How to Clean an Eheim Classic Canister Filter, Model 2215 & 2217

[@xheartx2840]

Thank you so much for this video! I’m 13 and my dad usually helps me take apart the filter so I can clean it but he’s not around as much anymore so I needed to do it on my own. This is so helpful!!

[@igglypou4908]

I know this is an old video but the Eheim canister filters don't really change much and this is still applicable! I'm so glad I found this and was able to follow along and get my filter cleaned!

[@keishadawkins1766]

Thank you! It was really helpful to see you disconnect the filter from the tank 😊

[@JebiPariah]

Thank you sm, my eheim clogged but thanks to this video I figured out how to clean it 100%. Its flowing like it was on the first day now.

[@svetlanalyons6227]

finally, I got the courage to clean my filter thanks to your video. Thank you!!!

[@robOzwrld]

Your welcome, glad it helped!

[@Raybi3z]

I have the same filter and I find that the best way of priming it is to close the valve on the bottom of the cannister, and when you have all your media etc in the cannister fill it up to the top with tank water, open the valve on the top of the motor section then place it on the top. As you push down and lock it in place with the clips water will shoot out of the top valve because it's open thus removing all air in the cannister, hook it up and turn it on. Works every time.

[@robOzwrld]

Nice tip! Thanks Paul.

[@mpwall123]

Nice presentation. I’m looking to buy some sort of canister filter so I stumbled across this one. You only clean it every 6 months, now that’s attractive

[@robOzwrld]

These are great filters, highly recommend, simple, efficient, and built to last. Thanks for watching.

[@stevenbard489]

Really helpful. I was able to clean it up pretty quick. I do agree with the others it might have been helpful to other people to show how to disconnect the hoses and open the filter. Otherwise great video and explanations.

[@math_tutorials6982]

You should show how to disconnect the filter without making a bloody mess.

[@wimhelsen010]

indeed, looking for a video on that to :)

[@deeloc5500]

i was coming for this...

[@Cristianinyj]

Literally why I clicked on this

[@mousumipawar3925]

Thanks I have a similar filter and was going to clean the filter for the first time the video was enormously helpful

[@craigwoodhull3028]

Woody's Discus Once you clean an existing 2217 (like yours) you NEVER have to "suck" on the tube! The water is still in the tubes . Just make sure the canister is a bit over half way full of water.I am adding a third divider so I can set up the 2217 the way PondGuru shows in his video " how to set up a canister filter". Will silicone the second plastic piece that covers the foams. Then add my Bio Home media. The 2217 is one great filter, my first one was over 36 years ago !!! Woody

[@craigwoodhull3028]

Woody's Discus The eheim 2217 is the best for your $. All the new 'China" filters hav great reviews as well. The Sunsun has a 9watt uv in it and is very inexpensive..The new eheim is fantastic. I have a FX 5 as well. the 6 is a bit better. Stay away from the 400 series in Fluval. ( Have NEVER heard of a 2217 leaking ! The tip is ,eheim uses a rather large gasket, make sure it is seated all the way around. Woody

[@gissellebekdache4895]

You can use tap water if you first treat it with an antichlorinator. I add seachem prime dechlorinator in different buckets. Then use that water to clean the Eheim media. The blue pad is the only one I rinse/clean with tap water. I've been doing this for 23 years. The bacteria was never affected. I have two 140 gallons tanks. One with discus and the other one with African cichlids. Each tank has an Eheim Professional 3 filter.

[@jspinosa50]

Use for filter media HDX at home depot.1 gal. Elastic Top Strainers (2-Pack). Saves a lot of time, just rinse under running water. ALSO, smear silicone grease on Oring makes it easier to remove and replace. GOOD video.

[@prince151ful]

Great video I love cleaning my canister filters on on my aquariums .

[@robOzwrld]

First time I heard someone say that haha! Thanks for the comment.

[@craigwoodhull3028]

I have had a 2217 for close to 30 years !!!! (on a saltwater aquarium). Bought a new one for my Discus tank ! THEY NEVER LOOSE SUCTION !!! YOU NEVER have to "suck on a line to restart. " The water is in the lines so connect, (after clipplng the top). Hook on hoses, filter will fill air will 'purge' from spray bar. Plug it in , your set. You can tip 2217 back and forth to release air from top of canister. See Pond Guru on how to set up a canister filter . Woody's Discus (FB)

[@robOzwrld]

Nice tips, thanks Craig.

[@michelehogan8830]

My boyfriend showed me how to do this who never had fish aquariums. This is my first one. Some people are just more naturally mechanically inclined thankfully!!! I would have never gotten this canister if it was not for him helping me.

[@paolocasaclang7105]

This video helped me a lot! I'll be changing my filters to a cannister filter. I chose this brand because it's cheap btw I'm from the Philippines.

[@bobharristhebag]

Very well presented. Easy to follow.

[@cal30m1]

If you use a rifle cleaning rod with a slotted jag tip and a large cloth patch, you can clean the entire length of the hose. Just make sure the cleaning rod doesn’t have any oils or solvents on it...

[@sophiaa.4724]

You should show how to undo the connections too.

[@craigwoodhull3028]

Woody's Discus The gray connector. I agree with you.

[@insaturnsringzz]

Yes!!!! This is why Im searching today - I forget how to undo the connections :(

[@carlymyers7407]

Thanks! I followed along and got my filter clean!

[@robOzwrld]

Carly Myers Awesome, glad I could help!

[@YOUNGBEHR]

This type of filter requires cleaning on a monthly basis or bimonthly if you run two. Dirty power filters become inefficient plus produce more nitrate due to a build up of waste inside the filter. Certainly wouldn't recommend leaving it 10 months.

[@timothymcguire8419]

Take waste water and pour onto garden, trees, etc and put used filters into rain barrel - fish poo is an excellent fertilizer!

[@phoneutriactenidae8061]

I wanted to see you opening it!! 😭😭😭 Is a nightmare haha

[@Charnelrot]

Try draining some of the water out of the filter first, the top cap will lose it's suction and it will come off easily.

[@rumorswro8173]

Thanks! Very helpful.

[@mcracemichael1248]

Thank you for the Video my eheim clean wather

[@mathias099]

thanks from Canary islands

[@ginodejesus9302]

I’m acquiring a filter like this( 2217 )can I custom my filter set or does it have to be setup like this? I would like to use media bags and more course pads? Thanks great video helped a lot to decide if I even want to deal with a canister filter.

[@seeker4balance]

Very helpful, thanks for posting the vid.

[@robOzwrld]

Your very welcome.

[@nendibus1309]

Very good video. Thanks

[@Hunchedoverman]

Thanks for the vid!

[@fredvoltaggio464]

Very well done and understandable. My only question is how long can you go without cleaning this filter. I have a 46 gal tank with two Marine Land 350 filters and my Eheim. I have about 18 - 20 small 1" to 1 1/2" tropical fish (Freshwater). Thks again, great video!

[@flamingbridges1649]

I havent cleaned mine since I installed it last year. The last canister filter I cleaned one of the hoses popped off and I nearly flooded the living room.

[@tydeology]

Super helpful! Thanks!

[@robOzwrld]

Your welcome, thanks for watching!

[@cichlidaemayhem3573]

Very informitive, thank you for sharing!

[@robOzwrld]

Your welcome:)

[@MbunaMarcus]

Awesome job Rob :)

[@robOzwrld]

Appreciate it Marcus, thanks!

[@MehrabS]

Thanks for the video. It's very helpful.

[@SuprOcean]

Thanks! Very instructional

[@robOzwrld]

Your welcome, thanks for watching.

[@yingli6804]

I have the 2215 since last Apr. But lately even after I change water, my tank is not clear at all. Don’t know what went wrong. Any help?

[@robertbrennan4957]

How did you replace the two plastic parts that cover the impellar.

[@jeremyb2108]

awesome video. very informative. would you recommend this filter over the fluval? also what gal tank is this filter rated for?

[@robOzwrld]

+Jeremy Barfield I have never tried the fluval, all my canisters are Eheim Classics, the 2215 is rated for up to 95 gallons and the 2217 is rated for up to 160 gallons.

[@jeremyb2108]

+robOzwrld awesome. thank you for replying.

[@robOzwrld]

Your welcome, the Classics are great filters, I have 3 of them, never had a issue and they do a great job filtering the water. They can be a bit more of a pain to clean then some of the fancier new models but they are worth it. Cheers.

[@flamingbridges1649]

Is there an easy way to remove the top. I'm finally cleaning mine after nearly a year and I can't get the top off

[@JSpalding]

Great job

[@robOzwrld]

Thanks J, appreciate you watching my video's!

[@sharx0007]

great video

[@robOzwrld]

Sharoukh Elavia Thanks! Glad it helped.

[@wilkography]

Thanks, very helpful

[@codycarlson8463]

Hi, so I'm considering getting one of these filters, I've never had a canister filter. Are they complicated? Also, would this be good for a 60 gal by it's self?: EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter with Media

[@robOzwrld]

Hi Cody, the ehiem classic are great, rock solid filter! I have a 2215 on a 40 breeder and never need to worry, would work on a 60 as well but if you plan on really stocking your tank heavy, go with the 2217, no issues, plenty of filtration for African cichlids.

[@codycarlson8463]

I'm planning on going with 10-12 tiger barbs and hopefully a pair of fire mouth cichlids plus a 6in pleco. Thanks for the reply

[@scooby0068]

nicely dome my friend.

[@robOzwrld]

+Vincent Paruta Thanks Vincent!

[@joelthomas4294]

Pre filter, coarse pad, medium coarse pad, poly fil which is fine pad, media, and then any chemical, like chemi pure elite is the best.

[@brycedesantis6409]

Do you sell fish? I am about to start a tank and it's all set up but just need fish! Or are there websites you recommend?

[@africancichlidfamily]

Sweet stuff

[@robOzwrld]

Thanks!

[@monkeyguy80]

Hi, how often do you clean yr canister filter???

[@jeffreydeiuliis2026]

I have issues with the o-ring on mine. It doesn't seem to want to slide onto the canister body, it sticks and rolls. Do you use any sort of lubricant like vaseline on your to keep it slick? thanks

[@robOzwrld]

I've heard of people using a little dab of Vaseline on the O-ring if it gets too dry, but I've had no issues with mine.

[@MegaTurdle]

+Jeffrey Deiuliis I've heard NEVER to use Vaseline for the O ring. It is petroleum and is toxic! I use Dow 111, a silicone compound. Just a few dollars and will last for years. It is used if food systems and waste systems and will not harm anything.

[@dad3562]

Does beneficial bacteria consume nitrate? I know ammonia is consumed by nitrite but was curious if it was possible for nitrate to be consumed?

[@fabienneisore7831]

No.

[@Alan-ii9lm]

How often do you do this?

[@SuprOcean]

Perfect !

[@nunchuckduck3843]

Are these malawi cichlids in a bb tank?

[@S_t_r_e_s_s]

My 2217 is not going strong even though I cleaned it as you said and it makes a lot of noise. It used to run better but since I called someone in it hasn't been running the same.

[@jenniferpark7397]

Check the attached spinning thing ( I forgot the name) in the motor it's sliver, mine was mounted got it changed and it's fine no noise, impeller I think it is

[@iplaybose]

question, when u clean the filter, do u need to recycle the aquarium ?

[@sargewestside2366]

iplaybose if you use TAP water yes since that kills all your beneficial bacteria you would have to cycle the aquarium all over again... But if you clean the filter with TANK water then no your aquarium will be perfectly fine.

[@iplaybose]

Sarge Westside thank you Sarge!!

[@davidalex712]

Thanks :)

[@GavinSteiner]

One suggestion... Latex gloves. I don't want to shake hands with you ;-) Very informative video. Thank you!

[@robOzwrld]

Your welcome Gavin, thanks for the comment lol!

[@alexisdaiter4935]

Aaah gloves are for the weak

[@drawnhere]

How often do you need to change the filter media?

[@robOzwrld]

Hi David, I've never changed the bio balls or ceramic rings, they will last you many years, same with the blue sponge, just rinse clean in tank water. I change the white filter pad at every cleaning, usually every 6-7 months, my water is always crystal clear, so no need for me to mess around and waste money changing it more often than that, these filters are on some pretty heavily stocked tanks and never had grungy water. You can change the pad a little more often if you like, however I just do it a couple times a year! Hope that helps, cheers!

[@drawnhere]

robOzwrld I actually went from a 10 gallon vertical half moon tank with an in-water filter, to a 54 gallon corner tank with the Eheim Ecco canister. I was such a novice to this canister filter set-up that I couldn't even figure out how to get it to start moving the water through it. I had thought that it sucked up the water the same way my little 10 gallon filter did, via motor. I didn't realize the Eheim motor is only for pushing the water out to the tank ! Anyway, I shut off the intake tube valve, unscrewed the intake tube from the canister, and pointed the intake tube into a bucket, turned the valve back on, and that got the water flowing. I shut off the valve again, screwed it back onto the canister and everything worked normally once I turned the valve back on. Yes, I was a tad confused. But all is good now !!!

[@rhsking05]

Ten months since you last cleaned it?

[@bobharristhebag]

+D Blair Yes he did say that in the video.

[@mackarof77]

guys and also dont forget to put aqua grease on shaft... i solved noisy brand new classic 600 (2217) with greasing ceramic shaft or if used order new shaft+impeller

[@OriginalMindTrick]

You might be Canadian but I'm not sure.

[@insaturnsringzz]

LMFAO, ya think?

[@JPR_PHOTOGRAPHY]

Lol I thought the same thing. Lol strong accent

[@omgshad0w]

Does it matter if you wash the mechanical media with tank water or water from the filter?

[@AaronsStudio]

no

[@omgshad0w]

sorry not tank water I meant tap*

[@AaronsStudio]

With mechanical media, it's fine to rinse with tap....it's not performing a biological function. Clean the biological with tank water. A kitchen colander is much easier to clean your efisubstrat with, then dump it back into your canister.

[@letsplayConfused]

how can somebody have that many fish in the tank and only clean the filter after ten months? Why are there no plants, sand, gravel, stones or wood in the water?

[@rugvedkulkarni1593]

How do you restart the filter after cleaing?

[@JackiePrime]

thank you! now I know why that elbow piece is leaking

[@kandakumar4376]

nice vid but always keep your media wet at all times

[@superhot5555]

How to open the top .......

[@gerryxanthopoulou1279]

You don't show how to unhook the darn thing,a friend installed it so I didn't see how he connected all the hoses so I could dissconnect them later for maintainence.

[@MKM070]

Quick tip, never clean your impellor. It wil make less noice when dirty

[@mariahelenaferreiradacosta871]

Tradução

[@matthewodea3295]

I'm sorry but your doing that all wrong never put your fine filter floss over your bio logical media that's why the bios is so dirty your clogging it up do it this way mechanical first heim mech[rings]then blue pad white on top then eheim bio media if u bock the bi it wont work as well everything lse your doing fine

[@geoxras]

you left the water going with no reason...

[@jasonbombardier1159]

THANK YOU!!! I could not get this damn thing re-primed after i cleaned it. TBH, this filter is a prime example of "you get what you pay for". Its cheap and irritating....

[@mike9090ish]

Go watch big Al's video on how to set up and prime eheim classics. Its very easy. Blow some air into the spray bar/output tube. Put it back on and let the filter do the rest. Ehiems are anything but cheap.

[@bryonsdds9972]

To fill the canister and water lines with water in 20 seconds, effortlessly, use your suction valve (siphon hose) attached to a sink faucet. With the aquarium re-filled and water lines in place with all valves open, put the suction tube on the return tube going to the spray bar (before the spray bar). Pull suction through that tube until the canister and lines are filled (20 seconds). Plug in the filter and it runs!

[@WilliamVG]

Wow...that's dirty.

[@michelhaineault6654]

Cheap eheim with a plastic, easily breakable white rod for the impeller. Buy fluval

[@robotzombie3546]

Dude since you didn't show how to open the canister, this video is "aboot" pointless. Dah

[@bd7587]

I inherited the filter with tank setup and have no idea how to open the thing. I watched 5 minutes of your video only to have you completely skip that part. Thanks for nothing. I don't need instructions on how to rinse filter media. What a complete waste of time.

[@fabienneisore7831]

Go on Eheim web site and get the instructions for your model.

[@jibaoyard6383]

What a silly tutorial. The hardest part is the connection of hoses, yet you show how to clean the parts. A 10 years old kid knows how to wash things.

[@fabienneisore7831]

Wash in water and you kill your cycle, majority of new fishkeepers make that mistake. Hoses: just read the instructions for your filter.

[@jibaoyard6383]

@@fabienneisore7831 how to keep the bacteria alive in the filter during cleaning can easily be found anywhere online, simple words will do. Connecting hoses is something that’s practical, that requires a video for noobs. Certain knowledge r best imparted with video, while some are easily imparted with simple texts