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Last week I bought another tank with supplies. Among those were 2 Eheim ecco 2233 filters.
I have 1 running at the moment, but I wonder how it works.
Unlike the classic Eheims, which go from bottom to top, or the professional series, which run through a pipeline to the bottom and then back to the top, the ecco has an inlet and an outlet on the top and no pipeline whatsoever?? In my non- technical view the water comes in and is immediately sucked out again, without it even touching the filtermaterials in the baskets.
Could anyone pls help me out?

The water is drawn in and travels around the basket and is then drawn up through the medium, it is all in the design of the top section of the filter. I have 4 of these and find them very good

Ian

Can you rig these to run on more than one tank?
Amanda

they only run about +/- 100gph, so I'd be concerned that the suction power wouldnt't be enough if you split the intake. I guess anything's possible, though.

Thanks Ian. Having four of them and thus being an expert, could you also tell me if it's normal that you see (and hear) the water getting in or in other words: that the filter isn't filled to the brim?

Hi Marc

Bad manners I know but I thought I'd answer the question asked to Ian.

A far as my Ecco goes the filter is filled to the brim with water. If it isn't i'd assume that it hasn't been primed properly.

When priming mine I fill the canister with water then seal up and attach the pipes. I then open the out valve and then the in valve which seems to allow water to freely flow into the canister from the tank. If it doesn't completely fill, a few pumps from the priming mechanism seems to do the trick.

Hope this helps.

Gordon

The ecco canisters all have a tube raising vertically from the bottom.
if you pile the canisters (2 or 3 depending on type) you'll see the tubes standing on top of each other (you can view it from above if the top is still off).
this is right under the inlet!
the outlet (in the top) to where the pump is connected to is next to it, but takes the water right through the sieve wich is supposed to go on top of the highest canister.
this is needed to avoid perlonfibers getting sucked up the pump and damaging the rotor.

So the water from the inlet "falls down" the 2 or 3 tubes and ends up in the lowest part of the Ecco. then it raises through 2 or 3 canisters and gets sucked through the pump and out.

I usually stuck the lowest canister full of course blue Eheim sponge to take out the biggest particles. these sponges I rinse very well each month or 2 months or so.

the canister above that one is filled with ceramic tubes (rivertanks) or a broken shells- lava split mix (Tanganyikan and Malawi tanks). this is the "bioload" part of the filter; full of benificial bacteria. I rinse this carefully and lightly with water the exact temperature as the tankwater. or even with 'old' tankwater taken from the tank itself.

The top canister is filled to the brim with loosely packed perlonfiber ("filterwool") and this isn't rinsed but replaced.

I got about 4 tanks running on filters like these and it works very well!
1 riverine tank, 1 Tanganyikan tank, 1 Malawi tank and 1 community tank. all 4 do nicely.

Hi Marc,

I usually fill the canister up to the base of the sealing rim, and then attach the pipes with the taps open. With the pipes in a tank or a bucket I then put the filter together, when the top seals the pressure inside expels the excess water out of the pipes. This way I know the filter is completely full.

Ian

Rocket wrote:Hi Marc

Bad manners I know but I thought I'd answer the question asked to Ian.
When priming mine I fill the canister with water then seal up and attach the pipes. I then open the out valve and then the in valve which seems to allow water to freely flow into the canister from the tank. If it doesn't completely fill, a few pumps from the priming mechanism seems to do the trick.

Hi Gordon,
No problem, thanks for replying. You given almost the same answer as Ian; I'll give it a try. Btw: my filters lack a priming mechanism, so perhaps yours is newer?

sidguppy wrote:The ecco canisters all have a tube raising vertically from the bottom.
if you pile the canisters (2 or 3 depending on type) you'll see the tubes standing on top of each other (you can view it from above if the top is still off).

Thanks for replying.
Alas, mine lack this system. I know what you mean, because it's the same system the Professional series have.
My Eccos have the same system as the recent Classic filters: 3 baskets that are twisted on top of eachother.

Coryman wrote:Hi Marc,
I usually fill the canister up to the base of the sealing rim, and then attach the pipes with the taps open. With the pipes in a tank or a bucket I then put the filter together, when the top seals the pressure inside expels the excess water out of the pipes. This way I know the filter is completely full.
Ian

Hi Ian,
Thanks, I'll give that a try. I hope it's not going to be too messy, because the whole set-up is temporarily placed in the same room where I keep my beloved car and motorcycle brochures collection and for some reason I never feel comfortable when combining water with paper
Btw: it shouldn't matter where the filter stands, should it?
At the moment it's placed a little above the tank. Or could that cause troubles as well?

Hi

I think the fact that the filter is higher may be the reason for the air in the canister. I always position the filter below the tank. I always figure that air rises so it just made it easier.

Btw: my filters lack a priming mechanism, so perhaps yours is newer?

I got my filter when they were first released so it's one of the originals. The handle mechanism if you push it back and forward causes a suction in the filter drawing water into it, priming the filter. This is along the same lines as Ian said but makes sure all air is expelled. Just remember and open both valves before doing so. I made the mistake of forcing it one time and broke part of the mechanism, it still works but is harder to prime.

Gordon

Although I applied the recommendations, the filter still isn't completely filled up to the brim. However, it's working okay and very silent as well. As soon as I have the spare parts for the other filter, I will connect that one and see if it's any better. Thanks.

Hi Marc,

I was just browsing and came across your questions.
I have 2 of them and have found them to be very good, but they do have one problem that they have had since they were first introduced and that is the plastic pins that fit on the sides of the canister are too weak.This has been a recuuring fault that I think should have been changed by now.The fault is still there on the upgraded versions. The pins have a small lug that should help hold the handle in position,that sometimes breaks off and when under pressure from the water inside, can force the handle free causing the head of the filter up, and gushing water everywhere.it`s an easy fix with a screw of the correct size and a washer.The other problem is that very often the the pin itself shears off completely,probably plastic fatigue, and it is very likely that your stockist will not carry the spare parts.If you know who the wholesaler in the Netherlands is, I would suggest you contact him and keep some as spares.They are very cheap,I ordered 2 packs("2in each Pack)and even with recorded delivery they were less than £6.00.The part number you need is 7312628.To fix them takes no more than 5 minutes.Also don`t forget a thin coat of "Vaseline" around the sealing ring will help the movement of the motor housing when priming and should ease the pressure on the pins.

I hope this helps.

Graham

Graham,
Thanks for replying. The one that's already running has been fitted with new, stronger pins. And I just got home with filter number 2, which is now also equipped with new pins.
What they did at Eheim is the following: the middle part of the pins is elongated, thus the legs won't break off so easy anymore. But when I saw how the previous owner opened the filters nothing would have lasted very long. So I think that should do the trick: new materials and a bit of gentleness.
Thanks again.
Marc

Marc van Arc wrote:(edit)Btw: it shouldn't matter where the filter stands, should it?
At the moment it's placed a little above the tank. Or could that cause troubles as well?

Yes, I'm pretty sure that is not desirable. Filter's pump should be lower than tank. Canister filters are designed so that gravity feeds water into the canister -- like a siphon -- and the pump pushes it back out into the tank, not the other way around. Moreover, air will easily get trapped in the impeller housing and cause cavitation, reducing efficiency and motor life (and becoming noisy).

This is just my general experience. I use Eheims but have not used Ecco series.

Hi Dinyar,
Thanks for the reply. Since September 5 the filter is standing on the ground, which is indeed an approvement, although it's still reluctant to fill itself completely with water. But -as said earlier- it's working nicely and without any noises.
However, I do not consider this type of filter to be a star in the Eheim range, simply because it has too many parts that can and/or must move and thus are quite vulnerable.