Canister Question

[dprUsh83]

Okay, so my canister filter came in today and I can not get it up and going. I put the media in the 3 trays, hooked up the intake and the output, filled the canister with water, still not working. The filter isn't pulling water in. I have a prime button, but when I push it, it can't get over the hump from over the top of the filter downward to the canister. What do I need to do to make this work?

 

[WyldFya]

Few things. 1)what type of filter, 2)if eheim is it standard kit, or kit 2? 3) do you have slack on the line for both input and return?

The line to the filter needs to be all down hill. If you have kit 2 for eheim, then just uncap the input line, and fill it with water. If you don't have a kit 2 or it isn't an eheim, then empty the filter, and reconnect it. Push the primer a few times until water begins to flow. You will hear it. When the filter is nearly full, plug it in.

 

[dprUsh83]

Okay, it's a eheim knockoff (Ultra-1000 by Catalina Aquarium). I got it running now, pumped the hell out of it...feels like my arms are going to fall off. Since there is slack, will I eventually run into troubles? I think it's running well now, but man, there was nothing easy about it!

 

[WyldFya]

CA-1000s are decent filters. Slack in the line is ok, as long as there aren't any uphill swings. Those will make priming more difficult. It may be easier to just fill the canister and the tube going to the filter, then start the pump.