Is this filter sufficient for my tank?

[timuraydin]

Hi,

I am using an Eheim 2076 filter with my 35 gal tank. According to the european specs, the filter is rated at 1650 liters/hour. But on a US vendor's website, it says it is 77-220 GPH. Is this filter sufficient for the tank? It has 5 flow rate settings. What setting should I use? I had currently have the flow rate adjusted to 3...

BTW, when I increase the flow rate to 4, an indicator LED turns on which means the adjusted flow rate cannot be reached. When I set the flow rate to 5, the same indicator turns on and this time, the filter changes the flow rate back to 4! I don't understand why it cannot maintain the flow rate. I am using the proper hoses for this filter and the inlet side is divided into two hoses. One side is the usual filter inlet and the other side is a surface cleaner attachment. The outlet side goes directly into the tank. There are no other equipment in series with the filter. I have also cleaned the hoses and the media. What could be wrong?

 

[dutchy]

Are you using any pieces with 90 degree sharp angles or T's? These should be avoided. Is the water valve switch fully open? Is the outlet line longer than the recommended length? I had the same problem when there was just one 90 degree sharp angle in the system.

You could totally disconnect it from the tank, fill a bucket with water and test the filter with very short hoses using the bucket. If it's ok, then connect one of the hoses you're using and try again. if it's still ok, you connect the last hose.

If everything else fails and you still want to use the max. flow, switch the filter into manual mode and push the + button a few times. This will work for sure, but all the electronic gadgets will be disabled.

Good luck,
dutchy

 

[timuraydin]

The inlet is divided into two paths using a T. One side of the T goes to the surface extractor and the other goes to the usual U plastic pipe with the strainer at the tip. But the usual inlet side is straight throughout except for the U pipe... Only the surface extractor side comes out at a 90 degree angle, then another 90 degree and then it goes in to the tank.

Even if the surface extractor side of the inlet is not very efficient, it only provides an additional path for the water to go to the filter, so it should just improve the inlet side no matter how bad it is. Even with only the U pipe and the strainer, the filter should be able to provide the nominal flow rate, no?

Another observation: When I set the flow rate to 4, the filter occasionally enters a mode where it discharges air bubbles from the outlet. AFAICT, this indicates that the inlet side has an issue...

 

[Szkalak]

Are you using the white filter pad below the green grate that's placed above the top basket? I know that if you're using this filter pad, ensuring that it's clean and in the proper place makes a significant impact on flow in the Pro 3 series of filters. Placing this pad above the green grate will cause you issues for sure. You might try removing it and just use the coarse blue pad and see what happens. Make sure that all of the media baskets that you're using are not overfilled beyond the recommended levels, and if you're using additional media that's place in bags, you might try removing it and seeing if anything improves. Ehiem does say in their material that additional media that is placed on top of the recommended media, has the potential to reduce flow rates dramatically. I've never had any problems using things like Purigen, Peat, or Chemi Pure bages layered above loose Ehiem media (but I have a bigger filter than you). If I am not mistaken, I think the 2076 has one inlet and one outlet (my 2080 has two input and one output) if you're 1:1, I'm with Dutchy and I'd suggest that you run the filter in the recommended manner considering the size tank you have. Isolate one variable at a time untill you find something that works. With most of these canister filters you can bet that the stated gph is generally overstated and you'll probably never completely realize the stated specs--once you add length to hosing, use various media arrangements, and as the filter gets dirty, flow will drop dramatically.

Best Regards,
Justin Szkalak