How often should I clean my eheim 2213?

[Akabir47]

I have a 75g that houses my KML FH filtered by two emperor 400's and an ehiem 2213 canister filter. I clean the HOB's twice a month but I was wondering how often should I clean the canister which is stictly used for mechanical and bio filtration, there is no carbon inside. All suggestions will be greatly appreciated...

Oh yea and here's a pic of my boy...

 

[M.Carfi]

once every 3 to 6 months depending directly on bioload.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

You should clean canister filters when their flow rate decreases. In a perfect world you would never have to clean them because organic material gets mineralized. In a not-so-perfect world (i.e. my tanks) I clean mine about once a year.



HarleyK

 

[dwilder]

i do mine once a month but i do keep discus so i try to keep water very clean

 

[Akabir47]

once every 3 to 6 months depending directly on bioload.

Well I do weekly 40-50% wc's and besides the FH theres only a pleco...Also tank is almost bare bottom...

 

[M.Carfi]

Well I do weekly 40-50% wc's and besides the FH theres only a pleco...Also tank is almost bare bottom...

If you are vacuuming the bottom when you change the water and there is no accumulation on the bottom afterward, your nitrates are prob pretty low considering the tank residents. I would say it should be very safe to do it 2 times a year if you clean your mechanical filtration every week to keep the water clear. Don't forget, you want the eheim to cultivate good bacteria to eliminate toxins and if you keep disturbing it by cleaning it that won't happen.

 

[Akabir47]

If you are vacuuming the bottom when you change the water and there is no accumulation on the bottom afterward, your nitrates are prob pretty low considering the tank residents. I would say it should be very safe to do it 2 times a year if you clean your mechanical filtration every week to keep the water clear. Don't forget, you want the eheim to cultivate good bacteria to eliminate toxins and if you keep disturbing it by cleaning it that won't happen.

Due to the current produced by the 2 400's most of the waste gets sucked up by the filter heads and when I do vacumming. The current goes across the top towards the front, down the front and then back up again towards the back of the tank. Besides cleaning the hoses and impellor I havent touched the canister in a year. Since it is an ehiem and the canister is some what see through I took a flash light to it and it looked ok.

 

[M.Carfi]

You got to do some maintenance on it......I wouldn't say well it will take care of it self......but again...you have good filtration, and you do seem to do enough maintenance. I would say after a year it's about that time....I wouldn't wait that long on the sheer fact that you might have had a problem and didn't know for a long time. You have to keep an eye on the operation. You should have no problems , just get to it as soon as it is convenient. I have a 2226 and a 2229 and I love those filters.

 

[M.Carfi]

If you haven't already.... you should get into testing your water. It may seem a little difficult at first... but in the long run that will tell you if your doing a good jog cleaning the tank and if your filtration is doing it's job.

 

[phillydog1958]

You got to do some maintenance on it......I wouldn't say well it will take care of it self......but again...you have good filtration, and you do seem to do enough maintenance. I would say after a year it's about that time....I wouldn't wait that long on the sheer fact that you might have had a problem and didn't know for a long time. You have to keep an eye on the operation. You should have no problems , just get to it as soon as it is convenient. I have a 2226 and a 2229 and I love those filters.

I agree. filter maintenance is also the only true way to give your filter a physical exam.