How do YOU clean/maintain your canister filter?
- Thread starter isde02
- Start date
On my 120g (60x18x26) I have 2 Cascade 1500 canisters and a 9w Aquamedic UV sterilizer. I only clean out my filters about every 3-4 months. They are actually pretty clean when I open them up because I am a water changing freak. Because I remove fish waste regularly it does not clog up the filters.
I have my filters set up with spray bars and a powerhead that pushes most waste to one corner of the tank for easy pick up with the gravel vac. I do small water changes (10g) every two days; these are for the large waste that accumulates in the one corner. Then twice a week I do large water changes (45-50g), using the gravel vac all over the tank this time.
This has worked out well for me and my water is very clear and my tank is spotless.
I am setting up a new 210g (72x24x29) which will have two FX5's and an 18w turbotwist UV. I will try to maintain the same type of maintenance routine with that one also, so I should only have to get into the filters every couple of months.
I have my filters set up with spray bars and a powerhead that pushes most waste to one corner of the tank for easy pick up with the gravel vac. I do small water changes (10g) every two days; these are for the large waste that accumulates in the one corner. Then twice a week I do large water changes (45-50g), using the gravel vac all over the tank this time.
This has worked out well for me and my water is very clear and my tank is spotless.
I am setting up a new 210g (72x24x29) which will have two FX5's and an 18w turbotwist UV. I will try to maintain the same type of maintenance routine with that one also, so I should only have to get into the filters every couple of months.
Howdy,
Key is to easy canister maintenance is to get a canister that is dimensioned correctly for your tank size (circulation of water/picking up waste) and bioload (canister volume). Then open and clean the canister when the flow rate drops dramatically (you'll notice). Here are three examples that should cover the entire spectrum:
I run two Eheim 2262 on a 220 gal with footlong piranhas, and open them once a year. Having said that, it has now been 15 months and flow is still strong. I will leave them closed.
I run an Eheim 2217 on a 40 gal community tank, and about every 3 months I open it to change the top filter floss. That's all. The remaining media is backwashed by virtue of opening the canister. I do not touch the main mech nor bio media.
I run an Eheim 2213 on a heavily planted 15 gal tank with a breeding Garra colony, and it never gets cleaned. It's been 2+ years now, still going strong.
With transparent canisters like the smaller Eheims you can use a flashlight to see the degree of waste accumulation.
IMO frequent cleanings of you canister only disturb beneficial bacteria. Leave them closed and they will give you complete mineralization of fish waste. But you need to be good about water changes and have the right canister for the right tank to pull off the service intervals I believe should be standard.
HarleyK
Key is to easy canister maintenance is to get a canister that is dimensioned correctly for your tank size (circulation of water/picking up waste) and bioload (canister volume). Then open and clean the canister when the flow rate drops dramatically (you'll notice). Here are three examples that should cover the entire spectrum:
I run two Eheim 2262 on a 220 gal with footlong piranhas, and open them once a year. Having said that, it has now been 15 months and flow is still strong. I will leave them closed.
I run an Eheim 2217 on a 40 gal community tank, and about every 3 months I open it to change the top filter floss. That's all. The remaining media is backwashed by virtue of opening the canister. I do not touch the main mech nor bio media.
I run an Eheim 2213 on a heavily planted 15 gal tank with a breeding Garra colony, and it never gets cleaned. It's been 2+ years now, still going strong.
With transparent canisters like the smaller Eheims you can use a flashlight to see the degree of waste accumulation.
IMO frequent cleanings of you canister only disturb beneficial bacteria. Leave them closed and they will give you complete mineralization of fish waste. But you need to be good about water changes and have the right canister for the right tank to pull off the service intervals I believe should be standard.
HarleyK
Depends on the type of canister. My Classic Eheims just get a back flush every year or two. Pro 3, 3e, and 2s all get taken apart and cleaned once a year or two as well.
One of the few people on MFK that likes and runs as many eheims as I do. I agree with all the above statements.
not to hijck, I clean mine every other month eheim 2217. I noticed that I lost alot of my flow rate over the first 2 months. anyone else have this?
I have 2 Fx5 on my 120g and clean them twice a year. And on my 75g, I got a JBJ Reaction 4 that I put in 4 months ago and haven't touched it yet and a Fluval 405 that was cleaned 4 months ago after a year.
eheim's i keep the media in bags to drop in a 30gal plastic tote to rinse and the FX 5's and cascade i set the baskets down in it to clean.3 FX5,2217,2260,2262,cascade 1000 i clean every four months,they dont need it but i just get the never ending urge to clean them because i feel they are dirty.
