How often do you clean your canister filters?

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yhbae

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Aug 5, 2003
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I have Eheim 2217s and 2213. I used to clean only once every couple of months. I am wondering how often do you clean your canister filters? I realize it depends on the stock level, so you can assume it is 100% stocked.
 

yhbae

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Oh and when I say clean it, I mean to dismantle everything, wash sponge/floss thoroughly with tank water and rinse bio/ceramic rings in the tank water too...
 

Kashta

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Jun 24, 2008
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I hear a lot of people wait like 6 months in between cleanings. Mine never make it quite that far. I usually rinse everything out every 2-3 months. Too much gunk collects in there and just sits. Canisters are great for pulling all that stuff out of the tank, but all the water still passes through it. So it's still present. Not something I want to leave in contact with the water quite that long.
 

Rbishop

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Dec 30, 2005
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Every 3-5 weeks depending on what is in it. Some of them are weekly.
 

Veloth

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Jun 15, 2008
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I was cleaning them every 3 weeks. Different filter every week. Since I put eco in the 75 I have a lot of fine dust collecting in it's filter so I clean it weekly.
 

gaday

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Oct 8, 2008
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I have two Fluval 404's. I clean them every other water change or when I see a reduced water flow.
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