Question On Ehiem 2217 Setup

I picked up an Ehiem 2217 and have a couple of questions:

First the intake side is slight too long. What I mean is that I have to sort of put it slightly diagonally else the bottom will be in the gravel (as it is it is resting on the gravel). The tank is a 40 gallon with height of 16. Is this normal or do I need to do something to get the intake straight (cut it or dig it into the gravel?)

Second, I'm running this filter in parallel with the established filter (aquaclear 70). I want to shut off the 70 but not sure how long I should wait to have bio stuff established - I figured 2 weeks might be long enough. I was going to pack in the bio stuff (white stuff) from the aquaclear 70 but decided not to for various reasons).

Third how can I tell if the current is too strong for the fish. I know I can adjust it by closing off the valves and initially they don't seem to panic too much but the current is definitely a lot stronger now (esp with both filters). I kind of wanted this in hope it disrupt the drain flies by creating a strong filter on top making it unfriendly for the larva but don't want upset fishes.

 

The "white bio stuff" you referred to are called bio-rings, which Aquaclear sells it under their Bio-Max name.

The ceramic bio-rings and the foam sponge block from the AC70 can be placed into the 2217, effectively moving all the beneficial bacteria over to the canister.

If you plan on using the AC70 on another tank, an idea would be to place the AC70's bio-rings into the 2217 and remove an equal amount of the Eheim Substrate Pro (eheim's bio-media) to put back into the AC70.

If the intake strainer from the 2217 is resting on the gravel and not in it, then that is fine. It will suck up all the fish waste floating around quite easily that way.


I am not familiar with drain flies and their larvae in regards to aquariums, so I have no advice on that subject.

 

If I choose to not move the biomax/sponge from the ac70 into the canister filter do you think 2 weeks would be long enough to fully establish the canister filter if I run both filters during that period ?

The "white bio stuff" you referred to are called bio-rings, which Aquaclear sells it under their Bio-Max name.

The ceramic bio-rings and the foam sponge block from the AC70 can be placed into the 2217, effectively moving all the beneficial bacteria over to the canister.

If you plan on using the AC70 on another tank, an idea would be to place the AC70's bio-rings into the 2217 and remove an equal amount of the Eheim Substrate Pro (eheim's bio-media) to put back into the AC70.

If the intake strainer from the 2217 is resting on the gravel and not in it, then that is fine. It will suck up all the fish waste floating around quite easily that way.


I am not familiar with drain flies and their larvae in regards to aquariums, so I have no advice on that subject.

 

You can shorten the intake if wanted Jake.
I wouldn't dig it in.

In case you're not using the old filter media I tghink you'd better keep them running together for at least three weeks.

Another option is to (temporarily) put old filtermedia in the Eheim together with some new (so you'll seed the new filter).
You can take it out after some weeks.

 

How is the tank stocked now?

 

6 KuhlI loaches (2 giant 4 smaller); 3 1 inch cardinals; 2 swords (1 giant female; 1 elegant male); 1 up-side down cat (about 1.75 inch); (4 little cardinal (1/2 inch) and 2 sword kids in a fry net - I had 6 little cardinals but after the swords ate 2 of them I moved the others into the fry net with the 2 kids).
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Thursday I might pick up 3 more regular size cardinals and either 2 upside down cat or 3 yo yo loaches and maybe two dime size angels to complete the stocking. I know the angels will eventually out grow the tank but I figure if I can find dime or nickel size I'll have a year or two to find them a bigger tank.

How is the tank stocked now?