New Eheim Ecco 2236- I have questions!

[kkirch95]

Hi...I just bought the Eheim Ecco 2236 to replace two Eheim Liberty hang over the back filters that I've had for years. I set it up over the weekend and I THINK (hope) I did it right. It's in a 55 gallon tank (I think that's about 210 liters)and the filter's rated for 80 gallons (about 300 liters) so that's good, but I have a few questions.

I have primed and reprimed and there's always a small amount of air inside the canister at the top. Does it have to be 100% full of water and is there a way to do this? I didn't trim the hose at all so it's a bit longer than absolute necessary. Would that have any impact on this? It seems to be running fine, but then I came home today and it was spitting out air bubbles in short bursts from where the water is supposed to be sent out into the tank from. Is this normal? I opened up the bottom of the tank and noticed that there was about an inch of air in the canister. I haven't moved or touched it. I have a bubble stick along the back of the tank. Is it possible that the intake is taking the air bubbles in and filling the canister with air slowly? This is all making me wonder if the filter is even working properly. I have the intake and outflow near each other near one end of the tank where one of the small Liberty filters was. (Does it matter where I have the outflow thing pointed at?...it can swivel...should it be pointed in any certain manner?) I still have the other Liberty running on the other side of the tank- it's been about a day and a half since i set up the Ecco and I don't know for how long I should run both together. I'm afraid to take the Liberty away in case the Ecco isn't set up right, and also because of it being new and not having the bacteria or whatever in it already.

I don't know if it matters, but the tank doesn't really have a whole lot in it (I don't think anyway...I could be wrong but I haven't had any deaths in at least a year even through a move). This is it:

1 Clown pleco
2 Angel fish
2 Black-skirt Tetra
3 Harlequin Rasbora
1 Common Pleco
1 Otto
2 Australian Rainbow Fish
3 Long finned Zebra danios

Anyway, any advice you can give would be appreciated greatly.

[jweintraub]

Definately move the bubble stick from the intake tube!

Also, try tilting the filter to all four sides and keep doing this until it becomes quiet. I have to do this every time I perform maintenance on my filter to purge all of the air out of it.

Good Luck!

[genitor]

The filter will function more efficiently if the output and intake are place at opposite ends of the tank.

[kkirch95]

Thank you- I wish the directions were a little more specific. I never want to ask at the pet store cause most of the people seem to be making things up as they go along. I sometimes test them by asking a question I know the answer to so I can see if they really know anything. Does the output need to face in any particular direction? Up, down? I have it angled downward aboout 45 degrees.

[jeffs99dime]

Thank you- I wish the directions were a little more specific. I never want to ask at the pet store cause most of the people seem to be making things up as they go along. I sometimes test them by asking a question I know the answer to so I can see if they really know anything. Does the output need to face in any particular direction? Up, down? I have it angled downward aboout 45 degrees.

do you mean the output on the canister itself, or the output/out take inside the tank? if it's on the canister it should be pointing upright on a 90 degree angle towards the bottom of the tank if it's mounted underneath the tank, which i assume it is. the air bubbles being shot into the water usually indicate an air pocket inside the canister. this should work itself out though. also, the intake should be placed on one side of the tank and the out take towards the top of the tank facing inboard to create max surface aggitation across the tank and max flow.

[kkirch95]

Ummm, the output inside the tank is what I meant. I didn't think it mattered on the canister though- why make them movable if it matters? But yeah, under the tank they seem to be fine and I moved the one inside the tank. Now the intake is on the far right end of the tank and the output is on the left, but it's pointed downward and kinda toward the left wall of the tank. I took some pictures. Maybe I can figure out how to post them to show what I mean.

[kkirch95]

Okay, so this is the left and right end of the tank, and the way the canister is set up under the tank. Is this okay? BTW- you guys are awesome. Thanks!

[jeffs99dime]

looks good. i didn't realize you had a h.o.b too. you're set up just fine. good job hooking the valves up as close as possible to the inlet/outlet of the canister. it's not very clear in the directions, as you probably found out. lol:thumb:

[kkirch95]

I actually want to take down the HOB, but I'm leaving it for awhile so the canister has time to establish itself. Not sure how long I should leave it for. The Eheim Liberty HOB is the quietest HOB I've ever had, but it's been coughing a lot lately and seems to be wearing out. I had two, but the intake for the canister is now where the other one was.

[jeffs99dime]

I actually want to take down the HOB, but I'm leaving it for awhile so the canister has time to establish itself. Not sure how long I should leave it for. The Eheim Liberty HOB is the quietest HOB I've ever had, but it's been coughing a lot lately and seems to be wearing out. I had two, but the intake for the canister is now where the other one was.

how long has it been since you cleaned the impeller in the h.o.b? if you are going to pull out the h.o.b, i would wait about 1 month or so until the canister is established--jeff

[kkirch95]

Probably about 2 months ago... it's running fine now. I might just keep both running. Might as well as long as I have it and really it is a quiet thing- I don't even hear the water going back into the tank from it.Good back-up anyway. Thanks.