Eheim Pro Ii Help Needed For 1st Tropical Tank Please

[waterdrop]

I read this whole thing shaking my head in disbelief that a brand new ProII, one of the best cannisters out there, could give anyone this much trouble starting up... until I got to the last post and realized it was a -used- cannister and indeed had sat uncared for. That explains it, as you've found out.

You've learned a valuable lesson. There are, to my knowledge (I don't have that exact model), 3 important black silicon rubber O-Rings on there, as you've no doubt noticed now. One in the large one sealing the pump head to the cannister box, the other two are the little ones that seal the inlet and outlet taps to the pump head on top. You have to learn to love and care for these 3 rings . By now you've probably got yourself new rings, right?

Learn to take them off gently and dip your thumb and forefinger in either vasoline or the nearly identical stuff eheim gives you (vasoline with fewer additives) and rub it into the silicone rubber all around and along the O-Ring. What I do is to do a -thorough- application like this periodically and then most of the time just apply a bead of vasoline around the perimeter without taking the O-Ring out, like rabbut was describing. The small tap rings are easy to take off every time to give a thorough re-lube. Always closely inspect the entire O-Ring for breaks and nicks. You want to be prepared to get a new seal if an old one gets broken.

We tend to feel this silicon rubber material and assume its totally water proof (because is does seal so well), but in fact this stuff will oxidize (or some sort of reaction) and break down when directly in contact with water over a long time. This is why we protect it with vasoline in a water application. If you are a swimmer, for instance, and use a silicone cap, you can make it last a lifetime by drying it after each swim. If it stays wet it will rip within a month or two.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[lucejayne123]

I read this whole thing shaking my head in disbelief that a brand new ProII, one of the best cannisters out there, could give anyone this much trouble starting up... until I got to the last post and realized it was a -used- cannister and indeed had sat uncared for. That explains it, as you've found out.

You've learned a valuable lesson. There are, to my knowledge (I don't have that exact model), 3 important black silicon rubber O-Rings on there, as you've no doubt noticed now. One in the large one sealing the pump head to the cannister box, the other two are the little ones that seal the inlet and outlet taps to the pump head on top. You have to learn to love and care for these 3 rings . By now you've probably got yourself new rings, right?

Learn to take them off gently and dip your thumb and forefinger in either vasoline or the nearly identical stuff eheim gives you (vasoline with fewer additives) and rub it into the silicone rubber all around and along the O-Ring. What I do is to do a -thorough- application like this periodically and then most of the time just apply a bead of vasoline around the perimeter without taking the O-Ring out, like rabbut was describing. The small tap rings are easy to take off every time to give a thorough re-lube. Always closely inspect the entire O-Ring for breaks and nicks. You want to be prepared to get a new seal if an old one gets broken.

We tend to feel this silicon rubber material and assume its totally water proof (because is does seal so well), but in fact this stuff will oxidize (or some sort of reaction) and break down when directly in contact with water over a long time. This is why we protect it with vasoline in a water application. If you are a swimmer, for instance, and use a silicone cap, you can make it last a lifetime by drying it after each swim. If it stays wet it will rip within a month or two.

~~waterdrop~~

yes that its a very good point - i think it needs new seals on the 'O' ring, were ok with the internal (for now) but its good knowing when i get more stock all i need is a 'O' ring.

thanks for all your help and being pacient with me!

theres no fish in the tank at the mo, its only on its second day of running with a filter in now...cant wait for the fish!

 

[rabbut]

Learn to take them off gently and dip your thumb and forefinger in either vasoline or the nearly identical stuff eheim gives you (vasoline with fewer additives) and rub it into the silicone rubber all around and along the O-Ring. What I do is to do a -thorough- application like this periodically and then most of the time just apply a bead of vasoline around the perimeter without taking the O-Ring out, like rabbut was describing. The small tap rings are easy to take off every time to give a thorough re-lube. Always closely inspect the entire O-Ring for breaks and nicks. You want to be prepared to get a new seal if an old one gets broken.

Well, no, I was trying to recomend (in my usual not-so-clear manner apparently ) the long-winded method you describe waterdrop I would do the full loob every time, makes the seal last longer

OP, I assume you are adding Ammonia to the tank ATM? If not, you are just wasting electricity by running the equipment ATM It's common LFS advice to run the tank for a week, a month e.t.c without any thing it, and adding either nothing or a bottle of dead "bacteria in a bottle", all of which was the wrong species when alive anyway.... This won't help and could potentialy lead to lots of fish deaths when you do add your fish Just checking you're getting off on the correct foot

All the best
Rabbut

 

[lucejayne123]

Learn to take them off gently and dip your thumb and forefinger in either vasoline or the nearly identical stuff eheim gives you (vasoline with fewer additives) and rub it into the silicone rubber all around and along the O-Ring. What I do is to do a -thorough- application like this periodically and then most of the time just apply a bead of vasoline around the perimeter without taking the O-Ring out, like rabbut was describing. The small tap rings are easy to take off every time to give a thorough re-lube. Always closely inspect the entire O-Ring for breaks and nicks. You want to be prepared to get a new seal if an old one gets broken.

Well, no, I was trying to recomend (in my usual not-so-clear manner apparently ) the long-winded method you describe waterdrop I would do the full loob every time, makes the seal last longer

OP, I assume you are adding Ammonia to the tank ATM? If not, you are just wasting electricity by running the equipment ATM It's common LFS advice to run the tank for a week, a month e.t.c without any thing it, and adding either nothing or a bottle of dead "bacteria in a bottle", all of which was the wrong species when alive anyway.... This won't help and could potentialy lead to lots of fish deaths when you do add your fish Just checking you're getting off on the correct foot

All the best
Rabbut

i have a bit of filter of my Rio coldwater and a coldwater fish in there at the mo to get it going. so the food will produce ammonia? im going to remove the coldwater fish in the next week or so and bring up to temp
all water levels good

 

[rabbut]

While not considered an "ethical" approach by many on this board, the method you are using will work Just make shure the fish has been in with the Ammonia and NitrIte levels reading 0 for a week before your large waterchange and switching on the heater

All the best
Rabbut

 

[lucejayne123]

While not considered an "ethical" approach by many on this board, the method you are using will work Just make shure the fish has been in with the Ammonia and NitrIte levels reading 0 for a week before your large waterchange and switching on the heater

All the best
Rabbut

Thanks, and if - and when i need advice i know were to come !! thanks for helping me anfd so quickly too! thanks again