How often you service your Canister?

[Viper007]

I was just wondering how often do you service your canister filter?

[JadeIceGreen]

I was just wondering how often do you service your canister filter?

Service as in clean it? I flush my canister every month.

[Philosophos]

Every 2-3 months on the main tank right now. The bioload is low, and the water changes are pretty heavy. In something heavily stocked with fish, it'd turn in to a monthly thing. As is, the anarobic cultures in the filter are welcome; the anarobic bacteria drop sulphates from DIY ferts, as well as marginalizing the ratio of NO3 between stock and fert dosing. I have yet to work out the numbers, but letting the filter foam sag a little and doing slow replacements hasn't hurt.

-Philosophos

[dcwk]

I do it quarterly.

[detritus]

monthly... or whenever i notice the flow rate getting reduced.

i feed heavily so sponge always getting clogged

[Shiv]

I have stopped plantation so the filters are getting choked minimally. Haven't cleaned it for almost an year.

[z_z]

I have 2 fine filter sponges inside my canister. Change only 1 of them once every 2 mths.

[Philosophos]

That's not a bad idea Z Z. The fine mesh does seem to take more wear, and it's fine structure probably offers more surface area per cm3 than the others for bacteria to culture on.

-Philosophos

[inque]

mine not serviced for quite some time ( almost for 8 months now )

[Viper007]

After 2 months I finally did some flushing and cleaning of the filter... Realised I have 1 cardinals and 3 shrimps in the canister, just wonder how did they manage to survived in there.

[hann]

After 2 months I finally did some flushing and cleaning of the filter... Realised I have 1 cardinals and 3 shrimps in the canister, just wonder how did they manage to survived in there.

How did they manage to end up there in the first place? Didn't you fit a sponge at the inlet since you are keeping shrimp?

[Viper007]

How did they manage to end up there in the first place? Didn't you fit a sponge at the inlet since you are keeping shrimp?

Nope I did not put any sponge. Anyway, I just change to an eheim skimmer... hope no more fish enters the filter.