I have an old Ehiem 2213 external filter taking up space in the garage so i thought i may as well use it on my tank for extra filtration.
2 questions - can i just bung filter pads etc meant for other filters in it?
how do i prime it? its been a while since i last used it!
Thanks
I've got one of these, mine came with a variety of media and sponges but I've already replaced the fine sponge with filter wool, I would be perfectly happy to use other pads too so long as they fill the basket.
Priming it is done either by syphon technique or sucking on the end depending how clean the whole lot looks
if you're going to use the sucking method then hook the whole lot up, put the pick up in the tank and suck on the spray bar end until it starts to self fill. Make sure the end you're sucking on is above the level of the tank
Syphon method (I'm assuming you have all the taps to connect the pipes together if not this may not work so well) dunk the entire pick up pipe in the tank and make sure it's full of air, no bubbles. Shut the tap on the end that connects to the filter. Connect the spray bar pipe onto the filter and make sure the taps are open. With the pick up pipe still full of water and the pick up end in the tank attach the pick up pipe to the filter and open the taps. The water should now syphon from the tank into to filter and up the spray bar pipe (which again should be at a higher level than the water in the tank).
When it comes to cleaning, just turn off the filter, turn off both sets of taps and disconnect, clean, reconnect, open spray pipe taps first and let it drain and then open the pick up pipe taps.
I sometimes find I need to expel air bubbles from the pump in mine after priming, I do this by switching off the filter and rocking it backwards and forwards gently. This is the only bit that makes me wish I'd paid the extra for the self priming version
Wow, hope this helps and doesn't sound like I'm teaching you to suck eggs
