Problem With Eheim 2213 Filter

[wilsonian]

For the past 6 months now I keep getting low/no flow on my filter. When I diag the issue it seems the intake line and pump are full of waste. I've cleaned the filter out twice now this year which in the past is not something I would do (normally every 12 months or so).

All I can think of is I changed the medium of my tank from plain old gravel to black sand which looks great but the fish waste doesn't collect in the sand thus I think the filter is doing more work. Would this be correct and if so what can I do to prevent this from continuing?

I thought about putting a larger filter in there or maybe changing the medium to black gravel.

Just to give you an idea of what the tank is it's a 4ft by 1ft with two T-barbs, 4 gouramis (1 blue 1 pearl and 2 golden) an unside down catfish and a common plec. I thought this wouldn't be anywhere near the stock limit of the tank but it seems the filter just can't cope anymore

Any thoughts?

 

[Davo86]

tbh maintaining the filter once every 12 months is not really enough, especially as you have a common pleco in the tank which is a huge waste producer alone,
I think a problem may be that the fish are growing and therefore their levels of waste is increasing,

You really need to be maintaining externals around 3-4 times per year at least IMO (and internals around 5-6 times per year)

Also i think that although the 2213 states that it is suitable for tanks upto 250L you really should aim for a flowrate of at least 5x per hour, In a 4x1x1 with a volume of 113L you should really be aiming for a flow rate of at least 565lph, (an eheim 2213s maximum flow rate is only 390lph)

 

[wilsonian]

thanks for the reply. Do you think getting a second 2213 or maybe going for a larger single filter will be better? Also I'll start cleaning the filter more often

 

[Davo86]

a new or second filter would definitely help

 

[wilsonian]

The filter intake and outake is setup like so.

I was thinking getting another 2213 get adding it on oposite sides. but was thinking it might cause the middle of the tank to get mucky...

 

[Davo86]

The filter intake and outake is setup like so.

I was thinking getting another 2213 get adding it on oposite sides. but was thinking it might cause the middle of the tank to get mucky...

how wide is the tank? can the spray bar fit down the side as opposed to on the back?
I would put your inlets in each back corner and have the spray bars running down the sides aiming across the length of the tank

 

[wilsonian]

The tank is only a foot wide so the spray bar will have trouble (I'd have to cut it down slighty to get it to fit).

I did decide on upgrading the filter to a eheim 2217 however this has been set back due to clumsy couriers.

I've also been informed that the plec I have will out grow my tank and if this is the case some pf my blockage issues maybe resolved.... Will keep this updated.