Pimp My Filter #22 - Eheim Pro 4 / Professional 4+ 600 Canister Filter
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- It doesn't take a genius to work out that I am not impressed with this Eheim pro 4 filter but I'll list a few positives:
1 - The pro 4+ 600 holds approx. 3.6kg of media which makes it suitable for a normally stocked tank of around 350 litres or a heavily stocked tank of around 175 litres (when using biohome ultimate for a full cycle).
That's between 92 US gal. (normal stock) down to 46 US gal. (heavy stock) for you guys in the US.
2 - It comes with media, some is good (substrat pro).
3 - It looks nice......errrr...ummmm...hmmmm.....I'm struggling after those first two points......nope, just thought of another one....
4 - The sides of the filter are see through which allows you to see that the trays don't fit together properly....is that a positive?
OK, now the negative attributes of this (very expensive) filter:
1 - The outer fittings / clasps are made from the cheapest most brittle plastic I've seen on a canister filter
2 - The 'extender' function relies entirely on the fine pad being the last stage of filtration therefore rendering the feature useless as water polishing should be done BEFORE it hits the biological media. Having a fine pad at the end of the process guarantees that fine dirt is concentrated in media trays and will reduce the efficiency of the system by encouraging premature clogging of the media and guaranteeing cleaning is a more messy process than it should be.
3 - The 'mech pro' is similar to a small version of flocor which is often used in cheap pond filters to reduce weight and therefore reduce shipping costs. As a mechanical media, filling the first 2 trays with this is a total waste since medium and light weight dirt will easily go through it straight into the media trays, covering it in dirt and reducing efficiency.
4 - Trays are a design which is sure to lead to handles snapping off. They will still fit together without the handles but the plastic is so brittle that handle breakage is a real concern. Then there is the...
5 - Ridiculous design of the 'tube' which is formed by the trays fitting together. Having three thin pieces of plastic forming a 'tube' instead of one moulded piece of plastic (e.g. on pre-filter tray) ensures that the trays will not fit together properly when one part of the 'triangle' gets bent out of shape and that will cause bypass on a grand scale. The problem could be avoided if the triangular piece of plastic was formed the same way as it is for the pre-filter tray.
Pythagoras would be turning in his grave.......
6 - The trays don't even fit together properly when all parts are present and straight - they easily push inside each other. This is by far the worst example of tray construction I've seen on a canister filter.
7 - The cost. In the UK this filter sells for well over £200 which puts it right at the top of the list of expensive filters but considering the many critical flaws of the pro 4+ 600 a £60 All Pond Solutions / $60 SunSun filter will hold more media (5kg / 11 lbs) and will actually function like a filter is supposed to do, unlike this travesty from Eheim.
The main competitor to Eheim is Fluval and Fluval have maintained or improved the build quality of their filters with successive generations.
However, Eheim seemed to hit a high point with the pro 2 series then reduced the quality for the pro 3 and reduced it again for the pro 4, all while increasing the selling cost of the 'new generation' filters and claiming that the filter is 'more advanced' - the only thing which is advancing is Eheim's bank balance and that is down to mugging fish keepers who bought the pro 3 and pro 4 filters.
Can they pull it back with their next filters? sure they could but so many other companies are making better filters at a fraction of the cost the market is wide open for someone to steal their crown - that is awful to see as I have great respect for German engineering / work ethic / construction quality / after sales care. Instead of being a 'next generation' filter the pro 4 is a massive step back.
Sorry - I haven't got any room left for the usual notes about filtration so check other videos for that.
www.filterpro.c...
Professional 4+ 600 on Amazon: geni.us/sRBAk6D
If you've enjoyed this video please check out the playlists on my channel for hundreds more..
Feel free to share or link any of my videos on facebook, twitter, forums etc. for the benefit of anyone you think may also enjoy watching.
See you next time.
Pondguru
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS ON AMAZON: goo.gl/jMaBWy
INSTAGRAM: / pondguru_outdoors
FILMING EQUIPMENT:
Panasonic HC-VX870 HD camcorder geni.us/3UwE
+Rode stereo microphone: geni.us/4OL
+Rode 'deadcat' mic cover: geni.us/1pmn
JVC Everio quad proof HD camcorder: geni.us/e09e
+Rode 'deadcat' mic cover (opened up and held between tripod and camera base) geni.us/dee24
Zomei Z666 tripod: geni.us/1a1af3
Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI mini tripod: geni.us/87f7
It doesn't take a genius to work out that I am not impressed with this filter at all but I will list a few positives:
1 - The pro 4+ 600 holds approx. 3.6kg of media which makes it suitable for a normally stocked tank of around 350 litres or a heavily stocked tank of around 175 litres (when using biohome ultimate for a full cycle).
That's between 92 US gal. (normal stock) down to 46 US gal. (heavy stock) for you guys in the US.
2 - It comes with media, some is good (substrat pro).
3 - It looks nice......errrr...ummmm...hmmmm.....I'm struggling after those first two points......nope, just thought of another one....
4 - The sides of the filter are see through which allows you to see that the trays don't fit together properly....is that a positive?
OK, now the negative attributes of this (very expensive) filter:
1 - The outer fittings / clasps are made from the cheapest most brittle plastic I've seen on a canister filter
2 - The 'extender' function relies entirely on the fine pad being the last stage of filtration therefore rendering the feature useless as water polishing should be done BEFORE it hits the biological media. Having a fine pad at the end of the process guarantees that fine dirt is concentrated in media trays and will reduce the efficiency of the system by encouraging premature clogging of the media and guaranteeing cleaning is a more messy process than it should be.
3 - The 'mech pro' is similar to a small version of flocor which is often used in cheap pond filters to reduce weight and therefore reduce shipping costs. As a mechanical media, filling the first 2 trays with this is a total waste since medium and light weight dirt will easily go through it straight into the media trays, covering it in dirt and reducing efficiency.
4 - Trays are a design which is sure to lead to handles snapping off. They will still fit together without the handles but the plastic is so brittle that handle breakage is a real concern. Then there is the...
5 - Ridiculous design of the 'tube' which is formed by the trays fitting together. Having three thin pieces of plastic forming a 'tube' instead of one moulded piece of plastic (e.g. on pre-filter tray) ensures that the trays will not fit together properly when one part of the 'triangle' gets bent out of shape and that will cause bypass on a grand scale. The problem could be avoided if the triangular piece of plastic was formed the same way as it is for the pre-filter tray.
Pythagoras would be turning in his grave.......
6 - The trays don't even fit together properly when all parts are present and straight - they easily push inside each other. This is by far the worst example of tray construction I've seen on a canister filter.
7 - The cost. In the UK this filter sells for well over £200 which puts it right at the top of the list of expensive filters but considering the many critical flaws of the pro 4+ 600 a £60 All Pond Solutions / $60 SunSun filter will hold more media (5kg / 11 lbs) and will actually function like a filter is supposed to do, unlike this travesty from Eheim.
The main competitor to Eheim is Fluval and Fluval have maintained or improved the build quality of their filters with successive generations.
However, Eheim seemed to hit a high point with the pro 2 series then reduced the quality for the pro 3 and reduced it again for the pro 4, all while increasing the selling cost of the 'new generation' filters and claiming that the filter is 'more advanced' - the only thing which is advancing is Eheim's bank balance and that is down to mugging fish keepers who bought the pro 3 and pro 4 filters.
Can they pull it back with their next filters? sure they could but so many other companies are making better filters at a fraction of the cost the market is wide open for someone to steal their crown - that is awful to see as I have great respect for German engineering / work ethic / construction quality / after sales care. Instead of being a 'next generation' filter the pro 4 is a massive step back.
Sorry - I haven't got any room left for the usual notes about filtration so check other videos for that.
www.filterpro.co.uk
Professional 4+ 600 on Amazon: geni.us/sRBAk6D
If you've enjoyed this video please check out the playlists on my channel for hundreds more..
Feel free to share or link any of my videos on facebook, twitter, forums etc. for the benefit of anyone you think may also enjoy watching.
See you next time.
Pondguru
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS ON AMAZON: goo.gl/jMaBWy
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/pondguru_outdoors/
FILMING EQUIPMENT:
Panasonic HC-VX870 HD camcorder geni.us/3UwE
+Rode stereo microphone: geni.us/4OL
+Rode 'deadcat' mic cover: geni.us/1pmn
JVC Everio quad proof HD camcorder: geni.us/e09e
+Rode 'deadcat' mic cover (opened up and held between tripod and camera base) geni.us/dee24
Zomei Z666 tripod: geni.us/1a1af3
Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI mini tripod: geni.us/87f7
Thanks ever so much for doing this video! I have 2x the Professionel 4 and 1x a Professionel 2. I must agree with you on the fiddly trays, it is definitly a pain in the buttocks. Try removing a little bit of media, that helped me getting those trays to slot into eachother. I've been out of the hobby for 25 years and when I started again I automatically gravitated to the Eheim filters as back in the day they were the best. In our country you can pretty much only buy Oase and Eheim in stores...
I will however say that I tested both the Oase and the Eheim had literally double the flow, which for me is the most important aspect of a filter. What I thought was super confusing is the range extender. I just thought it controlled pump flow so I set it to max, not realising that it was bypassing all my media for months. As for the clamps, the ones on my Professionel 2 have already broken and are far more brittle than the series 4. That said, the filter is a lot older ofcourse. Also the release mechanism for the hoses is far more sturdy on the series 4. I always spend ages fiddling to get the Series 2 to hook up correctly.
I don't think I'd be buying another series 4 though. Like you said, it's a travesty that a _German_ company like Eheim thinks it is ok to produce things like this.
- Ex-fanboy
I've got the pro 3 and it's crap
Thank god I found your channel before buying this filter. I got a good deal on the Unimax 500, the smaller brother of the unimax 700, and filled it with 7 kilos of Biohome Ultimate.
@@enders9514 Good one - the Unimax is a very good filter and shows how one company cares about making a product as good as possible to try and get a more secure foothold in the industry (Aquael) and another one gets complacent at the top (Eheim)
Pondguru bet you was straight in your sauna after recording this instalment
Have had no problem with my pro4+600. Love this model and am happy and satisfied with the quality and performance unlike the stress you went through. Keep calm. Eheim pro4+600👍👍
I agreed, all you have to do is put those baskets 1 by 1 into the bucket and you only do this every 3-6 months. Yes, the basket does look flimsy but it’s doesn’t break if you not sitting on it and watching Netflix. Come on guys!
I have had this filter for years and i love it. Have never had any of these problems with it and my fish are thriving.
I have the have the 350 version and i cant complain about it. Ive had it 3 years with my fancy gold fish and had no issues.
I had a fluval 206 before and that leaked after maintenance every time. I had to replace the o ring everytime i did a filter clean.
I havent had any issues with my eheim pro 4+ 350
Great video Richard. Don't feel guilty about bagging a filter. If it's rubbish that's what folks wanna know
Had mine (350 Pro) for a while now with no problems setting up and taking down... probably because it fits together easier when you drop them in the container one by one. anyhow thanks for the pimping tweaks.
I can clean my Pro 3 and have it back up and running in 15 mins, it's not that hard to assemble. I threw out the plastic crap and filled it with Seachem Matrix. The broken piece is not because of a design issue, it was package incorrectly. It's not the perfect filter, but mine has been running for 6 years now with no issues.
I agree , they do better in time than any jbl, oase and Aquael...plus the parts ar every easy to find in EU
I love Eheim because of the availability of parts if I have an issue. have a twelve year old Pro 3 and a six year old pro 4. The older filter has the same quality of baskets and fittings as the newer one. Nothing has ever broken off or leaked, and they do beautifully for my turtles.
Iv had 7diffrent types of canisters n this pro4 is by far the best the trays may be a bit thin but if u take care of them in put them in one at a time they'll fit fine there cheap to run easy to clean and have better flow than any iv used I get 630lph out of the rated 950 at a meter head
I have Eheim classic 250 running for 5 years never open never clean it (i know i'm lazy). I was gonna upgrade to this Profesional 4, but lucku i watch your video. Thanks for saving my money
You are right. I am german and a fan of Eheim, but that thing is really fragile.
Best concept is the easiest one. The Eheim Classic. Have the Eheim Experience also, which is very good, too.
i am fan of no filter, i have classic, pro4 and biomaster, every has +/-, i like them equally, mostly it is about user attention
Tell me best filter for 120 l tank pls.
i got oase 600 but is to loud i need to make return.
I have used this filter for a 2 years and it has always worked great for me .
I've now watched the 22 pimp my filter videos. And I have to say it is mind boggling how manufacturers claim what there filters claim to be able to do. A lot of hobbyists get caught out in this flannel. But thankfully guy's like you Richard are giving us some intelligent information. Thanks again. Any chance you could put up a list of the top5 canister filter's in your opinion. I feel this would be helpful to those new to the hobby. Kindest Regards Manny
I have had this filter for about 3 years. I also have a Fluval 404 running on the same 75 gallon tank stocked moderately with African cichlids. I have not had a problem with fitting the baskets together. I agree it is not the best design, but it looks to me like you have manufacturing defect. Maybe Eheim sends second quality product to the UK. I can only say compared to the Fluval 404 this filter is much quieter and does not trap air as the Fluval does. It is also easier to disassemble and clean the pump mechanism. I also use an Eheim pre-filter. If they put the Eheim pump assembly on the Fluval, I would think that would be a better combination than either. I have kept an aquarium for over fifty years, and can say that I have always found most powered filters to be flimsy and noisy. At least the Eheim is not noisy. If Eheim is a company that cares about it's reputation and customers, they should contact you and investigate what I think is a very real quality problem.
The 404's flaws are probably solved now with the 407
Great Richard i ordered the filter material and replaced the eheim stuf. Its working now for a month and i;m flalbergast. super clean water no water change and even my window stay's clean and and stuf like wood etc. i managed to put one layer at the botom with caramic pipes. it's just super. Thank you for the video. verry pleased
No worries and I'm glad you found the video useful as I make them to help people.
Best of luck with the tank.
Thanks for your honesty, it is disappointing to hear that the Professional 4 is not well constructed. However, I am really pleased to hear that my Eheim Professional 2 has been given the tick of approval. It is many years old and owing to its robust build quality is still going strong.
Yes the pro 2 series is robust and well designed and I'd definitely recommend that series over the pro 3 and any filter over the pro 4. I was a reasonably disappointed with the pro3 but all my concerns were compounded with the pro4 which is worse and a real head scratcher considering that eheim are German and most German companies look to deliver quality and value - pro is certainly not good value.
@@pondguru I like the Series 2 better as well, but it's far from perfect. The latches are even more prone to breaking than the series 4 and the hose connection system is a pain on the series 2 I think personally... But in general it is definitly better than the 4. I like simple and robust designs. I have a series 2 and a series 4 600 series working together in my hillstream tank so it's pretty funny to see you mention them both.
No more coffee for you sir lol. I have an Efx+ by APS, had it for 2 years and it's never let me down yet! I don't believe you need big named brands to get the job done! Love your channel, cheers.
Me two I have to 2 of them brilliant filters. I also have a E-hime pro 2 a very good filters but the new models are rubbish low grade plastic I only got the E-hime for the high water flow it's just full of bio mechanical media. So never needs cleaning. 😆
Yes the name on the filter is the least important part of it - what is going on inside is the main concern as a properly set up cheap filter will outperform an expensive brand set up incorrectly any day.
@@pondguru this is why I don't trust writen reviews as you don't know if they have set it up correctly. Hey ho you live an learn 😊
As an engineer i forgot it was about an aquarium and those unfitting parts made an internal rage as the presenter and i feel the urge to crush it. Thanks for the video!
Its all about the Eheim Classic they are bulletproof.
Yes! !
Hi! I like the part where you upgrade the filter media in the canister. But I have to notice you don't review those filters based on the actual use, the leaks that occur after some period of time. Out of the box many of those canisters look great, but what after 5 years, spare parts availability? I have tetra ex 800+, and it leaks on multiple places. Had to replace gaskets and in the process broke off some plastic parts. For me the most important thing for a canister filter is it's reliability, to not have to worry if it would soak my expensive wood floor. Cause bad engineering. Those things you cant see when unboxing a canister filter. Its nice to praise aquael, but praise it after 5 years of use. I would rather worry about leaking and not flimsy basket that can be replaced any time.
Eheim has so many spare parts available that you could practically build a new filter from them. I’ve also never had an Eheim leak. My oldest filter, a pro 3, is roughly 12. The other one, a pro 4, is six.
Had to get a new filter recently and even after a lot of reviews and reading got eheim 4+ because of a good deal and quietness. There's a few things i'd like to mention: if trays are undamaged (the plastic not bent) they fit well and i see no reasonable way to break them. The tray cost ~3-4$ - one can always replace it. But even if plastic piece is bent a little - there's no bypass as the top tray(one that holds a coarse sponge) seals the upper part of the filter and water have no other way to go other than to the bottom and through the trays anyway. And even if there were a bit - it would be nothng compared to say fluval canister which has tons of bypass by design. Extender function is actually GREAT when used with carbon pads! (yes, they should've indluded them and not floss). The whole reason the "tube" is like that is to make trays a one single volume which is a plus compared to Fluval tray design which are split in two and much less convenient. As for media - i think eheim purpously avoid using fine foams in their filters with their typical setup of MechPro for mechanical, Biomech is 50/50 bio/mechanical then substratePro for bio to evenly maximize filtration throughout the volume and avoid any bottlenecks before needing to clean the canister. One of the things that put me off Fluval is that it just bypasses more once medium/fine pads are clogged, often before the large prefilter is (judging by some forums/pics etc.). In the end - i really can't understand such criticizm over a filter which came with already bent tray and see no other strong arguments against it other than subjective ones like brittle plastic, especially when compared to Fluval which got some statistics with pics and vids of plastic breaking everywhere (_especially_ with 07 models so where's improvement?) not to mention leaking of all kinds.
IV a 207 fluval and I don't get any bypass I did when I owned the fluval fx4
Shout out from the United States! Really appreciate your videos. I have learned a lot and have utilized your filtration methodology including using Biohome Ultimate media. Thanks so much! Cheers!
I have the older version & watching this video ha goven me a few checks to do. I'm glad I am moving away from canisters & getting a sump. Great video
I couldn't help but laugh when he was trying to put the trays in
Hi, After watching your video I bought an Aquael ultramax 2000, it brokes after 2 months of use and Aquael service won’t repair it for now....now I’m running this eheim instead it’s awesome. My father own the pro 3 series and it works since 5 years. So don’t be so rude, eheim knows their stuff, I recommend this filter over Aquael, jbl or oase.
Finally wait is over...Love you Man!!!
First thing tomorrow morning I will do is taking this bloody thing back to where it bought and exchange for a better filter.
Thank you for all negative points on this filter.
Sorry it took so long to get out and thanks again for sending it. I was genuinely disappointed with so I can only imagine how you feel after laying out big bucks to buy it.
Thanks for reviewing this product. I have both the 4+ 250 and 350 and have them setup as you describe. Perhaps a chamfer on the inside edges of the upper trays down pipe would have made the 2 trays mate together better. I normally assemble the lower trays outside of the main unit and use a couple of pieces of wide ribbon that I thread down and through to the lower handle and lift the lot in one go. Shame that the tray that requires most maintenance is at the bottom. Mine go 3 months before I touch them. I chose these filters for their low noise in my living room, it's a part of these products that you don't evaluate.
Yes unfortunately as the filters have to go back to their owners dry I can't run them which is why comments such as yours are so important - yes the eheim filters are known for being efficient (as far as power consumption goes) and quiet and noise is a big consideration. Good tip with the ribbon method of lowering the trays in but should that be necessary to properly fit the trays of a filter from a company at the top of the aquarium market? I'd say not.
Good to know that your filters are going for 3 months between maintenance as that's a real result.
I have a Prof 4 and never had any problems. Having said that I like what you replaced Eheim's media with. I think it would be much more efficient, I am going to try it.
The baskets are a bit figitey but it's still a great filter, very quiet and lots of room for media. If you press down on them when they aren't in the filter case they will collapse, much easier to put one basket in the filter case at a time, slides in perfect without any hassle (for me anyway) Dont let this poor review put you off what I think is a fantastic filter.
I have this filter setup on a 170 liter, I didi buy the prefilter sponge with fine sponges in it, 1 thick slice of 5 cm course sponge, then 4,5 kg of biological media up top. I have only cleaned the prefilter. it has been 26 months now. I agree with 95% of you Mr Guru. but if you have a lot of cannisters, you do not want the fine mech. Because that is usually in the bottom, so you have to open and clean it every month. If water comes in up top, I have fine white floss. Like on Juwel corner filters for example. But on cannisters, try fine prefilter. And your cannisters can last 6-24 months. My 170 liter has 100 + fish in there. Otherwise I agree with you. More biological and fine and course sponge is enough.
i thought i was me,and my nervous hands ,but im both pleased and disapointed hearing the same experience from a lot of people. The inside and the complements are really under chinesse quality. I badly hope that all this inside bad shaped and low quality pieces don´t get broken in the first thre-mensual cleaning
Oh to be a fly on the wall when making this video. Glad you’re so passionate about this. Makes me believe you really know what you’re talking about. I’m using substrat pro, because that’s all I can find here, but I use your setup because it just makes sense.
Hopefully you can also look at the Eden series of filters one day.
Hello Pondguru.. I tend to agree with your observations about build quality BUT it is all a matter of taste. I have used these kind of Eheim filters for a long time without anything braking. What Eheim does better than most filters is the lack of problems as long as you learn how to handle them correctly. They are soundless, never leaks and use very little power compared to output. I have had both JBL and Fluval earlier versions and my conclusion is that Eheim is still the best canister filter on the market. I use my brand new 2275 instead of a sump in a marine setup and have just received 3 kg. of Biohome Marine filter media. looking forward to try it.
Okt. 18-2020. I have now used the new Eheim 2075 Proff. 4 600 for 3 weeks filled with 3 kg of Biohome marine and other media, 4.7 kg in total and have measured the outflow to almost 1300 liter/hour.
I have the pro 3 version & the only difference is it doesn't have the fine media bypass valve. Only the bottom tray has those plastic tubes. I put marine pure small size spheres in the 2nd tray & stock Eheim media for the rest. I have been using this filter since 2014 on a 200lt goldfish tank & have had no problems with reassembling it after cleaning. Will be changing the media in the bottom tray to coarse ,mediam & fine pad as it seems logical to do so.
Cheers
I've been waiting for this for a long time! Thanks for the video!
I wish this video was published before I bought this filter.
don't cry it will be fine just you wait
Very interesting I have been using the Pro 4 350T for two years now I agree the extender is pointless and the plastic media is very poor but I have never found any problem with the plastic trays fitting together that's not build quality that is user error
'User error' putting trays together made me laugh - thanks for your comment.
I now am smiling heartily.
I'm laughing so hard right now, and mainly at myself. Your reaction to the flimsiness of the tray is the exact same I had when I had to put it together the first time. I'm new to the hobby and thought I'd bought a decent external filter, but man the quality of the hardware astounded me and not in a good way. Especially for the money I paid for it...
The putting together of the trays is beyond frustrating.
Ah well, in general I'm happy enough with how it functions, and my tank is doing well on it (I have the 350 on a 150l tank). Hopefully it'll be even better once I've set the media all up the way you're explaining it in the video.
Yes, ultimately how the filter is set up and what media is used will dictate the effectiveness of the filter.
However, it is a shame about the quality of construction on the new Eheim filters compared to what they used to be like.
Lol.. I am saved.. I was about to buy this.. I will buy the tested classic 600..cause old is gold 👍👍👍
You are 100% correct about this this filter. I have a smaller older version and the build quality is just as bad. The self priming mechanism is questionable long term. The reason it comes with the useless plastic prefilter media is that if you put any heavy media in the trays you have the assembly problems you encountered. It’s the worst in their range. There is better cheaper filters out there.
I have just got the 3 a secondhand model 60 quid gave it a good clean out ordered some proper media did have larva rock in two baskets like but no foam what so ever except for a bit on top sent off for the stuff b4 I fit it to my new tank
It would be very interesting to get comment from the eheim-crew. They must have seen this video! Great video Richard! Looking forward to see you pimp a eheim 2262.
This series is lit 🔥
Thank you for another really informative video. I have an Ehiem 2075 and I think the classic design has less problems and is better overall.
My first thought was to dump the fine filter in the empty tray below the bio media and rinse it regularly to stop bacteria colonising it and to stop it over obstructing flow, you want to trap dirt before it blocks up the bio media not after, clean (hence disturb) the bio media as little as possible.
My educated opinion is the water flow should hit:
1. A diffuser of sorts to stop to much muck being thrown everywhere
2. Course mech
3. Fine mech
4. Bio media
Fair play, you're one of very few people I've seen actually get this right.
It's a shame that even manufacturers get this wrong a LOT.
Wish I saw this video before I bought my Eheim Pro4 350 over a year ago. You’re right Richard, the trays are poorly designed and the priming is difficult to get going. But still it still works and I can’t bring myself to throw away an expensive filter, I’ve reconfigured it to how you suggest with the 600 and 2kg of Biohome ultimate. The water is clearer than it has ever been. That said l, I think my next filter will be an Aquael Maxi Kani because I can’t put my canister below my tank. When can you do a review of that? Would love to hear your opinion. Keep up the good work. 👍
Hello Richard was wondering what is your favourite canister filter?
BTW I just setup my 2213, same way you illustrated, Love these videos
Unfortunately just a couple of things wrong with your review, I guess your using a second hand one and it's missing the filter media in the empty tray that it comes with, it's biomech pro or bio mesh plus.... flat porous discs with and indent on each one.... I believe..... they must have taken it out before selling it to you. Another point is the weird way your putting the trays together outside of the filter.... they are designed to be put back in the filter 1 at a time, therefore lining them up perfectly and not allowing the problem you created by putting them together outside of the housing...perhaps that's how it was damaged in the first place. how were you going to put them in all at once... just drop them in like you do it the bottom one?! I would never treat a filter I owned like that, especially an expensive one, they don't connect together in any locking manner but fit perfectly snuggled and aligned when put in individually, I guess it's a good lesson on buying 2nd hand filters. Another point you raise is the "flimsy or fiddly" parts as you describe, I've had no issue with them, I've had a pro 3 for nearly 13 or 14 Years and it's the same design, and I've never had a problem with anything breaking.... you'd have to be very very ruff with it to break it, perhaps don't let children do it or very inexperienced fish keepers but besides that it's more than solid enough. I've had my running for nearly 15 years 24/7 without a hitch. Yes those plastic noodles are pretty shitty and it's good to swap them out. Just thought I'd let you know from first hand experience the actual reality of having owned one of this design, I would definetly replace it with another if anything happened. I think you were a little harsh and hard on it....also that corner piece being like that was obviously damaged by the previous owner or it's a manufacturing fault... mines great and perfect.give it a try with the way I informed you and I think you'll have no probs, or even try a brand new one, Just imo
I love your pimping of the filter though and I will definetly give it a try in the future! Looks great!
The Ehiem Pro 3 series are superior. I had a 3e that was dependable, silent, and kept my 80gl Cichlid tank in fantastic shape with crystal clear water. The parts were very good.
On the plus side I like the clear plastic.
Clear trays would be good to so you can see it all flowing through part of the filter media. Thanks for the video swear box would be full lol
That is the reason why I use JBL filters... Gone are the days when Eheim filters were still called tanks!!!!! Greetings from Germany
Another great video 🐟🐡
Unlucky that your mate sent you a broken one. I would guess you would have had an easier time of it had the filter been in a serviceable condition.
Thank you! I was about to pull the trigger on this filter!
You dodged an expensive bullet there.
The work you do is simply amazing. 🔥💯
Since I started using biohome my algeas are gone, crystal clear water and happy fishes.
Thank you so much!! ☺️🙏
That's what it is all about - making the water good and the fish happy.
Great stuff.
Thank you so so much for posting this. I stumbled here because I already got a Pro 4 and noticed it clogged really fast. The order of the media was reversed and I put that aside at first thinking it's a new and improved thing, but thanks for confirming that it is not. I followed your suggested order of media and the filter is running much better! I am not wealthy enough to throw it in the trash.
also, the biggest pro you didn't mention that enticed me to buy the filter is the black tubing! I'm a sucker...
I bought a new pump like a month ago and it was between this one and the jbl cristalprofi e1902 greenline, looks like I made the right choice 👍
JBL is a great filter - miles better than this for sure.
Sorry for your frustration but thanks for your honest opinion. I love this series. And love Biohome Ultimate. I have stocked all my tanks filters with it.
Sounds good to me - how does the water test?
@@pondguru The water tests GREAT on all 4 tanks. The last test I did about a week ago were perfect; even the nitrates ranged between 10 to 20 (the 20 was in an overstocked tank). I can't thank you enough for that UA-cam way back when where you showed how to "pimp" a filter. I won't even look at anything other than Biohome.
@@drjohnmannion361 Great to hear that feedback and I'm glad you're pleased with the media and results - it still bemuses me when I see the 'big' channels flatly denying that a full cycle is possible in filter type X, Y, Z and that Biohome is just a marketing gimmick when results from thousands of fish keepers all over the world have the evidence to prove them wrong. It's a really strange situation, lol
couldn't agree more i have a Eheim Professional 4+ 350T really cheaply made compared to the all pond solution 1400ef uv , would like to see and upgrade video on that filter
I have this filter for bio media only. A lot fits in there, i also gave a api xl with sponges and a large marineland bio wheel for more filtration on a 120g. I wouldnt depend on just one filter , at least filter 2 times more than you need just in case on fails, or if a fish dies it wont overload your system.
Eheim Classic they are bulletproof i had mine for 20 years
Great review , thanks pal
I was able to add some ceramic rings under the coarse pad in the prefilter tray to help break down muck as well as some under the bottom tray. Just another possible upgrade to help improve mechanical filtration. Pondguru does this in a lot of his other filters.
Yes. I had room under my bottom tray to add rings as well.
I’ve got 2 APS efx+ 2000lph filters and although they gave me trouble to start with I’ve had no trouble with getting replacement parts and for £90 each they punch well above they weight.
So I guess I'll have to build the next filter myself then :p I got this exact filter, and I agree on the idiotic design on the trays, the are ment to break, and the only reason I didn't send it back was because my other filter was broken, and it was all ready fishes in the tank... I will look into changing the media because this looks like a much better way to do it.
Thank you for the video😉
I have had one of these for the past two years, I remember getting it on a recommendation. Soon after getting it I realized most of it's faults. Eheim could have definitely done better, like most companies they are interested in making a dollar over a great product. The fact that it is made in Germany does not mean much to me, and I would not discard a product just cause it's made in China. I only care to get a good product for my money.
Bought one today. Wish me luck 🤞 first impression was very good.
Pondguru, I hope someone would send you an Eheim 2262 (1500XL). It’s their largest canister filter based on the classic series. I’m wondering how well your preferred sponges will complement that behemoth; I’m certain Biohome would be well suited for it. Anyway, I’ll continue being patient for that upload 🤞🏾.
Agree. Hope somebody could send a 2262.
Great video, Richard.
Very good explained. But it comes to late, already bought the E5 700. But thx for the info.
Some new designer under sales pressure at Ehiem coming up with "Chinese" ways to reduce cost of production .. that is what professional 4 is all about! Very disappointed!
Excellent video!
Thank you for all your videos I learned a lot about this hobby from you always honest and very smart lol. I will be building a pond soon all because of your videos lol.
But I do have a questions about biohome and achieving the full nitrogen cycle .
I have 125 gallon tank currently heavily stocked with big south and central American cichlids green terror, red terror, jack Dempsey etc....
Filters are :
3 aqua clear 110 : sponges, quilt batting and seachem matrix
FX6: sponges and seachem matrix
Total of 6 litters seachem matrix in all filters (according to seachem good for over 600 gallons of water).
Substrate is sand.
Sunsun JVP-201 wave maker for water circulation (in my opinion it's very important to have in any tank).
I use seachem prime .
I clean FX6 once every 6 months, June and December of every year. Been doing that for the last 7 years
My water perimeters are always perfect 0 ammonia 0 nitrate 0 nitrite. Even after 30 days of no water changes (I usually change water and clean the aqua clears every 2 weeks) few times I was out of the country for over 30 days and could not do water changes but water still tested perfect.
My question is : did i achieve the full nitrogen cycle?
If yes , how? I am not using biohome and I am using prime
According to you that could not be achieved while using prime and seachem matrix .
My second question according to your numbers I need about 7 to 8 kilos of biohome ultimate in my setup correct ? If that's correct that will cost me between 400 to 500 dollars if I buy it from Amazon
Prime retards the cycle but it doesn't necessarily stop it from completing especially if it is used sparingly. Pumice is perfectly capable of allowing for good bacterial colonization and completing the cycle if enough is used but as it is such a variable stone there is no way to predict how much will be needed. Deep sand beds can hold lots of anaerobic bacteria but have the risk of building up too much and going 'bloop' and poisoning the tank (that is rare when sand is disturbed every 6 months or so) but a combination of all those things can help toward a full cycle.
Biohome is not the only way to achieve a full cycle and I have heard of a few people achieving full cycle with pumice and / or deep sand. Likewise I have heard of a few people achieving a full cycle when they use prime or even purigen which is one of the most damaging products for bacteria but always when it is used sparingly.
Based on the size of the tank and stock I'd say around 10kg for the biohome ultimate which would be around £145 in UK - should be a similar price in US too so if price is crazy on Amazon that is not good.
Great to hear that you have those results as it doesn't get better than that - good one. Tank is looking good but make sure you disturb the sand under the large rocks every 6 months or so to prevent a harmful amount of anaerobic bacteria building up under there.
@@pondguru thank you sir . I so stir the sand every other water change.
Do you know where I can biohome ultimate in the USA besides Amazon?
@@tayson1222 Yes, direct link to main US distributor is US flag at the top of any page of my website: www.filterpro.co.uk
" Bloody fit together properly! " 😂
Thank you! For your opinion. You saved me a lot of money. Which is the best canister filter?
I have 2 of these. Had them over a year with no problems and they do a good job. Flimsy, yes, but they run like a son of a gun and are quiet. I just don't have them very rough.
I agree, I've gotten used to it, it's silent enought for me now, also the flow is pretty good although some have complained about it here on yt. The priming can be difficult, but it holds pretty much media though I threw away those awful plastic parts bio mech or whatever. My water is pretty clear and I can sleep at night, good enough for me.
Good to know that I've spent my money wisely on Fluval Fx4. Keep up the good work Richard.
If you staple the trays in the filter, there's no problem like this. ;)
This filter is better. The 3 series was a real step backwards. If you do it my way of corse! :-)
3 series had priming pump leak
I used to love Eheim and I would rarely, if ever buy anything else. However I am in full agreement with you, the price has gone up and quality has gone down. Shame as they used to be so good.
I paid €220 for the 4+ 600. That's ok price to me tho.
just come across this video ... and have this filter arriving in a few days.. now I'm back to the drawing board don't know what filter to get....?
I just purchased a Penn Plax Cascade and it seems to be built like a tank.
I actually thought the worst thing was the tubing up to the tank. Stiff, hard, the spray bars weren't my favorite either. I have 2 pro 600, and think the fluval has better intake flow than the eheim, but eheim runs longer than my 2 fluval 605s, without as many mechanical problems.
Exasperating for you but entertaining for me , you had me in fits , I wish we could see the out-takes 😊. It can be amazing what accountants can bugger up.
Yes this is very much a filter designed by the bean counters.
I have watched this video a year ago.
Knew the downsides of this filter.
But i got one anyway cause i had a good deal 😆
I do agree about the trays
Got 3 Oase Biomasters and an older Eheim Experience and those trays are so much better.
But besides that i think its a good filter.
Priming is easy and it has a nice flow.
Got 2 more now.. biomasters tend to start leaking on me after moving.
Shutting down a filter and setting it back up after a while.
That first Eheim professional 4 250
It was in my shed for 7 months or so.
Dusted it off.
Filled the baskets and primed it.
It worked
No leaks.
So there is still something what makes Eheim one of the best brands around.
15:09 i heard a kestrel in the background. super!
I’m returning mine tomorrow. Gave me hell trying to install hosing.
I remember the first time I saw this filter, I had an Eheim Classic 250 in a little tank, and I have too in another tank of 126 liters an filter Eheim Ecco Pro 300... In at that time, I told my wife:
oh, great! The last model of Eheim !!!, must be wonderful ... It would be perfect for our new aquarium of 240 liters (total liters, maybe real 205 or 210 liters)
Then I saw this video ... It was too late ... My wife had already bought an Eheim Professionel 4+ 600 "... (I did not know anything about it... It was a surprise.... ).., she wanted to give me a" nice surprise ", and she spent a lot of money with very excited about this stupid filter.
I started my aquarium 2 months and 18 days exactly today .... The first month, I opened the filter 1 time a week, from the first month, I only clean it once a month, I have a Prefilter installed in the suction tube of the Eheim brand ....
I regret to say that you have been "short" in your criticism, everything described in this vise is true, and it is much worse ...
The triangular "tube" after two months is broken in several baskets, the By-pass created is unfortunate, when you pump it after a cleaning, it expelled a lot of dirt by the Spry Bar tube to the tank!!! (do not ask me where the dirt comes from, I have no idea)
The first basket, "supposedly" pre-filter, has a useless sponge with a ridiculous size and thickness ...
If you set up the filter correctly (with the Pondguru system), your water will never be clean due to the wrong fit of the baskets and the multiple by-pass, which will cause a lot of dirt to return to your tank.
If you set it up as Eheim indicates, maybe your water will be more crystalline, but only thanks to the Synthetic filter Wool, in the last stage, this will make your water clean, but the biological material will be full of dirt, You will lose benefits, and you will have problems ... It is a shame of Filter.
You will never achieve that the baskets fit well, but if you miraculously get it, when you move it, or the filter starts to work, the baskets will be deconstructed again ... If it is not for the flow of water, it will be because you will have to shake a lot of side next to the filter to expel the air bubbles .... It's depressing ... Imagine what it means to me, that I have a terminal illness, which causes me a serious visual disability ....
My wife can't not do it right either, when she tries to help me, (She has Aquariums for more of 20 years) ... She would like to make a bonfire with that filter, or also destroy it with a big hammer ... really he hates it ... She feels a huge disappointment .. .. She feels cheated ... And she is German !!! I am Spanish (from Barcelona) my wife is German, we have both always lived together in Germany ... precisely we are not people "contrary" to German products "... But the substitute for this filter will not be an Eheim filter, Maybe it's an All Pond Solutions, an Oase, a JBL ... I do not know, any filter is good before this real shit.
Also, who says that the filter "is silent", directly, lies, or is it just that ... Silent .... Unless you compare it with a tractor.
In my opinion this filter only has one good thing, the biological filter material Substrat Pro ... Which, if you like and you are excited to use that material, you can buy a box, and thus avoid buying and paying a scandalous price for this authentic filter shit.
2 months and 18 days after connecting for the first time this filter, my only wish is to change it, I think I will not even sell it, I do not want to "swindle anyone" ... I think I will enjoy destroying it with a big sledgehammer ....
Greetings from Germany
Don't believe any of this, my water is crystal clear, totally silent, have it in my bedroom I can sleep.
@@echoes1891
You can "believe or do not beleave" what you want ... It's not my problem, my problem is this filter of shame in my house, not what you "believe or do not believe" ...
In life, sometimes, you can always have something good or a lemon ... and that shame of filter "was my lemon" ... But fortunately it is no longer a problem for me ... Never again (thank God. ..)
It is not a "world secret" or "a great conspiracy", It is a real situation ... which is great, a reference and a charm for many of us from a long time, the Eheim Company, in the recent years, the quality of its filters has gone down a lot. Of course, only the quality of the filters, has not lowered its prices, on the contrary, the price grows and grows, but you do not have anything good, new, innovative or special for this price ... You only get bad quality, lousy technology, cheap materials .. It's a shame ...
Nowadays, JBL, ADA, Oase, Fluval and many more companies really already manufacture and sell much better modern filters and of better quality of materials and all than Eheim.
Eheim have been the best for a long time, but that ended, and here we all already know .... Oase, JBL or ADA for example, are a thousand times better, starting with the quality of their materials ... And if we talk about the relation "Price by quality" SunSun / All Pond Solutions ... It's a thousand times better in absolutely everything ...
I regret repeating it again ... But "what you believe, or what you do not believe" is not my problem, I spoke about my case, I do not speak about yours and I do not say whether I believe you or not. No, and I do not care if your filter is silent or not ...
Have a good day, and then... sleep happily with your very expensive and pathetic filter (in my opinion and many others ...) Eheim Professionel 4+ 600
Greetings from Germany.
Totally agree. I made the mistake of buying a Pro 4 for my 75g. What you didn't mention is how difficult it is to get primed once installed. Mine has been relegated to a dusty corner of the garage and replaced with a FX-6.
Totally agreed. If you actually clean the hoses while cleaning the filter, it actually takes longer to get the darn thing primed than to clean it. I have had mine for a year and a half and it is a fiddly system. I was really wondering what all the fuss was about - now I know it is old reputation. As suggested in this video lot's of muck gets through to the biomedia. I'll try the mod here to improve that.
I bought mine for $90 US so I'll deal with the pain
Wouldn’t adding all the additional filter pads reduce the flow too much?
I love my eheim professional 4+ 250. The unit you have is used and may have been roughed up a bit. I see some of the design flaws you point out with the baskets, but I have had zero problems with mine and I love it. Extremely quiet, pretty much silent. Most debris gets caught in the pre-filter which is easily accessible as it is the top tray. I agree though that the range extender is pretty much useless. I’m a fan of this filter, but I may just not know what I’m missing out on. I’m sure there are better ones out there but to say that this one is absolute rubbish I think is a bit much. My trays fit together like a glove. Love your pimp my filter series. 👍🏻
It dawned on me you never said it was “absolute rubbish” but that you expected more from a German manufacturer and one as acclaimed as Eheim. Its a good filter IF you don’t have defective pieces. ☺️
@@gabesaquarium2603 Hey Gabe, i know this is 11 months old but it's worth a shot.. I have the 250 aswell and i want to use the bottom tray for coarse / medium / fine but my question is, have you set it up with the coarse / medium / fine method and if so. Did you notice any reduce in flow? Thanks!
At the end of the day it wouldn't be a proper review if you like every filter !! Another Awesome pimp my filter video Rich !!
I had a problem with the Eheim Ecco. Handle snapped. Get it just slightly off true when reassembling and they snap. Had to buy two flimsy plastic little gadgets to fix the handle, but, snapped another flimsy bit of plastic off trying to remove the old parts. I can report a lot of satisfaction though when kicking it down the garden, sorry you missed this with the one you are pimping, it goes a long way to relieving the frustration. Eheim has dumbed down on quality, no question.
I’m a fan of eheim - I can appreciate your concerns, myself I like it - I think your used filter was missing some media that normally comes with a new one: yours should have had in that empty tray the BioMech medic 1L as see here: m.ua-cam.com/video/6-y5T9HmOlc/v-deo.html
Taking out the plastic is great and doing it like you are is great - I’ve had no problem with the trays - all you gotta do is load them one at a time inside the filter when putting it back and it guides it perfectly
I have 4 of these types and have been thrilled once I began using biohome and redoing the trays as you’ve suggested - my testing results have proved that now my nitrates are lowering and nowhere near the water changes I was doing and my eheim are all super quiet
I have the eheim built in heater version... it is a right royal pain the backside to prime I just use it now as a bio filter only no mechanical filtration in it what so ever... so hopefully never have to touch it again... it’s linked to an allpondsolution prefilter and I too have been working xtender wrong too
I met the same problem with the bend plastic when i was servicing it first time for a customer. OH yeah the lever at the top for the in/out is broken too.
For my filter goes about 4.5kg biohome ultimate and about 1kg biogravel, but I using prefilter from sunsun in there is all my mechanical filtration. But planing to remove top blue sponge and add 0.5 kg of ultimate and it would be good for my 450l tank.
Good one - yes, if you can free up an extra tray that will definitely boost the effectiveness of the filter.
Thanks, that just saved me a bunch of money!
I bought a nice load of Biohome Ultimate from you a few weeks ago. I did exactly what you've done in this video (which is great) - I have the Pro 3e 600T. It's working beautifully! My tap water has naturally high Nitrate, but since using the Biohome Ultimate, my Nitrates are the lowest they've ever been. :)
That seems to have kicked in fast but it's all good and I'm glad the filter is running well and providing good results.
If you think this is bad quality I would say the worst quality and design crown would be the Fluval FX4 is basically a bucket with a pump, fragile fittings and super expensive. Eje una aren’t that bad I have the same filter and works pretty well maybe that’s a defective one 🤷♂️
"ah man!" "Ha'waaaay". If people didn't know what part of the UK you are from, they do now!!!
I've got an Eheim 2229 from the 90's, its pretty good, the modern ones seem a bit overpriced.