Eheim and sumps

[RedDwarf]

I also forgot to mention that sumps are a great place to run UV sterilizers, heaters, algae filters, micron filters, chemical filtration, water monitoring devices and auto water top off units. The added benefit of the surface skimming of the overflow and aeration provided by the falling water is also a plus.

 

[dennisdeng2002]

Have you ever used OC filters? And if you have, how often did you clean out the mechanical filter? The reason why most people use eheims and other larger canister filters is the interval of cleaning. That little clean out valve that's on the bottom of the filter helps to reduce the build up of humus and detritus that gets trapped before your filter becomes a nitrate factory. I would much rather open the valve than to tear apart an OC to clean it and then you would have to bleach the pleated cartridge. One other point in using the bigger eheims is their volume, a row of OC sure does take up a lot of real estate under your stand. And if you bought your eheim 15 years ago, it wasn't that expensive and they are built to last.

No the reason why most hobbyists use Eheims are because Eheims are more convenient and more available to the general public, and people also don't want to deal with PVC connections and external pumps. I actually use Eheims and OC's on my 120/55 setup, and I've got to say they're both superb filters. OC's are actually relatively easy to clean once you get the routine down and the amount of gunk they pull out of the water is amazing, I only run about 400 GPH through them and the tank is spotless. My point is that Eheims are great but why waste the money and not utilize the Eheim for what it was built for.

 

[RedDwarf]

t why waste the money and not utilize the Eheim for what it was built for.

Could you clarify this point? What is it that you think the eheim isn't being used for? Just because you don't use the J tube and most of the hoses that come with the eheim, that shouldn't change the way the filter works. Dirty water goes into the filter and clean water comes out. It shouldn't matter where and how you get the water to the filter. You would need at least 2 of the OC to get the volume of the 2260 and depending on your bio-load your maintenance would go up dramatically. I don't think you could go 6 months without servicing the OC's where as you can with the eheim. This discussion was never on the price point of eheim vs other filters, but on how to plumb an existing eheim into a sump. Remember that a sump isn't necessary a bio filter, just a basin for water to collect to be pumped elsewhere.

 

[dennisdeng2002]

I don't really want to get into an argument with you, as I've said many times that Eheims are great filters, I own 2 myself. Look through my thread, I know exactly how sumps work and I also know what it takes to maintain both filters. You're implying that Eheim's will have a longer service time, while that is generally true, it's also due to the relatively low flow mechanical filtering ability of Eheims. OC's filter down to 30 microns with relatively no bypass, and combined with a high head pump, can last 2 months even in the presence of a lot of detritus. This is not to take anything away from Eheims, which are mainly biofilters anyway, but when it comes down to it I can just as easily backwash OC's, and cleaning Eheim's without a huge media bag is just as bad, if not worse.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=267685

And even if the question was how to plumb a Eheim to a sump, I am just offering a suggestion, price might not be an issue if you already own a 2260/2262 but if you're in the market for something to add on to your sump/tank there are better/cheaper , albeit not as convenient options like OC's.

 

[jft]

Wow some cool opinions but I should have stated I was speaking of 2217 Classic canisters, I should have made that ,clear < my apologies, But what I was hoping was to see if Eheims which I have used on all my tanks , currently six eheims running on reefs to livebearer tanks could be used like a media reactor. I believe they would need to be lower than the sump to operate. If not Let me know. I have used Eheims mostly as chemical and mechanical filters , as I clean them on a regular basis, though certainly freshwater aquarists rely on their BIOLOGIC capabilities. ME, well I have always built redundacy into my systems, so sumps for Biologic, EHEIMS for fine, coarse, and chemical filtering. IT all works so to each his own. Would love more discussion.

 

[RedDwarf]

You do understand that this is a forum and most are used for discussion

Honestly I don't know why you would ever want to do this

I think your wording is a bit off if your trying to just express your opinion but that's not important.

And to the OP, all you would need is a check valve on the intake of the eheim. With that in place you can have the water level lower than the canister and have it still operate but at a lower efficiency. I have used fluvals in the past as reactors in my reef tanks.

 

[jft]

any ideas on 2217 canisters run out of sump?

 

[felixxx]

I've had it running for at least 10 years this way, if you use don't use a pump rated over 1100 gph then you should be fine. I'm running QuietOne 4000's on my eheims.

Some teflon tape works wonders with thread leaks. I use brass swing checks since the tank is freshwater, but if you were going to use it in waltwater then I would use the pvc type, just make sure there isn't any metal in the swing check for saltwater applications.

Nice mod, still gotta pay for my 2260 on ebay but when i get it i may do that if height is an issue!