Unless it has been designed to defy the laws of physics, it has the potential to drain a tank...just like any other canister that sits below the tank
Eheim 2217
- Thread starter apastuszak
- Start date
If I'm not mistaken, the impeller is on the output side of the filter & not the intake side. In such manner it creates a negative pressure inside the filter housing itself and if you have pre filter sponges over your intakes in the tank that will also help in creating this negative pressure. The negative pressure will keep the filter from leaking if it has small leaks, but beware of power outages whereby the negative pressure will be lost and gravity will take its course.
Of course, you can always place the filter higher than the tank once the filter is running.
I might do that. I have a Fluval 305 on there now, and I like the space to add extra media that a canister gets me. But I read continuous reviews of how the filter allows water bypass as the filter gets clogged. The only filter that was claimed to have no bypass was the Eheim. So I went looking there, only to find a lot of complaints about the Chinese models, hence this thread.
Power outages I am not concerned with. I'm more concerned with the number of posts telling me about the canister leaking from a crack developing in the canister or the intake pipe sticking out of the filter. These posts and reviews correlate with production moving to China.
I don't want to come home to 55 gallons all over my family room floor, because a crack developed.
The AC70 and AC110 can hold a sufficient amount of bio media and is very versatile in setting up media the way you prefer. Sure you can have by-pass, but this is just an indication that your mech media needs cleaning/replacing.....and with an hob, access to the media is snap.
I can tell you Eheim is not the only canister that can claim no by-pass. I have a couple of Oddysea canisters and they are designed with no by-pass........and they work great and are dirt cheap
Here's where I got it from http://www.aquatraders.com/Aquarium-Canister-Filter-Odyssea-CFS-500-p/42044.htm
Only thing you'll want to do is replace 4 o-rings on the controller arms ($5) and this canister is a beast. If you happen to decide on this canister, send me a PM and I'll give you the exact size o-rings you'll want to buy. I have the 500 on my 75gal and it is a lot of flow....which is adjustable. I also have the 700. Love these things!
If it cracks and springs a leak, it will indeed drain your tank. I guess what I should have said is Eheim's don't go around cracking, their fittings don't just come apart when you're not home, the lids don't just let loose and start spewing water. But, with a canister filter having an intake almost to the bottom of the tank, if....oh say....a hole gets kicked in the side of the canister, then it will drain the tank until the water level is below level of the intake hose.
If you're worried, I'm sure you could find a check valve that fits the tubing that comes with Eheim 2217's--I think it's 16 mm hose? I'd say most people don't do that, though, and I'd be surprised if Eheim makes one. Let us know if they do, though.
just an FYI they did not move to china, they moved out of china, the factory they moved from now makes the Jebao brand canisters. I have one of these, been running almost 2 years, no issues, power cord is thinner and cheaper and a different 0 ring design, but the canister itself is exactly the same.
Last edited:
