I am NOT IMPRESSED with my NEW Vortex DFF "Freedom" Filter

[Bill]

I do not know anything about diatom filters except that they are
supposed to be great mechanical filters.

What I DO know about filters is the hoses are SUPPOSED TO FIT and the
hoses are NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAK!

Here's the link:
http://www.diatomfilter.com/products/diatom_dff_filter.htm

See those black hoses coming of of the top of the unit? As soon as
I'm charging the filter, I notice a pin-prick of water shooting out of
the middle of one of the hoses. I don't panic. I'm calmly attempting
to pick up the unit higher than the level of the tank to halt the
siphon. That's when the LOOSE FITTING HOSES pop off of the "Recharge
Valve" and I've got water siphoning out of the tank from one hose and
out of the filter from the "Rechage Valve."

I should have suspected this from the start. I'm used to fitting
hoses using the screw clamps on my old Fluval 404 and my new Eheim
2217. The genius who designed the Vortex uses RUBBER BANDS to "clamp"
the hoses to their fittings.

I'm off to the LFS to replace all the hoses. I'm willing to give the
technology a chance. I'm just not willing to do it with the LEAKY AND
ILL-FITTING hoses provided by Vortex.

Bill.

[luminos]

"Bill" > wrote in message
...
>I do not know anything about diatom filters except that they are
> supposed to be great mechanical filters.
>
> What I DO know about filters is the hoses are SUPPOSED TO FIT and the
> hoses are NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAK!
>
> Here's the link:
> http://www.diatomfilter.com/products/diatom_dff_filter.htm
>
> See those black hoses coming of of the top of the unit? As soon as
> I'm charging the filter, I notice a pin-prick of water shooting out of
> the middle of one of the hoses. I don't panic. I'm calmly attempting
> to pick up the unit higher than the level of the tank to halt the
> siphon. That's when the LOOSE FITTING HOSES pop off of the "Recharge
> Valve" and I've got water siphoning out of the tank from one hose and
> out of the filter from the "Rechage Valve."
>
> I should have suspected this from the start. I'm used to fitting
> hoses using the screw clamps on my old Fluval 404 and my new Eheim
> 2217. The genius who designed the Vortex uses RUBBER BANDS to "clamp"
> the hoses to their fittings.
>
> I'm off to the LFS to replace all the hoses. I'm willing to give the
> technology a chance. I'm just not willing to do it with the LEAKY AND
> ILL-FITTING hoses provided by Vortex.
>
> Bill.

Did you notice in their ads they call the rubber bands "O-Rings" as a
feature? Reminds one of the terms use in a certain space shuttle failure.

This is the same exact design that was sold 25 years ago. It really does do
a spectacular water polishing, but you must respect the fragility of the
design.

[Ben]

Bill wrote:
> I do not know anything about diatom filters except that they are
> supposed to be great mechanical filters.
>
> What I DO know about filters is the hoses are SUPPOSED TO FIT and the
> hoses are NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAK!
>
> Here's the link:
> http://www.diatomfilter.com/products/diatom_dff_filter.htm
>
> See those black hoses coming of of the top of the unit? As soon as
> I'm charging the filter, I notice a pin-prick of water shooting out of
> the middle of one of the hoses. I don't panic. I'm calmly attempting
> to pick up the unit higher than the level of the tank to halt the
> siphon. That's when the LOOSE FITTING HOSES pop off of the "Recharge
> Valve" and I've got water siphoning out of the tank from one hose and
> out of the filter from the "Rechage Valve."
>
> I should have suspected this from the start. I'm used to fitting
> hoses using the screw clamps on my old Fluval 404 and my new Eheim
> 2217. The genius who designed the Vortex uses RUBBER BANDS to "clamp"
> the hoses to their fittings.
>
> I'm off to the LFS to replace all the hoses. I'm willing to give the
> technology a chance. I'm just not willing to do it with the LEAKY AND
> ILL-FITTING hoses provided by Vortex.
>
> Bill.

Hi Bill,

I also bought one and was unhappy with it at first. However, I did
figure out what to do. Do exactly what they said not to. I bought
those tube clamps that go around the tubes. They cost like $0.50 at
Home depot and it works great (for me) at keeping the tubes on the hoses
which was the problem I got!

I even sent them a note about my problems and never heard from them. It
does work great when it works!

-Ben

[j.duprie]

Another problem to be aware of (at least inthe vortex XL model) is that the
top of the jar is notoriouse for slow leaks. Enough to eventually break the
siphon, or to slowly dribble water all over the floor if you leave it
running for a long time..... I never found a solution for my leak, so I run
it in a bucket for only a short time....

I agree - great concept, great scrubber, but a couple of minor engineering
changes could make a crappy product into a really good one....

good luck

--JD





"Ben" > wrote in message
...
> Bill wrote:
> > I do not know anything about diatom filters except that they are
> > supposed to be great mechanical filters.
> >
> > What I DO know about filters is the hoses are SUPPOSED TO FIT and the
> > hoses are NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAK!
> >
> > Here's the link:
> > http://www.diatomfilter.com/products/diatom_dff_filter.htm
> >
> > See those black hoses coming of of the top of the unit? As soon as
> > I'm charging the filter, I notice a pin-prick of water shooting out of
> > the middle of one of the hoses. I don't panic. I'm calmly attempting
> > to pick up the unit higher than the level of the tank to halt the
> > siphon. That's when the LOOSE FITTING HOSES pop off of the "Recharge
> > Valve" and I've got water siphoning out of the tank from one hose and
> > out of the filter from the "Rechage Valve."
> >
> > I should have suspected this from the start. I'm used to fitting
> > hoses using the screw clamps on my old Fluval 404 and my new Eheim
> > 2217. The genius who designed the Vortex uses RUBBER BANDS to "clamp"
> > the hoses to their fittings.
> >
> > I'm off to the LFS to replace all the hoses. I'm willing to give the
> > technology a chance. I'm just not willing to do it with the LEAKY AND
> > ILL-FITTING hoses provided by Vortex.
> >
> > Bill.
>
> Hi Bill,
>
> I also bought one and was unhappy with it at first. However, I did
> figure out what to do. Do exactly what they said not to. I bought
> those tube clamps that go around the tubes. They cost like $0.50 at
> Home depot and it works great (for me) at keeping the tubes on the hoses
> which was the problem I got!
>
> I even sent them a note about my problems and never heard from them. It
> does work great when it works!
>
> -Ben