Author Topic: EHIEM BIOFILTER 160 (Read 5169 times) 20 replies

Moby · « **on:** January 08, 2017, 11:28:35 AM »

Hi,I've been running this filter in a 85 litre tank for nearly a year now.Overall I found to be a very good filter.I particularly like its adjustable flow and spray bar etc.This filter is for a much larger set up than mine.I have quite a small bioload Now the downside,after 4 or 5 days I have to clean the sponges as the flow is significantly reduced.Anyone else experienced this ?.

Sue · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2017, 11:38:56 AM »

Do you mean the Eheim Biopower filter?
I am running 2 Biopowers in my 180 litre tank, the 160 and the 240, and I do find that the small sponge right at the top clogs quickly. It is a fine sponge compared to the big one in the bottom basket, so it will clog quicker. But I am somewhat overstocked, due to closing down a 50 litre tank and moving the inhabitants into the 180 litre.
But having said that, it takes 3 to 4 weeks before I notice a significant loss of flow.

The 160 in an 85 litre tank should be fine. Do you have live plants in the tank which might be dying back a bit? Do you overfeed so the muck causing the drop in flow is uneaten food? I find the filters suck in the food quite quickly which is why I was turning them off for a couple of minutes after I put food in - until I forgot to turn them back on only found they were off next day. Do you have fish that poo a huge amount, eg plecs of any type?

Moby · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2017, 11:56:39 AM »

Sorry yes it's the biopower filter.The tank has a lot plants but in general its a very clean tank with no excessive plant matter or fish waste.I mainly have to clean the larger sponge.I now have photos of the tank in previous thread (new members) It just doesn't seem right to me.

Sue · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2017, 02:01:50 PM »

I've just had a quick look at your other thread, and seen the pictures and fish you have. Only the otos could possibly be classed as messy fish as they are the only algae eaters you have.

The brown goo that clogs sponges is organic debris, which means bits of plants, uneaten food or poo.

Does all the food you put in the tank get eaten within a couple of minutes or does some get sucked up by the filter, or lie uneaten on the bottom of the tank? I do suspect uneaten food in my case as my filters do suck some up at every feeding.
Can I suggest you watch next time you feed the fish and see if any does get sucked up. At least we'll know then if that can be eliminated as a cause.

Andy The Minion · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2017, 04:28:08 PM »

@Moby
I would guess the material is coming from the plants as much as the fish and food, but do as Sue suggests to discover if you can modify your running method to improve the situation.
From my experience plants are a considerable mechanical load on the filter It's not a 'malfunction' for sure because the foam is only taking particles that are in the water and that is what it is there for. Now is it big enough? Well I guess the answer is no if it blocks too quickly. I don't know the actual filter so the only thing I can suggest is to add an additional 'cow catcher' foam on the inlet that is easier to change/clean.
I have two external filters on my planted tank and both have pre filters fitted. My weekly maintenance is to wash them out - and they always need it, but I then don't have to touch the biological in the filters themselves for months and when I do they just need a quick rinse.

Sue · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2017, 05:17:40 PM »

The biopowers are internal filters and they suck the water in through the bottom basket, a cylinder with slits all the way round the outside. I did once try tying a layer of filter wool over this basket with an elastic band but it looked a mess and all the bits fell back into the water when I changed it.

I have just finished a water change and filter clean and another thought occurs to me - have you cleaned the impeller and impeller well? Mine were full of goo. But be very careful cleaning the impeller and well because the impeller shaft is made of easily broken ceramic. I always keep a spare in the cupboard, having broken mine several times.

Moby · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2017, 07:33:34 PM »

Quote from: Sue on January 08, 2017, 02:01:50 PM

I've just had a quick look at your other thread, and seen the pictures and fish you have. Only the otos could possibly be classed as messy fish as they are the only algae eaters you have.

The brown goo that clogs sponges is organic debris, which means bits of plants, uneaten food or poo.

Does all the food you put in the tank get eaten within a couple of minutes or does some get sucked up by the filter, or lie uneaten on the bottom of the tank? I do suspect uneaten food in my case as my filters do suck some up at every feeding.
Can I suggest you watch next time you feed the fish and see if any does get sucked up. At least we'll know then if that can be eliminated as a cause.

Hi sue thks for the help.When I feed the food is gone within a minute it doesn't have time to hit the bottom if it did the Corey's would take care of that.Regarding plants if there's any melted or dead leaves they are removed daily.
When I clean the filter weekly if it lasts that long I always clean the impeller and shaft also all the outlets.This filter should be for a lot larger tank than mine.
I can't really think it's under powered.Maybe it's faulty?

??

Sue · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2017, 07:38:49 PM »

When you clean the filter, is there a lot of brown goo on the sponges? If there is, that's why the flow is dropping and you need to find out where the goo is coming from.
When the flow drops with mine and I wash the media, there is so much goo in the bucket of old tank water that it looks like black coffee

If there is no brown goo, just a dropping flow rate, then we need to find out why.

Do you use the spray bar, and do the holes get blocked up? I often have bits of algae round the holes which I just scrape off.

Moby · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2017, 07:48:00 PM »

When cleaned it's not goo or sludge it looks ok to the eye apart from being brown in colour.I always clean the spray bar nozzles.In fact when cleaning now I strip the whole thing down and it still doesn't last a week.If lasted seven days I wouldn't mine because that's when I do my water changes.

Andy The Minion · « **Reply #9 on:** January 08, 2017, 08:45:33 PM »

@Matt
I see this is a modular system - looks nice by-the-way. I don't suppose the bottom section has the locking mechanism on the bottom? If it did you could add another end section and double the mechanical surface area.

Sue · « **Reply #10 on:** January 08, 2017, 08:54:29 PM »

You can indeed buy extra modules for the biopower. I have an extra middle one on my 160 - the ones that are filled with substrat pro - but you can also get extra bottom baskets, the ones with the slits and a sponge.

In fact, that might be worth a try. An extra bottom basket plus sponge would double the intake slits, and sponges are very good bio media.

MarquisMirage · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2017, 09:16:46 PM »

A low tech low cost solution for a pre-filter would be to wrap the bottom in a single layer of tights. Usual rules of cleaning them apply. It's also less embarrassing if you get your special lady or a female relative to buy them.

It's a technique my wife uses on her nano tank filter to stop shrimp getting in. One pair of tights will do for a few weeks and are disposable.

Sue · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2017, 09:57:27 PM »

Knee high socks work better

They're not as long as tights and if tights are cut to make them smaller, they unravel. I used a black knee high over the Aquaball in the 50 litre before I closed it down.

Andy The Minion · « **Reply #13 on:** January 08, 2017, 10:14:34 PM »

Seamed black silk stockings would be my preference. Oh hang on we were talking about filters, just ignore me I got side-tracked.

Littlefish · « **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2017, 07:50:35 AM »

@Andy the minion what you wear to clean your tank filter is entirely your own business.

Andy The Minion · « **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2017, 12:50:32 PM »

Yep it was until Queen stole the idea for their video

Paddyc · « **Reply #16 on:** January 10, 2017, 06:31:54 PM »

@Andy the minion I imagine you to be a bit like certain fellas in my work who give off an air of eccentricity that makes me think I would not be in the least bit surprised if they were wearing a full basque and suspenders under their overalls...

Andy The Minion · « **Reply #17 on:** January 10, 2017, 07:33:51 PM »

At work they know I'm from Brighton (that worries them in itself) and I'm sure they live in fear of getting a secret Santa gift from me

fcmf · « **Reply #18 on:** January 10, 2017, 07:50:10 PM »

This thread is certainly raising a chuckle from me.

Moby · « **Reply #19 on:** January 15, 2017, 09:23:30 AM »

Just a bit of an update.I think I might have the problem.When I used to clean the sponges (tank water)I gave them a quick swish around being a bit wary of losing bacteria.This time I really squeezed them vigorously until they turned lighter in colour.There was a lot waste removed.Checked water everything seems normal.
Does this make sense?The flow seems to last a lot longer now.
Cheers Dave.

EHIEM BIOFILTER 160

EHIEM BIOFILTER 160

Author Topic: EHIEM BIOFILTER 160 (Read 5169 times) 20 replies

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