Eheim 2217 output too powerful?

Hi All,
I recently replaced my power filter with an Eheim 2217 on my 55 gallon,
well-stocked, moderately-planted tank. I have a concern that the spray bar
output might be too powerful for both the fish and the plants, so I'd like
to get some input from the group. Currently I have the spray going straight
out across the top, just below the water surface. I found one post from a
long time ago suggesting pointing the spray down towards the glass, but that
doesn't seem to have a major effect on my two issues....

The smaller fish in the tank (rosy barbs, SAEs, even the smaller gourami's)
seem to get pushed around by the output, but OTOH they keep going through it
when it is possible to avoid, so maybe they like the current?

Also plants in the vicinity sway in various directions. Is that good, bad
or indifferent for them? I don't do the CO2 thing and my main focus is the
fish, but I like the small variety of live plants and want to keep them as
healthy as possible.

Thanks for any input.
Howard

IMHO, the 2217 is too strong for that size tank - it's made for a tank
at least double the size. If you can't get your money back or
exchange the filter for a smaller model there are ways to reduce the
strength of the output flow. You can extend the spraybar, partially
close down the shutoff valves, use extra fine filter fiber in the
canister, or even tie sponges to the spraybar. The extra flow won't
be problem for your plants. The fish won't appreciate it, though,
especially not the gouramis.
Cris

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 03:13:38 GMT, "HDH" wrote:

Hi All,
I recently replaced my power filter with an Eheim 2217 on my 55 gallon,
well-stocked, moderately-planted tank. I have a concern that the spray bar
output might be too powerful for both the fish and the plants, so I'd like
to get some input from the group. Currently I have the spray going straight
out across the top, just below the water surface. I found one post from a
long time ago suggesting pointing the spray down towards the glass, but that
doesn't seem to have a major effect on my two issues....

The smaller fish in the tank (rosy barbs, SAEs, even the smaller gourami's)
seem to get pushed around by the output, but OTOH they keep going through it
when it is possible to avoid, so maybe they like the current?

Also plants in the vicinity sway in various directions. Is that good, bad
or indifferent for them? I don't do the CO2 thing and my main focus is the
fish, but I like the small variety of live plants and want to keep them as
healthy as possible.

Thanks for any input.
Howard

"HDH" wrote in message
et...
Hi All,
I recently replaced my power filter with an Eheim 2217 on my 55 gallon,
well-stocked, moderately-planted tank. I have a concern that the spray
bar
output might be too powerful for both the fish and the plants, so I'd
like
to get some input from the group. Currently I have the spray going
straight
out across the top, just below the water surface. I found one post
from a
long time ago suggesting pointing the spray down towards the glass, but
that
doesn't seem to have a major effect on my two issues....

The smaller fish in the tank (rosy barbs, SAEs, even the smaller
gourami's)
seem to get pushed around by the output, but OTOH they keep going
through it
when it is possible to avoid, so maybe they like the current?

Also plants in the vicinity sway in various directions. Is that good,
bad
or indifferent for them? I don't do the CO2 thing and my main focus is
the
fish, but I like the small variety of live plants and want to keep them
as
healthy as possible.

Thanks for any input.
Howard

Move the entire spraybar down a few inches and angle the output upwards
so that it breaks the surface about halfway to the front glass. Leave it
like this for a while (couple of days?) and then increase/decrease the
angle until you have just slightly more turbulence than you would like
(as the filter media fills, the flow rate will decrease somewhat).

Alternately, add a spraybar extension to make it longer (more holes, more
uniform distribution), and/or drill the holes bigger (what I'm always
doing ;~).

NetMax

"HDH" wrote in message
et...
Hi All,
I recently replaced my power filter with an Eheim 2217 on my 55 gallon,
well-stocked, moderately-planted tank. I have a concern that the spray
bar
output might be too powerful for both the fish and the plants, so I'd like
to get some input from the group. Currently I have the spray going
straight
out across the top, just below the water surface. I found one post from a
long time ago suggesting pointing the spray down towards the glass, but
that
doesn't seem to have a major effect on my two issues....

The smaller fish in the tank (rosy barbs, SAEs, even the smaller
gourami's)
seem to get pushed around by the output, but OTOH they keep going through
it
when it is possible to avoid, so maybe they like the current?

Also plants in the vicinity sway in various directions. Is that good, bad
or indifferent for them? I don't do the CO2 thing and my main focus is
the
fish, but I like the small variety of live plants and want to keep them as
healthy as possible.

Thanks for any input.
Howard


I have a 2026 on a 260litre tank, I find the same in that my smaller fish
are knocked about a bit
thing is there is still water spots, so its up to them i suppose.

I tried making the holes larger to reduce the pressure, this has helped a
little.... well i think it has

I have left the spraybar like this for 2 months now and my fern type plants
are ok, they swish about
a bit but it hasn't stopped 'em growing.

Dave

"Dave" wrote in message
news:%QG9c.491$1z5.384@newsfe1-win...
|
| I have a 2026 on a 260litre tank, I find the same in that my
smaller fish
| are knocked about a bit
| thing is there is still water spots, so its up to them i suppose.
|
| I tried making the holes larger to reduce the pressure, this has
helped a
| little.... well i think it has
|
| I have left the spraybar like this for 2 months now and my fern
type plants
| are ok, they swish about
| a bit but it hasn't stopped 'em growing.
|
dd

My 2026 is on a 200 liter tank, and the fish just learned to stay out
of certain spots. The tank is a bit overloaded, so it needs the extra
filtration. As a friend of mine once said, "You can't have too much
filtration. Unless fish are being pinned up against the glass, you're
probably fine.". Not completely true, but still a good quote.g

billy

"Dinky" wrote in message
ink.net...


"Dave" wrote in message
news:%QG9c.491$1z5.384@newsfe1-win...
|
| I have a 2026 on a 260litre tank, I find the same in that my
smaller fish
| are knocked about a bit
| thing is there is still water spots, so its up to them i suppose.
|
| I tried making the holes larger to reduce the pressure, this has
helped a
| little.... well i think it has
|
| I have left the spraybar like this for 2 months now and my fern
type plants
| are ok, they swish about
| a bit but it hasn't stopped 'em growing.
|
dd

My 2026 is on a 200 liter tank, and the fish just learned to stay out
of certain spots. The tank is a bit overloaded, so it needs the extra
filtration. As a friend of mine once said, "You can't have too much
filtration. Unless fish are being pinned up against the glass, you're
probably fine.". Not completely true, but still a good quote.g

billy

I thought the 2026 has a flow regulator to allow control of water volume.
Not so?

My fish love to play in the strong current. I wouldn't worry about it.


"blank" wrote in message
. au...

"Dinky" wrote in message
ink.net...


"Dave" wrote in message
news:%QG9c.491$1z5.384@newsfe1-win...
|
| I have a 2026 on a 260litre tank, I find the same in that my
smaller fish
| are knocked about a bit
| thing is there is still water spots, so its up to them i suppose.
|
| I tried making the holes larger to reduce the pressure, this has
helped a
| little.... well i think it has
|
| I have left the spraybar like this for 2 months now and my fern
type plants
| are ok, they swish about
| a bit but it hasn't stopped 'em growing.
|
dd

My 2026 is on a 200 liter tank, and the fish just learned to stay out
of certain spots. The tank is a bit overloaded, so it needs the extra
filtration. As a friend of mine once said, "You can't have too much
filtration. Unless fish are being pinned up against the glass, you're
probably fine.". Not completely true, but still a good quote.g

billy

I thought the 2026 has a flow regulator to allow control of water volume.
Not so?

"blank" wrote in message
. au...
|
|
| I thought the 2026 has a flow regulator to allow control of water
volume.
| Not so?
|
|

Yes, it does, I didn't even think about that, and the bloody thing is
within sight of the computer. doh! He could just choke it down a
bit if he really thinks his fish are taking harm from it, which I
doubt they are.



--

billy
--
Need tech help?
http://www.winextra.com
news://news.winextra.com

Yes the 2026 does have a flow control......
i didnt want to reduce the flow too much. just wanted to reduce the ouput
pressure

a large outlet hole say 1 inch diameter has less pressure with the same
water volume output as
a 1/4 inch diameter pipe.

What i thought of doing was taking the spray bar off and having the outlet
pipe as the only restriction, and have less force comming out.

but as it is at the moment, all is fine.

dave.
"Dinky" wrote in message
ink.net...

"blank" wrote in message
. au...
|
|
| I thought the 2026 has a flow regulator to allow control of water
volume.
| Not so?
|
|

Yes, it does, I didn't even think about that, and the bloody thing is
within sight of the computer. doh! He could just choke it down a
bit if he really thinks his fish are taking harm from it, which I
doubt they are.



--

billy
--
Need tech help?
http://www.winextra.com
news://news.winextra.com