Eheim filter flow problem

DKRST

My Eheim 2215 flow rate drops quickly after almost every cleaning, any suggestions?. Should I just replace the sponges with filter floss?

When really clean, I get nice jets of water from the spray bar. I have a pre-filter (cleaning daily now) and I just cleaned the internal blue sponges (I'm cleaning weekly now) and the filter flow is still not what it should be! Do the sponges build up a bio-film over time? My media is 8 months old. I'm using the stock items that came with the filter and I have even recently cleaned out the intake and return lines. Flow was good and dropped off within a few days again. Very frustrating.

I'm going to empty the filter this evening and run it without media to see what the max flow actually is.

RANT - is the Eheim system of clips and pins on the 2215 (and related filters) the most absurd way of holding the top on? I'm always chasing the silly pins across the floor!

DKRST

Bump...

No opinions or thoughts out there?

Boredomb

Have you check the hoses? I mean clean then recently? That could be some of it. I wouldnt think the pads would need to be replaced unless they are falling about. Do you take then out and squeeze then in tank water that you have siphoned out. I usually do that and rinse them. Repeating the process a couple of times. Oh I see you said you cleaned the hoses sorry. Ummmm I honesty don't know. Do you think you got debris in the motor? You could change the pads and see if that helps.

Boredomb

Not sure how the 2215 is setup but I have a 2213 and the media and pads are in a basket so to speak. If yours is the same way. You could take everything out. The noodles, media, and the pads clean everything including the basket and see if that helps. Just a thought. :/

wannalearn

its a diffrent filter alltogther, but my fluval305 did that. it was the gasket, where the lid sets down on the canister, allowing it to suck air,.. check that,,

DKRST

All good suggestions, the pump does seem to be drawing air - I'll try lubricating that gasket or replacing to see what happens. Used to be super quiet, but is making noises like it would with air in the line - thanks!

Boredomb

Just a thought since you said that. I have to ask how are you priming it after you clean it? Are you sure you are getting all the air out of the system? (I mean no offence here as I am sure you know how to do it) When I prime mine I hold the output in a bucket lower then the intake. I shake the canister itself a couple of times and even turn it on to make sure the air is out. Then I unplug the canister again. and put my finger over the output and plug it back into the spray bar. I generally don't have any air in it doing it that way. Took me a while to figure out how to do it but thats the best way that works for me.

DKRST

Actually, I do almost the exact same thing to prime. No offense taken!

Boredomb

I never though about doing it that way till I say a video of a guy priming his Fluval once LoL

DKRST

Flow problem solved!
It was not the gasket, but a second clog of bacterial/fungal slime in the intake line. Thanks for suggesting that I check it again. Stupid me, I never thought to check the inflow line flow rate since I knew I had cleaned the line only a week earlier! The clog wasn't visible since it was a kind of translucent "yuck". A quick run-through with a brush and forced water took the clog out. I think the clog resulted from a biofilm growing in my pre-filter and that "clog" has spread to the rest of my tank, in terms of bacterial slime or some type of slime mold. I re-scaped and stirred up a lot of nutrients, the filter was running poorly for a week due to the clog, and my light timer was messed up due to miss-programming on my part.

Between all those things, my 55 tank is a wreck right now with the slime covering almost every plant in the tank. Nothing a steady fertilization, lighting and water change routine won't remedy over time, but it's an ugly mess right now.