After 5 months i decided to clean my Eheim 2180 last night. I was starting to notice some more particulate matter floating in the water column and some discoloration of the water. The flow was still very good and the meter on the canister didnt show any reduction of flow. This canister is a beast to get out from under your stand, but the wheels make it easier to remove. Removing the hoses is as easy as flipping a switch and pressing a button. Once I wheeled it to a nearby bathroom, I removed the lid and it was really easy to change the coase and fine pads since they are at the top. The carrying tray is really handy to dispose of the old ones. I would say the entire process only took 5 minutes. Restarting the filter was easy also, flipping the switch to lock the hoses started the filling process and the prime button really wasnt needed. Just thought I would share my experience with this canister, I believe it is the easiest to clean that I have ever used. 
ps I have 16 adult fronts so it is fairly heavily stocked
ps I have 16 adult fronts so it is fairly heavily stocked
