2260 help!

[Oldsgirl]

Hey guys- Sorry I haven't been around much lately- been swamped with school stuff.

Today was water change/filter cleaning day for my big tank. the best I can figure is it's a 375 gal, and has two 2260's, each drilled up through the bottom of the tank. When I do a water change/filter day, I alternate and do one filter at a time, so the other one has nothing done to it.

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the left hand filter (the one I changed last time) has a steady stream of fine bubbles coming out of the return. With the filter and all connections being under the tank, this obviously was a cause for concern, but I looked everything over, and found no leaks. The motor was slightly louder than the other filter, with a quiet sort of rattle to it. I thought there might have just been an air bubble from the last change that has worked its way up, but shaking the canister had no effect.

So today I do a water change, shut power to everything and clean the other filter. I refill the tank, hook the right filter back up, power up and everything seems fine. I was sitting in the room reading a magazine (I'm always paranoid after I do anything to that tank, and keep an eye on it for a few hours) and heard like a roaring noise coming from under it. The best I could describe it as is like when my water heater (which is like a million years old) fires up- kind of like a grumbly fire noise. I looked under the tank, and the left hand filter was making that noise, and pump on top of the filter was really hot, and it was leaking from the hard plastic elbow that goes to the canister. It leaked enough to fill the ridge of the lid, and have a small puddle around the base in the cabinet.

I unplugged it, and closed the shutoff valves on the hoses for the night on that one filter. I have used my powers of deductoin to conclude that the pump is messed up but what do I do now? Is this common? Can it be repaired, or does it just have to be replaced?

Sorry for the long, drawn out write up.
Cliffs notes: One of my 2260's roars like a waterheater, leaks, is running hot, and trying to ruin my new carpet. help.

Thanks
~Eileen

[myjohnson]

The pump is messed up.

Take it apart and look at the impeller and white rod.

If they are damaged, then replace them. If the rod is broken just replace that part.

Look inside the impeller. If the white casing (that houses the white rod) is warn down then you will have to replace the impeller also.

LFS pricing is 80-100.

Try online for cheaper.

Good luck. Posting pictures will help.

[Oldsgirl]

Ok, just woke up and was a little fearful when I peeked into the room, but indeed all the water is still in the tank- which is a good thing. I'll pull the other filter out and see what I can figure out from it. Hopefully it's nothing too terrible.


Another problem I have- I have several Koralia powerheads (and a few other odds and ends ones) in there to keep the water moving, but very few of them actually stay where I put them. Between my fish apparently messing with them, or them just not sticking to the glass, they always fall down. The glass is so thick that the magnets hardly hold to the outside to help secure them. Should I just put a touch of silicone behind the suction cup? Any other suggestions?

Also, my lovely seamonsters like to chew on the wires- like all the way through the insulation. Such treasures. I thought of getting some of that plastic conduit covering for the wires to at least add one more layer, but again- has anyone had to deal with this? Any suggestions?

Thanks for the help... and wish me luck

~Eileen

[fshfrk]

This should protect your wires. I was looking for a more heavy duty version. It is a spiral loom like a phone cord. Maybe your local auto parts house has it.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/taylor-flexible-wire-loom/p2005407.jcwx

Order a big round ceramic magnet and place it over the smaller magnet that comes with the korilia. Don't let it slam against your glass though. These things are strong.

http://www.gaussboys.com/magnets/discs/

[Oldsgirl]

Yeah, that wire loom was what I had thought of too- I think I'd rather get the phone cord lookng kind- looks like it would be harder for them to pull off. As for the magnets- I don't understand which one would be big enough? Thanks for the page, but which one would you suggest?

Ok, well I took the pump apart. I don't have pictures, but using this picture, I found
EH76404_50.jpg
that the gray part is scored up pretty decently, and has a small crack going around the end with the impellar blades. Mine also does not have a black cap on the impeller end, and the white shaft seems to be slightly bent.

I'll see if I can get a pic, but I assume I'll just order online and let the tank run on one filter for a couple of days.

What would cause this to happen? Is it just one of those things that wears out periododically, or I'm wondering if I did something wrong. I bought the filters used, so I'm not sure how old they are- I just would like to correct any mistakes I might be making.

~Eileen

[Mzungu]

Mine also does not have a black cap on the impeller end, and the white shaft seems to be slightly bent.

Check inside the pump where the impeller fits to see if the black cap is stuck inside - if not, I'd bet that's what was causing the problem. It's a pretty important part of the impeller, and I'm surprised the pump was actually even running without it. But that would explain the noise, IMO. I'm also surprised that the white shaft is bent! That's crazy! If I'm remembering correctly, that's a ceramic shaft, so I'm not sure how it could bend... They're pretty fragile.

Definitely order another one online, or go to City Pets if you can and get one there - they're famous here on HFB for having every Eheim part you'll ever need.

[supadave]

I don't think you did anything wrong . I think that the filter may have been damaged or worn out when you bought it . I don't know if you checked the impeller prior to purchase but that's like the number one thing you should check when buying a used filter . Mainly because that will be the most expensive part to replace .

[Oldsgirl]

Ok, I just wanted to see if I was doing something wrong, so I could be sure to not do it again, lol. That little part is more expensive than I expected, but O well, what can you do. I got a good enough deal on the filters that it's not an issue to me really.

Why did I decide to keep big fish? They're total buttheads. I also have to try to jump start one of my koralia powerheads that didnt' turn back on when powered up (of course way at the bottom of the tank) and I need to hunt for the 'needle in the haystack' and try to find that little metal impeller shaft from one of the koralia's that is apparently in the sand soemwhere from the last time my fish decided to disassemble it.

Stay tuned- might be giving out invitations to a fish fry soon.

[supadave]

Check inside the pump where the impeller fits to see if the black cap is stuck inside - if not, I'd bet that's what was causing the problem. It's a pretty important part of the impeller, and I'm surprised the pump was actually even running without it. But that would explain the noise, IMO. I'm also surprised that the white shaft is bent! That's crazy! If I'm remembering correctly, that's a ceramic shaft, so I'm not sure how it could bend... They're pretty fragile.

Definitely order another one online, or go to City Pets if you can and get one there - they're famous here on HFB for having every Eheim part you'll ever need.

+1

[Oldsgirl]

Ok, looked again, and the shaft isn't bent (yes, it is ceramic)... I guess when I looked at it earlier it was against the curved impeller blade, so I just assumed the shaft was bent? Anyway.... Here are some pics. I'll see if I can get a new one today at a store, otherwise I"ll order one. The rubber bushing was not stuck in the cap, and is nowhere to be found- strange.

I'm just glad I heard it and checked on it so it wasn't overheating and leaking all night.

[fshfrk]

I know those impellers are expensive but you might consider getting a spare since you have 2 of those filters. As far as the magnet get one as big as a silver dollar.

[Zulaab]

Looks like to me from the picture, sand got into the impeller area because those groves don't get there on their own. Make sure before putting the pump together you clean the area inside the impeller area because it could have some dirt in there that would be good to get rid of. This is also a major cause of a pump overheating.

[Oldsgirl]

I was thinking it was probably because of sand. I have sand in the tank, and the finters are drilled up through the bottom, so I'm sure some gets kicked into there.

[myjohnson]

That thing looks jacked up.

Before you get a new one, you should really look into the root of the problem.