lmsmith Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 I run eheim canister filters and was wondering how often everyone else cleans their filters? Also, how long to you go before chaining filter media (filter wool etc). I usually do them once every 2 months - is this enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 I usually clean out filter media once it slows down, on my big tank 2-3 monthly on the smaller filters 1-2monthly.. In saying that I cleaned them out before I went overseas and im leaving them for 3.5 months and they will be fine. General rule is when the flow starts to decrease clean them out I am also a cheap ass I don't replace the media... If it gets so sad it doesn't fit I pad it out with the cushing stuffing that I use for filter wool alot cheaper than buying the correct pads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 I only clean my Jebo out when the water return drops considerably - once a year or so. Had to do it every 2 or 3 months with the Fluvals and Eheims as they clogged. I have never changed the media, just rinsed and returned but none of mine have filter wool, just ceramic noodles and sponges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32GOTMLK Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 i wash my fluvals out every 1 -2 weeks with cold water only because i have a heavly stocked tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 I would chuck out the filter wool as that clumps quite badly use sponges instead. Don't forget to clean the pipes as well as that is the main thing that clogs and reduces flow quite considerably. I only clean the filters if flow is much reduced.. around once a year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Another trick is to do a water change once a month or so thru the filter. Drop the inlet end down into the tank and syphon the water the opp way back down thru the filter, give it a bit of a shake at the same time. From memory eheim suggest this to, great minds and all that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted September 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Another trick is to do a water change once a month or so thru the filter. Drop the inlet end down into the tank and syphon the water the opp way back down thru the filter, give it a bit of a shake at the same time. From memory eheim suggest this to, great minds and all that Maybe I'm dense - I don't really get what you mean?? It sounds like a good idea, a step by step guide would be great if you can? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Maybe I'm dense - I don't really get what you mean?? It sounds like a good idea, a step by step guide would be great if you can? Maybe how i have explained it. Turn filter off at wall. Push outlet (water in to tank from filter) under the water level in the tank. Remove outlet with thumb over the end and place into a bucket on the ground. Take finger off and water should flow/syphon out. Give filter a bit of a shake at the same time water is flowing out. If the filter has taps (like the double taps of eheim) this will be easier. Hope that makes sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Sometimes the filter is clogged because the pipes (particularly the inlet pipe) is clogged and the filter itself is not too bad. Don't forget that these filters are biological filters and only work well when partly gunged up with crud so don't go all clean/clean on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 How does having physical waste on the bio media help the bacteria break down the waste? I always rinse my media (in tank water) every couple of months, and clean the wool and sponges under the tap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 The bacteria are lodged on the waste and if you clean it off thoroughly you remove most of the bacteria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted September 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Hmmm, I think the mistake I've been making is to clean the filters too often and neglect the pipes. Usually I just rinse them all really throughly and squish them to get the big gunge out. I've got one filter that no matter how clean it is, it doesn't pump the volume, so I'll have a look at the pipes tonight. Thanks for all your replies guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 The bacteria are lodged on the waste and if you clean it off thoroughly you remove most of the bacteria. So by removing the waste you're removing the bacteria? I wonder just how much you will lose compared to what you'll save by removing the waste altogether. I just cleaned out the two canisters on my heavily stocked 200L tank, the amonia was starting to get up and I suspect it was from the sludge in the Ehiem which looked like it was well over-due a clean. I'll test the water again tonight, and tomorrow to see if its improved or made things worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 It is the same principle as a sludge digester at the sewage works (except that it is aerobic). The bacteria convert urea to ammonia, ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate but they also need other sources of food which they get from the water column and gunge. The bacteria multiply to a balance with the food available and that is why you get spikes when things get out of balance by adding too many fish to quickly for instance.I think people often forget that it is an organic filter and the physical filtration is realy trapping the food for the bacteria to feast on and multiply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted September 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Wow guys, thanks so much for all this information! I cleaned the pipes in a filter that has been pumping pitifully, and low and behold, now its pumping so much water the fish don't know what to do with themselves! I thinik I'll start cleaning the pipes everytime the water flow lessens, and if it doesn't help, then do the filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Excuse me for butting in here, but how does one clean the pipes out? :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 With a pipe brush. Or whatever else you have convenient that you can shove into the hose. Even a straightened out coat hanger shoved down the hose then a spray out with the kitchen tap should work fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted September 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 I used a pipe brush that i bought from the LPS. They're pretty cheap (around $10). Just down pull them out of the pipe too fast or you'll be splattered with fish gunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 One of my filters came with a little brush on the end of a long wire (can't remember which one though). I also got good brushes of various thicknesses from the Bonn Brush man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Yes I did think of a pipe brush:oops: , but with hoses around 2 meters long I think I will need to look at modding something to do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 You can buy flexible pipe brushes from your lfs to clean those long pipes I have one, it is just a small brush at the end of a flexi wire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Thanks peoples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 string with a lead weight and a bit of cloth on the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 You only need a brush a meter long to clean a 2 meter bit of hose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoody Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 You only need a brush a meter long to clean a 2 meter bit of hose. or .5m long to clean a 1m bit of hose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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