EHEIM 2217 help!

[BMcAfee]

I bought a new EHEIM 2217 classic 4 months ago. when I got it it had GREAT flow "water volume through it" I cleaned it after 8 weeks "to allow BB growth" and every month since. I have maybe 25-30% of the flow that it had when i got it. What could be the problem? should I contact EHEIM, is this normal, or user error on my part?
Thanks for the read.
Brian.

 

[PostalPenguin]

What media do you have and how is it arranged? Are the quick disconnects fully opened?

The only thing that really slows down the flow on my 2213(same design but smaller) is when the blue sponge becomes blocked with sludge.

 

[sonycrr]

i think the media gets dirty and it would be quite hard to get the flow when you first installed it. on my eheims pro 2 and pro 3 that shows the flow rate, it always shows 75% of maximum even after i clean it. only time it was at 100% was when i first got it.

 

[smitty03281964]

I think you may not be cleaning the filter media good enough.