How long you wash yours external Canister filter ?

[psp1000]

i also not sure, after trying place the sponger on top tray , i can see tiny particle and those white color (tissue life particle) in the water, therefore I change it to my original setup 1st (Top) ceramic ring, 2nd middle abit ceramic ring and 3rd try (bottom) sponge. And now no more tiny particle and water is clear. Guess i will stick on this setup.

[Morgan01]

i am trying your setup now. keeping fingers crossed

[psp1000]

well, i have been using my setup from the first day I use the canister..maybe will try do some modify in the near future like below

1st tray (top) white sponge
2nd tray(middle) ceramic ring
3rd tray(bottom) black sponge follow by white sponge

or maybe will buy those water filter to fix it at the outlet to filter off the unwanted stuff from going back to the tank. Hope this work.

[Orion]

If you put in activated carbon, I think the best time to change is after a few months when the water looks a bit yellowish meaning the carbon has already maxed out it's absorption capacity. Further using will do more harm as it will only start to 'leeach' out all the waste inside the media.

There are also irritating slimy yellow bits found sticking on the outlet tube interior and so it is advisable to have a small pail ready to collect the first few minutes discharge flow when you have complete your cleaning up the canister filter and have it running.

[Morgan01]

ya my fish actually mistook the slimmy yellow stuff as food

[psp1000]

Ok, I had change my canister media setup to below

1st tray (top) - abit of ceramic ring
2nd tray(middle) - ceramic ring with white sponge ontop it
3rd tray(bottom) - black spong follow by white sponge ontop it.

So far, never see any yellow stuff anymore and hope it work and will not make the water cloudy.