When/How to clean media in a canister filter?

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westwind77

Member
I am running an Eheim Wet/Dry canister filter (2229) and I was wondering how often I should open it up and clean it? Is it just a matter of flow rate dropage or is there other factors? Also, my main question is, what about the media, does that get cleaned? If so, how does that happen because I figure cleaning it will take away all the good bacteria the filter uses to keep the system stable.
Thank you!
westwind77
 
rotarymagic

rotarymagic

Active Member
every 2 weeks or better....
I would recommend replacing the biomedia in there with live rock... It works much better than bio rings or bio balls... This will help alot with reducing the accumulation of detritus as well as supporting much more bacteria than the fake stuff... You should also remove any mechanical sponges.. I would run liverock and carbon, thats it... make sure the carbon isn't trapping detritus either. If the canister is not accumulating detritus or sludge very quickly, it can go awhile before servicing.. Remember this detritus and sludge turns into testable inorganic nitrates and phosphates that don't go away no matter how much you change the water...
 
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westwind77

Member
Currently I have the wet/dry cansister filled with the Eheim Ehfisubstrat Media. I do not think my system can accept live rock due to the special design of the filter.
Is there a problem with running my media under tap water to wash any 'junk' from it? Should I only use the RO water to rinse or wash it or should I use water for a water change to rise the media (to me that seems the way not to kill anything on the media yet to rise the 'junk' off.)
Thanks!
 
karavak

karavak

Member
I have an Eheim 2215 canister filter (will probably upgrade in a few months) and it is laid out (top to bottom) with the cotton type padding, EHEIM SUBSTRAT/nirtate reducer mixed, 2 coarse blue filter pads (was thinking of this for QT but might remove it next cleaning), and EHEIMMECH. Would it be better for me to switch the MECH out for chunks of live rock? Or is there another way that would be better to set this filter up?
I'm also curious about rinising them. I just rinsed them in the water I use to top off my tank.
 
premilove

premilove

Active Member
i would save the money from replacing the media by dumping the filter and investing into a sump!
 
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