Eheim 2215 or 2217 canister use?

[Modern-Revolution]

Wondering if it's worth my time to add this old canister filter to my sump? The sump has a big skimmer and a dsb fuge already. I just figured maybe I could either fill it with live rock rubble or make it a reactor with or phosban or purigen or chemipure. Idk. Just trying to find a use for this old thing. This sump is for a 3 tank display fowlr but may eventually connect this to my mixed reef setup.

 

[Chriscro]

i personally wouldn't unless there was something you were looking to accomplish. canisters are a PITA to be honest.

 

[j tavares]

BS, I have used eheimm 2217s on all my tanks and they are a JOY!!! No problems in 20 plus years and I have never had a problem w nitrates, good skimming and water changes are key, personally I believe you get more w eheims then any reactor out there, JUst my Opinion, Track record superb!

 

[Modern-Revolution]

My model is the 2215 and it seems to have all the parts. What size pump to I need for the intake? The top is heavy so I assume it has some sort of internal output pump? Not sure how to open it. Or is the top the intake? Sorry I dont have instructions. Just found this in my attic. What media do you recommend? It's pretty big, maybe rocks and media?

 

[j tavares]

the pump is contained in the top, the water flows into bottom for NO BYPASS and out top BEST CANISTER OUT THERE ,see my above post 20 yrs and six 2217 all run w/o One problem , GOOD LUCK

 

[Modern-Revolution]

Cool. Ok. So that top/pump is strong enough to suck in water through a "U" tube and up through the eheim and back to the tank? No inlet pump needed? What kind of media do you recommend? There's a lot of space in there. It came with small tube shaped pellets in a bag. Should I just use phosban/ phosguard in there or use the pellets or seachem matrix. Or live rock?

I plan to intake water from skimmer sump chamber and return it to the return pump chamber after the fuge...or should I use the sprinkler piece it comes with and return it to my fuge?

Thanks for your time.

 

[ska d]

I also use the 2215, with no problems, and nitrates are always 5-10ppm. With ree gulat wc. I currently use the blue sponge, two bags of chemipure elite, and seachem matrix to fill the rest, oh and a final layer of floss. I don't think the matrix has given me any benefit other than some extra bio filtration. According to the instructions it calls for 1l of matrix for evert 10 g. I only have 2l in the filter and its running on a 90g minus rock and sand displacement. I tried it as an experiment but to get any kind of real results ( nitrate reduction) I think there would have to a lot more matrix and less flow through the filter (to rich of an oxygen environment) . I'm slowly removing a handful of the matrix during each water change and will eventually try some purigen with the chemi pure elite. I'm pretty happy though with way the system has been running (without a sump, and a hob skimmer) so I don't know if I want to mess with it to much.

 

[BayouBeard]

Ska d....are your running your tank with just the 2215? If so...what size? I want to do a 75g reef and run it with a Fluval FX5. Just wondering if that's doable?

 

[j tavares]

anything is workable, Eheim work well as canisters I have used mine four total for 20 years ,but sumps are the best if you have the room, FOWLR are okay w skimmers and canisters , do reg water changes

 

[BFG]

You could still use it as a maintenance tool. Get a roll of cheap filter wool into the canister filter. A longer hose for the input tube which could reach any part of your tank area and a shorter hose just to return the water back into the tank from the canister. You could literally suck out any small debris which could fit into the hose and clean your display tank. You could use this to clean your sumps too!

 

[HUNTER1]

I use cannister on my 40g with no sump and skimmer with good results. I have carbon, gfo and Purigen in it. It's a all in one media reactor. Cleaning is a breeze.

 

[crazylawyer]

I have used the Eheim Classics- 2213,2217- on my FW tanks for many years. Quiet and dependable, never any type of issue.

Having said that they are a real PITA to maintain. Unlike a more modern design, the intake comes in on the bottom and passes through a sponge filter under the filter media. To clean the sponge filter, all of the loose filter media on top has to come out first ( no baskets on the 15/17s) and its a god awful mess. Fortunately, FW planted tanks don't require frequent maintenance .

Due to my inherently lazy nature, messy jobs on my reef tanks don't get done as often as they should. I would never want to use a Classic on a reef (if I was to use a canister) other than as a carbon/gfo/etc chamber. In fact, last time I cleaned my 2217, I swore I was going to replace it with a more modern design. Eheim, of course.