Eheim's first cleaning...

...was a bit nerve-wrecking. First, I tried not to break anything, and successfully didn't. The 2213 had been running for about 10 weeks and I noticed the water flow starting to slow. So I disconnected everything, removed the top 2 pads: the black and the white finishing, dumped all the water, rinsed the media with tank water and put it back together with a new white finishing pad. When I reconnected the hoses and turned it on, the water flow was significantly slower than when I disconnected it. I started to panic thinking I screwed something up, so I disconnected again, opened it up again to make sure there wasn't something wrong, hooked it up again only to get the same result. I tapped the canister to get the air out (there was a lot!) and as it worked it's way out, the flow strengthened, but not to the point where it was when the canister was new. I didn't clean the hoses since I couldn't see much build-up on them, or the intakes on the canister, which I now think might be the culprit. I didn't remove any of the media except the top 2 pads - should I have?

Has anyone had this issue of lesser flow after cleaning an Eheim?

 

I am not an expert or even close to one but here is my opinion. Take the whole filter apart. The 2113 has a basket so remove the basket and then remove all the media into bowls and clean with tank water. When you put it back maintain the same order. When you restart the filter move it left and right until all the air is out. You will hear and see the air coming out. Keep "shaking" until the air stops. By shaking I mean to gently rock the filter from side to side. You should be able to visually look at the hoses to see if they are clogged. If they are and you do not have a brush, run a wire thru the hose, attach a piece of cloth and pull it Bach through. Hope this helps and I'm sure others will give more advice.

 

I am not an expert or even close to one but here is my opinion. Take the whole filter apart. The 2113 has a basket so remove the basket and then remove all the media into bowls and clean with tank water. When you put it back maintain the same order. When you restart the filter move it left and right until all the air is out. You will hear and see the air coming out. Keep "shaking" until the air stops. By shaking I mean to gently rock the filter from side to side. You should be able to visually look at the hoses to see if they are clogged. If they are and you do not have a brush, run a wire thru the hose, attach a piece of cloth and pull it Bach through. Hope this helps and I'm sure others will give more advice.

Thanks. I think my mistake was not taking all the media out. I thought I read somewhere not to do this, just to flush it with tank water, but I must be mistaken.

 

I do not have experience with canisters so excuse the dumb question. What would taking all of the media and basket make a difference in the water flow? Is there so much stuff down there that it is causing a physical obstruction?
Thanks

 

In an Eheim 2213 the water enters through the bottom.

 

okay...so dirt and crud is accumulating near the intake? I don't know how dirty those things get but I imagine if you clean it out every other month it will accumulate a lot of stuff.