light or no light, it'll grow and it's part of the bacteria filteration.

For double taps, make sure it does not restrict flow too much as some types are not meant for high flow.
You may also want to look at Eheim installation kits. I find it easier to just disconnect the hose from the rainbar/inlet basket and drain them during canister servicing as it prevents airlock and priming issues after that. The installation kits makes it rather easy and cost about $50 total for inlet and outlet (sold separately).
Not sure how much the quick disconnect will cost

[ralliart12]

One has to weigh the benefits vs the time here bro.

A very fine material will choke in a few days. And in the long run may damage the pump...

Not that concerned about the time used for filter maintenance, but yes, more concerned if a choked filter pad (if I'm using the Magic clean cloth it can really choke, I believe; because I'm using it in a simple filter in another tank & it really can filter out particles that I cannot see & turn brown over time) will caused the canister to implode or something.

...If you are going to have to open up the canister every week for this, it may make more sense to just rinse the media basket in tank water (from waterchange) every week instead...

I'm looking at this filter maintenance, i.e. rinsing the media in isolated tank water every month, i.e. & only to rinse one tray at any one time. So I expect to rinse the media, just not every week.

...Another way is to put a very dense fine sponge at the inlet hose inside the tank and wash that very often instead...

for the inlet point, I'm using those fine-meshed metal wire guard instead of the sponge guard. Though in concept, should perform the deed as well, i.e. block out large particles from entering the canister at all.

...Actually, the blue sponge is finer than the eheim mech media, so the placement is correct in a sense. Haha...

That's assuming the unfiltered water really flows from the bottom to the top of the canister, which I'm unsure. Anyway, as for the fin-er default white filter pad, which is for "polishing" the water, why should it be the last media in the assumed flow direction?

...The brown stuff in the hose is bacteria film. Light or no light, it'll grow and it's part of the bacteria filtration...

I actually read somewhere in this forums, that someone suggested keeping a snail in the hose area (& restricting it there) to use the snail to eat away this brown film!

...For double taps, make sure it does not restrict flow too much as some types are not meant for high flow...

I'm still considering it (them), because I'm thinking whether I will be removing portions of the setup for cleaning/replacement in the future, & I am unsure if I can remove them modularly without creating a huge mess, even when I turn off the electricity...

...You may also want to look at Eheim installation kits. I find it easier to just disconnect the hose from the rainbar/inlet basket and drain them during canister servicing as it prevents airlock and priming issues after that. The installation kits makes it rather easy and cost about $50 total for inlet and outlet (sold separately).
Not sure how much the quick disconnect will cost

Actually, I already have a pair of them installation kits #1 & #2, waiting to be deployed on my tank. I do not remember them costing so much (in total). But anyway, the issue may arise when I need to detach other portions of the filtration "piping" that is not at the points where the hoses join the inlet & outlet extremities (in the tank).

[ralliart12]

I've got a new question: will anything in the whole filtration system be damaged (be it long run/short run) if I shorten the hoses as much as they can be shortened? Main purpose is to prevent too much "slack" from twirling around the tank area.

[xconnect.]

Short is better . More flowrate

[Shadow]

should be OK. Actually I did exactly that.

[ralliart12]

Any way, found the answer to my previous question, i.e. direction of water flow in a 2224:



The water enters via the "IN" opening & flows directly all the way to the bottom of the canister first, before being "pulled"/pumped up to the "OUT" opening, & hence being forced through the media baskets from the bottom to the top of the canister respectively.

But! I have got a new question: for the 2224 canister filter, is it al right, i.e. safe, for me to fill the huge, wasted, empty space at the very bottom of the canister with some more media, i.e. be it a few layers of filter wool or some loose ceramic rings, just for the purpose of more (mechanical) filtration? Since that huge space is not occupied by any thing? See attached photo:

[huizhong]

i did put some media in the empty space before. it was ok and working

[ralliart12]

i did put some media in the empty space before. it was ok and working

May I know specifically what (type) of media you place in that empty space & did you fill up that empty space entirely or...?

[huizhong]

i just drop a few ceremic rings into that space. just 1 layer cr height

[ralliart12]

Actually I'm curious if there's any detrimental/dangerous issue to fill up that empty space, as I've come across a few sites that said the empty space if there to "collect" any relatively large particles & prevent them large particles from reaching the media stages/trays at all. But if that's the only reason for the empty space, wouldn't some coarse mechanical media there be even better?

[xconnect.]

For my 2224 I don't dare put anything there because I scared I compromise the flow rate of the filter .

[ralliart12]

I was thinking of placing some coarse media there, but the risk still exists, i.e. if I cannot force the water flow to go through the majority of the pile of coarse media there evenly before being pushed upwards back through the media trays...

Currently, this is what I'm intending to go for (from top to bottom of canister):

Media tray 1 top - Magicclean cloth pad (just 1 piece only; placed it at the very top so that I can replace it regularly too)
Media tray 1 main - Biohome Plus
Media tray 2 - Biohome Plus (entirely)
Empty space (at bottom of filter) left - the default Eheim provided mechanical filter media
Empty space (at bottom of filter) top right - the default white finer filter wool
Empty space (at bottom of filter) top left - the default blue coarse filter wool

...the default arrangement of media types as advised by the Eheim 2224 manual, which is (from top to bottom of the canister):

Fine filter pad (white wool)
Biological media (Eheim SubstratePro)
Blue filter pad (coarse)
EhfiMech
...

Btw, ceramic rings are intended mainly to be biological filter media right? How come Eheim's supposedly (most coarse, according to its recommended tier placement in the 2224 manual) mechanical filter media, the EhfiMech, are actually ceramic rings?

[Rexxer]

Hi all. I am thinking of starting a 2ft tank for better water stability. Can I know which model you guys recommend? And any nice 2ftx 1ft to recommend? TIA