Grrr.... are there any Eheims that DON'T eventually start leaking?

[HarleyK]

Sorry to hear.

In over 30 years of Eheims, that only happened to me when I had not inserted the O-ring correctly. Seeing that you have problems with several Eheims, that might be your exact problem. Could you ask the guy or store you bought them from to walk you thru the installation of these O-rings and proper closure of the lid?

I personally use silicone oil to lube them up and then insert them. They generally appear to be too large for the lid, you have to compress them a bit (not overlap surplus length).

Best of luck,
HarleyK

Eheims are ovarrated outdated and ovarpriced

So is proper spelling

 

[DaveB]

Joe, I unfortunately have two of those running around too. One is more destructive than both my dogs ever were as puppies. I hate it.

Harley, both of these units came with tanks I bought long ago. I had the 2028 up and running for years with no problem, then it started leaking a bit (O ring) but was only a problem if it wasn't level... Inside a rubbermaid, it still worked nicely for another year or so. Then I moved, didn't need it for a month or so, and after that it started really leaking from the edges.

Just now I put it inside a 10g and put it into my downstairs tank. It was pouring out the edge. Probably a cup in the first minute. Didn't even plug it in.

I lack silicone oil. That's what I thought I was getting today when I ended up getting the kind of silicone that acts as an adhesive. Whoops. This goes far beyond the O ring though. Usually with that, the top fills up and the dead giveaway is that I can see water pooling up in the two sides under the handles.

I am wondering now if something else is going on besides just the edge... the top itself ended up with a ton of water in it. I hadn't seen that before. I ought to take the thin little lid piece of the top off and watch it to see what's going on. Maybe I cracked the little glass tube... I've heard that's also common.

This time when I put the 3rd O ring in I followed a trick I saw on a different forum, where I slid it back through the other side, and it did avoid the pinch/crimp as advertised (I had previously experienced that - depends which way you slide the pump back in). I figured that'd help.

That's the only O Ring that is even slightly different from straightforward no-brainer installation... I can't even think of any way it's possible to screw up the install of the other ones.

 

[Broski]

I hear you on the leaky oring and such, I've got a few ideas, and a few things you shouldn't be doing. take the O-rings off and wrap a layer or two of teflon tape in the groves for the O-ring and then put the O-rings back in. Use silicone grease (do not use vaseline or any petroleum based product, as it can and will eat away at the plastic and rubber, causing leaks).

 

[DaveB]

Really? I understood Vaseline to be an OK substitute.

Maybe I ruined the stuff myself.

 

[deeda]

Vaseline has been recommended as an appropriate lube on the Eheim FAQ section of their website. I've been using it for a number of years without any problems.

 

[impala]

Vaseline has been recommended as an appropriate lube on the Eheim FAQ section of their website. I've been using it for a number of years without any problems.

Same hear, been using common vaseline for years. Ironically since 3 out of 4 of my Eheims are 9-12 years old I bought spare head gaskets 3 years ago and have yet to need them.

 

[DaveB]

So I took the top apart again to poke around and be sure the clear portion of the 2028 wasn't cracked, which could've led to the inside of the cap being all wet, if not the O Ring. It was not.

But then I thought of something and would've kicked myself if I was flexible... there are O rings on the double tap in/out connecting piece!

I happen to have two extra of these pieces (and I have no clue where they came from... they're $40 each too). Swapped one in... and I worry that I may be speaking too soon, but it's running right now on the tank downstairs and the only leak is a slow trickle that is very clearly coming from the gasket.

Naturally, I don't see that gasket for sale anywhere online at all.

I'm going to give it some time, of course. But it's sitting in a 10g tank cranking away and instead of a cup of water in 90 seconds, it has so far only been about one drip every ten seconds. Time will tell if the upper portion of the lid is remaining dry.

If I figure out a way to get a flat bulkhead connector to drain the inside of my Discus tank stand (it's water tight) maybe I'll just run the 2028 up there, unrepaired, to help do the draining for the drip system

 

[fox3]

I go thru those gaskets every 4 - 5 years on the Pro II's. They get around $18.00 for them here special order at our LFS.

I have used matchbook cardboard folded once under the clamps to increase their grip power in the past and got another maintenance cycle out of the gasket until a new one came in stock. I now keep an extra on hand just in case as we have a few Pro II's.

 

[DaveB]

Interesting. That's a good idea. You put it up on the very top, the surface on the lid onto which the four clamps sit?

I confirmed no internal leakage, so it was definitely the little O rings last time (which, had I not had the other set of double click things on hand, would only cost $3, which is nice). I guess I'll call around about the gasket. I may go with the cardboard trick permanently too, just in case.

 

[fox3]

I am not sure you want to shim the clamps permenately. That might cause the gasket to compress under pressure over time.

When I put a new gasket up against the old one I am replacing you can notice one is thicker than the other. Sorta like the old one shrinks a little bit with age from compression. By shimming the clamps when the gasket shows a leak you may be able to get another maintenance cycle out of it without it leaking.