Canister filters

[inadaze]

I have a 33 gallon with a Eheim canister filter. I change 1 of 2 bags of activated carbon every 3 months and clean the cotton and rocks in between that.
I've heard all kinds of stories about never cleaning it or cleaning it more often. I don't know who to believe.
Does anyone use canister filters? Can anyone give me some insight?

Thanks
Jay

 

[mountainbiker619]

canister filters are fine to use, just as long as you clean them on a regular basis, such as once every two weeks or so.

 

[Anonymous]

I think the "do not clean" camp are thinking of situations where the tank depends on the media in the cannister for bio filtration. If this is not the case (your bio filtration comes from live rock perhaps) I agree with the above, better to clean it and not let detritus collect in there.

 

[inadaze]

Isn't once every two weeks or so too much. I am afraid to lose good bacteria in my filter. Or does my live rock and substrate contain enough and the filter is only to get rid of bacteria from my aquarium?
If this is the case, than I have been only cleaning it every three months or so. Should I clean it more ofter?

Thanks
Jay

 

[whiirly]

i have 33 gal octagon with a canister for
over a year and have never cleaned it
still works great :lol: 8)
whiirly

 

[redawg]

i have a ehiem 2028 on my 125 and i change the media and clean it out every month. canister's get a bad rap for being nitrate factories because people don't clean them out or change media on them on a regular basis.. i only run carbon and chemi pure in mine but when i pull the carbon out it's got quite a bit of nasty white stuff on it.. i wouldn't wanna leave it in any longer

 

[Anonymous]

IMO it depends on what is doing the filtration. If you have a DSB and lots of Live Rock I say, use it for occasional water polishing and leave it running without media the rest of the time. Mine is running with nothing in it right now. My carbon hangs in a bag in my sump though. I would clean it out a little more frequently.

Of course, if your water parameters are fine, why change?

Bryan

 

[Anonymous]

Hey, redawg, lots of other filtration methods get a bad rap as "nitrate factories", too. Sticks up my craw, cuz if one just sets themselves down and THINKS about it, they'd realize that, all other maintenance + lack of NNR aside, it's ALL the same difference.