2217 Magic Starting Sequence????

[Hanson77]

I've had 2213's, 2215's and now I have a 2217 that I plan to use on a 90 gallon that's on it's way. I bought it used and everything seemed to be setup correctly. I was trying to get it running last night in a bucket just to make sure that it ran correctly. The problem is, I never could get it to pick up and pump by itself. The pump comes on fine but it won't do anything but spin. I know on my older ones you could take the outlet hose and drop it lower than the tank to start a siphon which would make basically prime it. I tried that to no avail a few times. It pulls siphon but once you pick it up it dies. I even tried sucking water through it to see if that would work because I know that used to work if all else fails. No luck again. Any help would be much appreciated.

[ssrprelude]

Make sure the canister is completely full of water, open the valve to the exaust and backfill the tube into the canister. Also fill the intake tube all the way to the U tube. Plug it up, that should do it.

[Hanson77]

Will do, thanks.

[Zulaab]

Hanson the way I prime all of my Eheim canisters is set them up how you like them EMPTY. Then once everything is in place then I prime the down hose by sucking the up tube with the quick connecter DISCONNECTED.
Water will fill up the canister. Once the canister is completely full I use my thumb over the connector until water hits my thumb. As soon as it hits I close my thumb over the connector and turn the valve OFF. I connect the quick connector open the valves back up and turn on the pump. Make there there is enough water in the bucket at this time. For testing I normally use the kitchen sink where I can continually fill water until the canister is filled up. Once Filled and the valve has been closed I turn off the water in the sink.

This should test everything out.
Jesper

[TaTeR ToT]

open all valves on the canister, use a normal powerhead, and take the intake of the 2217, while underwater, and put the output of the powerhead directly in front of the intake of the 2217, and let the powerhead pump water into the 2217 until it is full, then plug it in and play.

this is what i do to all of my 2217's.
works like a charm.
i use an old maxijet 1200.

[Zulaab]

Ohh I forgot to say this. I always attempt to install the connectors so the male is in the direction of flow. This ensures when I have to prime the pump I have a male connector to put my thumb over. On the down size I do the same so when I am looking at the hose under the cabinet it will only go on one way because under the cabinet when looking at two hoses and you have to choose which one when only one fits you know which one goes into which one without have to think about it.

[jughead]

i have 1 eheim that the tank is lower than the filter.i hook the filter outlet hose up to the python.works every time

[Hanson77]

So if I direct inject with a powerhead, wouldn't that do the same as filling until up to whatever shutoff valve I choose? The canister is full for the impeller to pickup and take over similar to what jughead is doing but no dice. I'm gonna try what you guys are suggesting and see where it gets me. Thanks for all the info. Anybody want to buy a slightly used 2217....LOL?????

[fshfrk]

I've always done the power head thing like tater. Maxi jet 1200 with 3 ft of hose on the output. hold it up to the imput and plug it in. It's easier if your friend is doing the plugging while you hold it to it. Yea your arm gets wet but we are use to that. when the bubbles stop out of the imput plug the 2217 in and should be good. If not you may have a filter problem.

[Hanson77]

The piece that holds the impeller square is missing....problem solved. Thanks for all of your input, it's really nice to be back on a forum where people are so quick to help out.

[Zulaab]

Look at Aquazoo for replacement parts or else you are going to have to drive to City Pets to pick up the replacement part

[Hanson77]

I got the 2217 from a member here. Contacted him and got it all squared away, its all good.

[Zulaab]

Sweet :)