Question About Externals

[coldcazzie]

Ok, seriously...how do you do anything to your external without getting water absolutely EVERYWHERE?!

 

[Ethan040]

My fluval has a hose lock thing i just lock that take the hose out and take it to my sink take the lid off to clean it out i use the water in it to wash the filter media tip it out whack the lid back on fill it back up and done, no water anywhere lol ive not used any others so maybe they don't have the hose lock thing?

 

[Gilli]

Yep mine is the same! No water anywhere at all. It also has a self start mode so I just plug the hoses back into the filter, drop the lever and switch on! simples!

 

[coldcazzie]

I can't tip it because it leaks when I do, although in fairness I hadn't considered taking it to the sink, mainly because its SOOO heavy! It's just really annoying.

 

[star4]

Get a plastic storage container or washing up bowel and stand the filter in that.

 

[elisew]

lol I`m with you on this one cazzle

My FX5 is fine IF I can drain some water via a third hose before I carry it to the kitchen BUT, if I open it to get some filter media for another tank then put the top back on, water piddles out everywhere!!
It`s really frustrating because I have no chance of carrying it to the kitchen when full, I`m only 5' 3" and don`t have the greatest of strength so needless to say it`s not an easy task

Even when I first disconnect the hoses I always end up with water spilling into the top, so I have a towel wrapped around the top of the filter all the time

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm another one incapable of doing anything to my externals without spilling water all over the place...I'm the same height and level of feebleness as you, Elise, so I can't carry mine until I've emptied most of the water out either!

I'm using an old plastic tank that I can put next to the filter so I can disconnect the hoses and pour a bit of the water out before I try and open them up to do anything.

And I have an old towel that I spread out before I start as well.

 

[OldMan47]

Much like Ethan posted, I shut off the hoses and simply carry the full filters to the sink for cleaning. It probably helps that I am not a small person so lifting a filter full of water is not a real problem for me. All of my Rena canisters along with my Marineland C-series filter (looks like a Tetra-tec) are easy to carry without spilling once the hoses are shut off and disconnected. They are obviously much lighter on the return trip because I carry them back and connect them before opening the fill valves. Both brands are self priming.

 

[coldcazzie]

Both brands are self priming.

That's another issue I have - mine is not! And because I had to shorten the hoses so they didn't air lock while priming I can now only prime it once it's actually in the cupboard under the tank, which makes for some interesting faces trying to press the prime button down while it's in situ!!

I totally didn't think about putting it in something, but to be honest if I was going to do that I may as well try to carry it to the sink, because I'd still have to lift it up to put it in whatever I was putting it in, which means it would still leak water all over me, the floor, the back of the sofa etc etc.

Currently I end up with 3 very wet towels and only if I'm lucky do I narrowly avoid a large puddle.

 

[OldMan47]

What filter are you working with Cazzie? Maybe someone here has the same model and can help you understand how to prime it with ease. The Eheim brigade seems to be missing from this thread so far, although they are often the first to interject when people talk about canister/external filters. Maybe self priming is not an option with those filters. Who knows, I have never had the cash to consider one for my own tanks.

 

[gscooby555]

i turn the inlet tap off with the filter running for 10 sec to drain the external tub from water a bit. Then unplug and turn off the outlet.

 

[raptorrex]

Ok, seriously...how do you do anything to your external without getting water absolutely EVERYWHERE?!

what filter have you got? it seems a strange problem. i suspect its more of a physical problem, not big enough to lift and manoeuvre the filter. for which there is no fix except a husband/boyfriend or brother.

but i find no problems myself.
disconnect the pipes from the filter. (most have some form of tap system)
carry the filter to the sink. though i have done it "on site" (living-room)
though here is where i may be different. i use two 20l tubs. one for pouring the filter water into. the other for putting the filter in. this means any spillage, is contained in the tubs.

 

[coldcazzie]

I have the All Pond Solutions EF2000 (clicky link ) - I'm really impressed with it apart from my inability to do anything without getting wet. However, I have now put it in a washing up bowl so it slides in and out of the cupboard easier and any leakage goes in the bowl. Tried emptying some water out with a syphon but it's so close to the floor that I just got a mouth full of mucky filter water yum!
The top bit which houses the impeller etc is quite heavy for what it is, and the body of the filter isn't exactly light - once you add 12kg of water it's actually pretty hefty! I definitely can't lift it full, although I can lift it once the top is off and it's only 2/3rds - 3/4ers full. Aside from anything else, I wouldn't trust a cat or a child not to get under my feet and trip me up, and my worst nightmare would be dropping it and it smashing all over the floor, complete with 12L of dirty water!

 

[saltynay]

Time to get a gym membership, problem solved. Hazah!!!

 

[coldcazzie]

Time to get a gym membership, problem solved. Hazah!!!

if only I had the time! Maybe I should start weight lifting the kids...