Eheim Classic External Canister Filter Review

Whether you are a new fish owner or someone who has had fish and aquariums for years, finding the right filter for your tank can be difficult.

There are a lot of different ones on the market and it can easily become overwhelming. You want your fish’s environment to be as clean as possible, and figuring out which filter will do the job can be a job within itself.

That’s where we come in. Today we are looking at The Eheim Classic External Canister Filter 2215. It is quiet, has three different types of water filtration, and it very energy efficient.

While some users complain about the lack of a self-priming feature, the bad instructions, and the amount of cleaning you have to do, let’s take a closer look and then you can decide whether the Classic 2115 is right for you.

Eheim Classic External Canister Filter 2215: The Details

Specs:

• Weight: 9 lbs.
• Dimensions: 3 x 14.6 inches
• Filter Capacity: Up to 92 gallons
• Flow Rate: 164 gph
• Media Stages: Biological, mechanical, chemical, and adsorptive filtration
• Self-Priming or Standard: Standard
• Warranty: One-year warranty

Features

Setup

Start by cutting about three inches off of each size of tubing included. These are the pieces that you’ll connect to the top of the filter and the stem protruding from the lower side of the filter.

Next, you will want to connect your double tap connectors to the hose pieces you just attached so that the valve handles are pointing in different directions (one up, one down).

With the double tap valves connected, attach the hoses to the other end of the valves (Warning: Don’t cut the hoses just yet!).

Assemble the intake tube and strainer as the instructions say and place it where you want it on the aquarium. Do the same with the spray bar assembly (read the instructions and place it where you want it).

Just be aware that if you run the spray bar along the back wall of the tank, the return pipe will be visible from the front. It is really just an aesthetic choice.

Now you can cut the hoses to the right length. The tubing should be just short enough so it doesn’t hang too loose, but long enough to allow you to pull the filter out a little or move it from side to side.

When you connect the hoses to the intake tube and spray bar, try to give yourself an extra inch or two for the connection so you don’t feel like you can’t move things around without them disconnecting.

Priming

Since the Eheim Classic 2215 filer is not self-priming, that means you are going to have to prime it yourself. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Step 1: Fill the intake and outtake hoses – which are connected to the intake pipe and spray bar –with water, but do it while the valves are closed.

With the water inside the hoses, install them onto the tank.

Step 2: With the intake valve of your canister closed, fill up your canister with tank water. Then, fit the pump head (with the outtake valve open) onto the canister.

Some water from the canister might flow out from the pump head’s outtake valve. This is perfectly fine.

Once it’s fitted, close the pump head valve.

Step 3: With all the intake and outtake valves closed, connect your canister filter with the intake pipe and spray bar hoses.

Step 4: Turn on the canister filter, open all the valves, and you’re ready to go! Woohoo!

Accessories

The Eheim Classic comes complete with everything you’re going to need:

• Canister chamber
• Spray bar
• Intake pipe
• Hoses
• Installation accessories
• Valves
• Filter pads and loose filter media (EHEIM Mech & Substrate Pro)

Eheim Classic External Canister Filter 2215 Review

The Positives

Quiet

The value of a quiet filter is not to be overlooked. A tank can quickly lose its charm and beauty when it takes over a room with the whirring of a filter.

Fortunately, the Eheim Classic External Canister Filter 2215 is very quiet. Some users don’t even notice it’s running!

So, if you have your aquarium in your bedroom or just somewhere that needs to be all but silent, this filter is a great choice for you, as it won’t ruin the peace of your home.

Reputable Brand

Eheim has been in business for over 55 years. Clearly, they know what they’re doing.

There are a number of users who mentioned having their Eheim filters for years and the devices were still functioning.

They also mention having other Eheim products in the past and them all being long-lasting and working as they were supposed to.

Rest assured that with this filter, you’ll be backing a brand with a long track record of high-quality products, so the chances are high on this filter lasting you for years to come.

Three Types of Water Filtration

The Classic 2215 filter also supports three different types of water filtration: biological, mechanical, and chemical.

Additionally, all the filter media is included when you purchase your filter. No need to go out and buy extra things.

This is a great note for beginners as you won’t have to fumble around your pet shop in hopes of finding the right products – they’ve gone ahead and done it for you.

No Media Trays

The 2215 filter doesn’t work with any media trays, meaning greater water flow through the filtration media.

This may make it a little more difficult to clean, but it means you can fit a lot more filtration media into the filter, allowing you to remove everything and anything.

The simple design of the filter, with the intake at the bottom and the outtake at the top, means that your water will pass through the filtration media no matter what, even if you haven’t cleaned it out in a while.

Low Energy Consumption

The Classic 2215 is also made to be the most energy efficient external canister filter. It uses less power but still gives you a high flow rate.

With the 2215, just because your energy bill isn’t going up, doesn’t mean the filter isn’t doing its job.

This is great for those looking to lower their overall energy consumption, reduce the cost of bills, or just live a greener lifestyle by leaving less of a carbon footprint.

Sturdy and Doesn’t Leak

All the hosing and tubes are well-made and no one reports having problems with them leaking or breaking.

Even the clips that attach the motor head to the canister are made of stainless steel instead of the cheap plastic used by other manufacturers. That means the clips won’t break.

Eheim uses high-quality materials to ensure the longevity of your filter, making it more durable overall. This means you won’t have to rush out for replacements anytime soon, saving you money and hassle.

In addition to being well-made, this filter is also easily customizable to your preferences. Feel like switching out the media for something that works better for you? Go ahead and do it.

Warranty

A warranty allows you to worry a little less about purchasing a new product. What happens in the event that you’re stuck with a product that just doesn’t work?

With the Eheim Classic External Filter, the company promises to repair or replace your filter at no extra cost to you, should your filter be defective.

Simply contact the company and they’ll take it from there – shipping and all. Eheim is also known for having helpful and attentive customer service, so rest assured you’ll be in good hands.

The Negatives

Bad Instructions

Almost all the users talked about how difficult the instructions were to read and understand.

While there are some good YouTube videos showing you how to set up your filter, Eheim has been around for decades – they should have better instructions.

To have to rely on YouTube when you’re spending a lot for the filter does not leave the best impression. Thankfully, this point can easily be resolved … if you have internet access.

On a positive note, when you do follow the instructional videos as opposed to the instruction manual, this filter is quite easy to set-up and install.

Not Self-Priming

The Classic 2215 is not a self-priming filter, so you are going to have to prime it yourself and that can be complicated. You may need to suck on the outlet hose to get it going.

This isn’t a huge deal for those with experience in priming their filter, but this can be a fumble for beginners or those just starting out in the aquatic pet world.

A Lot to Clean

When it comes to filter maintenance, there is a lot to clean with the 2215, and when it comes to cleaning, it can be a daunting task.

You have to scrub the spray bar, the intake pipe, the hoses, the valves, the canister, and the filter media, etc. It is up to you whether you want to do all that work.

While it may be duanting to some, there are also videos and guides on the cleaning process.

Here’s a video showing what the process of cleaning the Eheim 2215 canister filter looks like.

Replacement Parts

There were also a few users that mentioned it is both difficult to find replacement parts and that they are expensive.

While this filter seems to be long-lasting and sturdy, should you need a replacement part, you may have to search around a bit and spend more than you might expect.

Overall Verdict

Considering the good and the bad, we are recommending the Eheim Classic External Canister Filter 2215, but only if you are willing to put in the work.

If you’re okay with the extra cleaning and possibly having some difficulty setting up the filter, then this might be the right choice for you.

It’s thorough as a result! But, if you want to do the least amount of work possible and just enjoy your fish, you should pass this one on.

Where to Buy the Eheim Classic External Canister Filter 2215

As we mentioned, Eheim has been in the game of aquatic tools for a while, producing high-quality products for pet owners and hobbyists.

Due to their long-term presence in the market, products like the Eheim Classic External Canister Filter 2215 can be found both in-store and online.

While it’s always best to check pet stores and specialty shops, check out the following online retailers to kick-start your search.

• Drs Foster Smith (from $129)
• Aqua Forest Aquarium (from $122)
• Big Al’s Pets (from $120)

And of course, you can also find this canister filter on Amazon.

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That’s it for our Eheim Classic 2215 Canister Filter review. Tempted to give it a go?