Is it safe to use a sleeping Eheim 2213 filter

[holyindian]

Hi all,
After a lot of reading i and understanding about the right filters that i made from this site, i decided to settle down with an Eheim 2213 External Canister filter.

Everything was going fine... until my filter broke off while i was gently pulling the pipe from the motor cap hose.

Somehow i managed to use some smart gule and tried to fix it, after a couple of weeks later.. the hose from the lower canister broke of...

I was told that Ehiem filters are very durable and reliable. However my experience is otherwise.
I managed to get both the parts, the external motor cover for 12 $ + 7 $ shipping, and the external canister cover (green color) for 16 $ + 8 $ shipping.

Well, coming down to the orignial question, the filter was shutdown in this process and was lying in my closet for almost 6 months (i know this was not the right thing to do, as the media and the bacteria inside the filter cud be dead, but my dad did that.. and he had no idea abt it, and i am living and working in another country) now after getting these parts, I wanted to replace it with the broken part and wanted to start using it with the aquarium. Here i wanted to know.. is it safe to use the filter with the aquarium?? I mean if i clean the filter properly, can i use it with the aquarium, would'nt the fishes die in it?
I have a lot of costly fishes in the aquarium, and i was wondering if anything cud create problems with the fish!?

Another question was, every 10 days my filter gets dirty, and needs to be washed... we dont over do food. And the aquarium is not very crowded with fishes and plants, the dimentions are 4 x 4 x 2 x 1

 

[bigspizz]

You will need to cycle the filter if it will be the only one. And what is the fourth dimension?

 

[LowCel]

As long as you clean all of the media and sponges really well it shouldn't be a problem. I have an eheim 2213 on one of my tanks, I only have to clean it every three or four months. If you have to clean it every ten days you are either majorly underfiltered or you are really overfeeding.

All of the beneficial bacteria was most likely dead within the first 24 hours so don't worry about trying to save it, there is nothing to save.

As for durability, I have never had a problem with an eheim in the seven or eight years I have been using them.

If the tank is 4' x 4' x 2' (240 gallons) you are going to need quite a bit more filtration than just the one canister.

 

[tcarswell]

That has to smell awful... Have him dump all the media first and hose it out. Then test it with the new parts then replace with all new media. I run three eheim 2215 currently and have never had a problem besides me over tightening the double tap valves.

 

[holyindian]

That has to smell awful... Have him dump all the media first and hose it out. Then test it with the new parts then replace with all new media. I run three eheim 2215 currently and have never had a problem besides me over tightening the double tap valves.

Please guide me so as to which media shud i buy for the replacement.

As long as you clean all of the media and sponges really well it shouldn't be a problem. I have an eheim 2213 on one of my tanks, I only have to clean it every three or four months.

All of the beneficial bacteria was most likely dead within the first 24 hours so don't worry about trying to save it, there is nothing to save.

As for durability, I have never had a problem with an eheim in the seven or eight years I have been using them.

If the tank is 4' x 4' x 2' (240 gallons) you are going to need quite a bit more filtration than just the one canister.

Thanks for the reply, its my mistake.. the dimention of the tank is 4 ft in length, 18 inches high, and 12 inches in width.
Thats really strange, cos my filter gets real dirty.. and have to clean it atleast once in 10 days. We take care while feeding... and there are no more than 20 chiclids.

You will need to cycle the filter if it will be the only one. And what is the fourth dimension?

Sorry, the dimentions are 4 ft in length, 18 inches high, and 12 inches in width. I cud not re-edit the post. How do i cycle the filter mate.

 

[LowCel]

What type of cichlids do you have in the tank? Do you have any other filters on the tank?

 

[holyindian]

I was wondering, is it a good idea to have additional canister filter in the same aquarium besides 2213. Or is it an Over kill??
I read a couple of posts where a couple of members were using two filters at the same time?
Is Eheim 2215 a good option for my next or standby filter.
Dimentions are 4 feet in length (48 inches) x 12 inches in width, and a little bit over 18 inches in height.. or maybe we can count 24 inches.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

Clean the filter and start over.

Everything was going fine... until my filter broke off while i was gently pulling the pipe from the motor cap hose.

Somehow i managed to use some smart gule and tried to fix it, after a couple of weeks later.. the hose from the lower canister broke of...

You are either very strong without any idea of dexterity, or your parts were cracked. Considering you got it not too long ago, you should have called Eheim to see if they cover it under warranty. I believe the Classic line has 3 years? Well, at least one year.

Either way, it's a fabulous filter that you will enjoy for many years to come. Just handle it more gently

HarleyK

 

[LowCel]

I am using an Eheim 2213 and a Rena XP3 on my 55 gallon tank (same size tank as yours). The more filters the better. I use three canisters on my 210 gallon tank.

If you have to clean your filter every ten days an additional filter will not be overkill, it is completely necessary. What filter do you have on the tank now while the 2213 is in the closet?

 

[holyindian]

Here are the pictures of my aquarium and few of the fishes i have in it.. as of now there are few more of the varieties, this pic was taken 6 months back.