Wanted: Canister Filter

Hey guys,



Woke up yesterday with my Tetra EX 1200 leaking water and spilling it all over the living room floor.
I tried a new o ring, put Vaseline on every ring I could find and even opened the primer and put some on there. Nothing seems to work.



So now I need a new canister ASAP. I'm using two old internal filters atm, but they won't be of help for too long. Was considering a HOB filter, but still think a canister is "better" for my setup. The wife doesn't agree with my sentiment, but she will just have to live with it.


Any place where I can get a canister for a 160l tank? Tried a few shops but nobody has stock (for a reasonable price) atm. All they have is the big Fluval for R3500+, but that is not going to work.


Any assistance would be appreciate.

 

What is your setup?

 

Freshwater
Planted with Aquasoil/CO2
Mix of fish: Tetra, Otto, Corry

 

Open canister, put a small amount of marine silicone in the groove where the o ring fits, wait a minute or so and put the o ring back on. the other part that fits over the o ring should have silicone evenly smoothed over the surface so when the canister is put back together both sides of the o ring have silicone. Worked for me as a quick fix but has lasted over a year with opening it up for cleaning.

 

Will try that today thanks. Just hope I don't put to much in and silicone the canister close.
Yesterday was my b-day, so not nice working from morning till afternoon on the *$&%$&# filter and after every test still leaking.

 

@Williamh Mine also started leaking recently but the problem lay with the hose connector. I have a new one on the way that the warranty is paying for so if yours is less than two years old you could do the same.

 

How did you claim for the warranty? Mine is about 13months old, so definitely still in warranty.

 

@Krefie has a Hydor for sale, almost brand new at a very good price...

 

@sub-lime was it still operational after you opened it with the silicon???

 

Don't blow the entire Christmas budget on a new filter!
Can't believe you can't fix the EX-1200.
Got 3 of them, 2 bought brand new, 1 bought second hand. This one leaked straight away although seller said he didn't experience any leaks (but unit was stored in his garage and unused for a while).
Checked everything out and found the big O-ring on top to be the culprit. Ordered a new one from the supplier and after fitting it (using the supplied silicone oil which came with the ring) it was perfect. R70- well spent.
New ring was about 5-7mm shorter than old one, so I guess the leak was due to wear and tear or material fatigue.
You haven't stated where it is leaking but I assume it is the same issue. @sub-lime's option may well work, but I would first try to get a new original O-ring. Just my 2c
Good luck.

 

Dont put the canister back together before the silicone has cured.
Leave the oring in the groove to set with the silicone.

Once all has cured the oring should now be part of the silicone in the groove. don't pull the oring off the silicone (out the groove) ever unless you are going to buy a new oring.
Then once it has cured put the canister back in, be gentle and it will fit snug and wont leak.

@francoisve Yep, works perfectly. no leaks

 

If it doesn't work out for you, silicone is easy to peel off smooth plastic and you would have to buy a new o ring anyway.

 

Sorry yes, should have mentioned where :laugh:
It looks like the O-ring. At first I thought it was the primer because the water was coming out at the clip closes to it.
But on further investigation I saw the water seeping out at the corner closest to the primer button at the base of the canister and the filter head.

My dad told me today there is a place close by in Centurion that make industrial O-rings and gaskets, so he will take the filter head to them tomorrow to get a new one made. If that then doesn't work I will try the silicone route.

 

Hey guys, sorry for late reply - hectic at work. So far for the last 48hrs it looks like it is working. Hopefully it keeps.

 

If it doesn't leak for 48 hrs you should be fine.
What did you ultimately do? Got a new O-ring (via your dad) or siliconed it as described by sub-lime?
We want to know all the details, ...we are a nosy bunch ... ;-)

 

Sorry for the laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate reply
I used the new O-ring an it has been running fine since then. Silicone was my backup plan.