Eheim Pro 3e Rattle

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T

turbofish

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 21, 2007
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Cleveland, OH
I purchased and set up an Eheim Pro 3e 2078 two days ago. It has a rattle that I can hear from the next room. My previous Pro II 2028 was practically silent. I have tried power cycling the filter and repriming it, with no luck. I don't think there is air in the system, but isn't it supposed to automatically purge air in the system anyway? I know that over time a worn impeller can cause a rattle, but this is brand new! Otherwise the filter seems to be running fine. No error signals on the LED readout, and it seems to be moving the water well. Just noisy compared to Eheims and Fluvals I've had in the past.

When I was installing the pump head, I noticed that something sounded loose in it when I would tip it to the side. Has anyone else noticed anything that sounds loose in the 2076/2078 pump head?

More importantly, does anyone have any suggestions for fixing the rattle? Thanks to all in advance.
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I have a few 2078's and all are absolutely silent as quiet or quieter then a 2028. I'd say you have a major warranty issue. I would be returning that filter immediately to exchange it for a new one. And no nothing in the head should rattle
 
Thanks for the replies. You are probably correct that it is defective. I purchased it from Drs. Foster and Smith via the Internet. Unfortunately, it is the only filter I have on that tank now -- the 2028 was on its last legs, so it seemed. So at this point, I don't have a spare. I guess I'll have to order another and check into returning the first one, hoping it holds up long enough.

Has anyone dealt with Eheim and/or Drs. Foster and Smith regarding defective merchandise? Any suggestions for dealing with them, if so?

Thanks.
 
I just talked to Drs. Foster and Smith. They are going to ship out a new 2078 and a shipping label for return of the old one. That is pretty good customer service. I expedited the delivery to overnight, just in case the current filter gives out.

Is everyone's best guess that it is in the pump head? (It sounds like it.) Does it make sense to simply use the defective 2078's canister (rather than transfer the media) and its hoses? I hooked the hoses up to to an Eheim Installation Set 1 & 2. Those are a pain to remove the hoses from, and I'm not too fond of the standard installation set.

I doubt the problem would be in the disconnect valve or the canister itself. Sound reasonable?
 
Well, the saga continues. The replacement 2078 arrived today from Drs. Foster and Smith. I unpacked it, to find a crack in the side of the canister. There were Eheim green plastic fragments in the bottom of the canister. No big problem, I thought. I'll just use the old canister and the new pump head to replace the rattling old pump head. Then I looked at the new pump head (fortunately). It, too, has a crack in it. It is cracked right next to the inner o-ring, causing a deformation in the o-ring. I'm almost sure it will leak. Especially since there are multiple green plastic fragments embedded in the o-ring. How the heck could that happen? It looks like someone at the factory forced the pump head on, and one of the supports inside sheared, cracked the canister, and then punched in the side of the pump head.

So now back to the rattly original. Drs. Foster and Smith have agreed to send out a third one. (Can't complain about their service.) I've never had this many problems with filters in the 25 years I've run tanks. I have liked my prior Eheims, but this model is giving me fits.
 
Don't worry it is worth the wait. These are great filters. I do not like to order online much, but when it comes to customer service Drs. Foster and Smith are one of the best sites for it.
 
The third replacement 2078 just arrived. Anyone see any problems with using the new pumphead (which, hopefully, is rattle-free) on the old canister? I won't have to switch the media baskets that way. I assume these parts are mass-produced and perfectly interchangeable. Probably a dumb question, but after having a leak in a Eheim 2028, I'm a bit paranoid.
 
Just unpacked the third replacement 2078. Popped the head of it and took at look at the o-rings. A very long, very red piece of hair is caught between both sets of o-rings and the plastic of the head. Looks like it was on there before someone put the o-rings on, and it got trapped there. Good grief, what is with Eheim's quality control?

I believe I have pulled it out, but it was really embedded in there. Think that could compromise the seal if I didn't get it all? Leak paranoia again.
 
Okay, this one rattles, too. It's very minor right now, and I can put up with it if it doesn't get any worse. But the first one's rattle seemed to get worse as time went on.

What the heck am I doing wrong? I've followed the instructions to the letter. I never had noise problems with the half dozen other models I've used in the past. But the 2078 is not playing nice with me.

Any suggestions? Is it possible there is still air in the system? If so, how can I get rid of it? I feel like I'm in an infinite loop.
 
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