Eheim 2217 Classic 600 Canister Filter w/Media

Not the bells and whistles of newer models, but there's a reason this 'classic' design has lasted. It works quietly and efficiently. Just set up, no problem. Setup? easy if you can follow directions. Priming? no big deal, if you've ever siphoned gas....took me all of 10 seconds. Some good YouTube videos out there that'll help you get started..

I have this filter and I like it a lot. it has great pressure! it is extremely quiet, can not be heard at all and absolutely no leaks. i like how easy it is to remove the top too with the little metal clips. highly recommended!!

AquaCave.com had the product at a great competitive price and delivered to me free of charge. And it was delivered even sooner than I anticipated.<br><br>Great job Aquacave.com.<br>Al

This is working well on my long 55 gallon tank, after some twiddling to ensure water flow lengthwise (otherwise the outlet pressure is too high and causes splashing). I had to enlarge the outlet holes on the spray bar, and cut the length of the spray bar to fit on the short side, so the water blows out over the length of the tank. I have the intake located in the center of the tank, and so far, it looks like the water circulation is decent. The filter itself is amazingly silent, and the setup is quite decent. Being a previous Eheim user, I like the valves for easy disconnect, etc. <br>I hope the tank does well, so going on faith on that count!<br><br>

Own 5 Ultra G160 2075, 2213, 2 2080 Pro XL, 2262 and 2217.<br>None of the filters above has given me problems. Love them. Excellent filters with low maintenance. Keeps the aquarium water clean and clear. The trick to the classics is to siphon the water by sucking and then turning the valve off. All of them are super quiet and consume less wattage. Overall great design and products.

The Eheim are based off an old design but are very effective with zero by-pass. They are a very effective design and have a super reliable lifespan. Have had mine running for years now and had no issues. I have never had issues with try to prime it like another reviewer said. They are not complicated, the most simple and effective designed filter out there.

If you like frustration then this is the product for you. Impossible to prime!!!! You can try every trick on youtube and it still won't work. There is a reason why there are so many "tricks" on youtube to prime this pump. Because it is poorly designed and is the worst filter I have ever used. Also, in the photos, the lower green part looks transparent. It is too dark to be transparent for any purpose. It should be clear for easy monitoring. Do not buy an Eheim filter. You will be sorry. One star is too high of a rating.

I have had fish for many years. I have had experience with only one canister filter brand, Rena Filstar and own the original XP3 and their "redesigned" XP. I have issues all the time with air getting in, and then horrible impeller grinding and having to release the air by opening the canisters to force water in, then making a mess all over the floor or inside my tank's stand cabinet.<br><br>I was so tired of this so I decided to give Eheim a try, and read up on the different models and loved the design on the classic line. So I got the second to the biggest they offer-2217 and have had it set up for a month and week now. Instructions are really worthless, Youtube is the best place to find out how to install and clean the filter, though I haven't cleaned it yet. It even shows you a way to help with priming for the first time, it took me 5 minutes to get it started once I got it fully set up, so priming is not impossible. Such a smart design; water goes in from the bottom, actually GOES through all of the media, and then exits the top! I don't understand how the water filters through other filters when both the intake and output on on the top of a filter? I don't believe water pressure can ensure that the water flows through all of the media in the individual compartments either. <br><br>Another good thing about the classic series-no compartments to block flow! I also like the fact that it isn't so pressurized to "force" the water through the compartment and then shoot the water in your tank at high speeds blasting plants, fish and sand in the process. The output of this filter is a nice gentle stream of water, nothing to disturb plants or move my sand around, or agitate the water...I use the power-head for that and can control the flow to where and when I want. I want the filter to FILTER water, not race it through as fast a possible and then shoot it out. <br><br>I love the Eheim, in just a month it has done wonders for my water, my corys are breeding (and I have had them for over 7 years and they never bred before!) my water quality is crystal clear too and my fish and plants are all benefiting from the Eheim 2217.<br><br>I also love the fact that it has the "quick release" valves so that you don't have to dissasemble the whole setup upon cleaning or re-prime the system at every cleaning. My Filstar filters have a "quick release" too but I have to fight to pull it out and then to put it back in, if it isn't sitting just so on top of the filter it won't unlock or lock back in place. I have a feeling that this is where I have a lot of air getting into the canister.<br><br>The best thing is how much you will save on filter media. Eheim comes with all of the media you need, and you can really have the media indefinitely if you rinse it and take care of it well (rinse in tank water). All I would replace would possibly the finishing floss pad (white one) but I would probably get a year out of it at least. I may add a bag of Seachem Purigen to it in the future when I remove my Filstar filters, or use some Seachem Renew as a chemical filtration. Right now my chemical filtration is in my Filstar XP3.<br><br>I love the Eheim so much that I am going to get another 2217 in a month or so. I want to give enough time for a good bacterial population to grow in my current Eheim before I get rid of the 2 Filstar filters I have. Or I may not wait and just transfer the bacterial media to the new Eheim...goodbye XP3 & XP!