Keeping Fish is never Quite easy
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 00:29
In the last 10 days I had an Eheim canister go leaky. No matter what I tried, it would not stop. Fortunately, I have a couple of then on the shelf and was able to replace the entire head which is where the pump is. I was able to deduce that the leak was coming from inside and was neither the head gasket nor the hose connection tap gaskets at fault So It was off to Google to find the cause and solution
The Eheim Pro II line has a large priming button. The mechanism needs a bit of vaseline applied now and then. To prevent leaking this priming assembly has a gasket to prevent leaks. I turns out that this gasket can either fail or get crap on it that causes it it to leak. Eheim does not want users to fix this themselves and did mot sell replacements. Fortunately, a gent in the ISA decided to make an working replacement. It also turns out that doing the replacement is tricky. Without proper instructions there are springs involved that can come shooting out unless one removes several screws in a slow and rotating fashion.
So I now have a pair or replacement gaskets (I always want one on the shelf) and written instructions and links to Youtube directions. I will attempt the replacement down the road. I was worried as heck the the next Eheim I was going to clean might have some issues as well. These filters have been running for 13 -15 years. I was right to worry, it leaked like a sieve when I reassembled it and hooked it back up. It needed the head gasket replaced. Fortunately I have a few spares. For most replacement parts for the Pro II line I have to order from Ebay UK. *sigh*
But the universe never likes us to become smug about things going well and has many ways to remind us we are never really in control. I went to do weakly maint. on my Altum angel tank. This has a 3 way monitor, one that continuously displays conductivity/TDS, Temp. and pH. It indicated the pH probe needed to be re-calibrated. So I set out to do this. I put the probe into the pH 4.0 solution and when appropriate I hit the button to reset and I got and "err" message.
A bit of research indicated this was due either to bad calibration solution or the need to replace the probe. Not knowing what the problem was, I ordered both new 4 and 7 pH solutions and a new probe ($47 worth). Right now water that I know is right around of pH 6.0 shows on the monitor as 7.3 I will try the new solution and if it works, then I will return the probe, My bet is it will be the probe. the water in the tank is stained from almonds leaves, alder cones and rooibos tea. The tip of the probe is stained brown and it wont clean off.
I am supposed to be a fish keeper, not an equipment technician/repairman.
The Eheim Pro II line has a large priming button. The mechanism needs a bit of vaseline applied now and then. To prevent leaking this priming assembly has a gasket to prevent leaks. I turns out that this gasket can either fail or get crap on it that causes it it to leak. Eheim does not want users to fix this themselves and did mot sell replacements. Fortunately, a gent in the ISA decided to make an working replacement. It also turns out that doing the replacement is tricky. Without proper instructions there are springs involved that can come shooting out unless one removes several screws in a slow and rotating fashion.
So I now have a pair or replacement gaskets (I always want one on the shelf) and written instructions and links to Youtube directions. I will attempt the replacement down the road. I was worried as heck the the next Eheim I was going to clean might have some issues as well. These filters have been running for 13 -15 years. I was right to worry, it leaked like a sieve when I reassembled it and hooked it back up. It needed the head gasket replaced. Fortunately I have a few spares. For most replacement parts for the Pro II line I have to order from Ebay UK. *sigh*
But the universe never likes us to become smug about things going well and has many ways to remind us we are never really in control. I went to do weakly maint. on my Altum angel tank. This has a 3 way monitor, one that continuously displays conductivity/TDS, Temp. and pH. It indicated the pH probe needed to be re-calibrated. So I set out to do this. I put the probe into the pH 4.0 solution and when appropriate I hit the button to reset and I got and "err" message.
A bit of research indicated this was due either to bad calibration solution or the need to replace the probe. Not knowing what the problem was, I ordered both new 4 and 7 pH solutions and a new probe ($47 worth). Right now water that I know is right around of pH 6.0 shows on the monitor as 7.3 I will try the new solution and if it works, then I will return the probe, My bet is it will be the probe. the water in the tank is stained from almonds leaves, alder cones and rooibos tea. The tip of the probe is stained brown and it wont clean off.
I am supposed to be a fish keeper, not an equipment technician/repairman.