How often should I clean my filter?

"RedForeman" <not.TakeThisOut@thisaddress.com> wrote in message news:<vg3srbos53fd71.TakeThisOut@corp.supernews.com>...
> > I don't have a tremendous bio-load in my tank, but I was wondering how
> > often I need to clean/change the media? Will I be ok if I rinse out
> > the Ehfimech? And does the Ehfisubstrat really need to be changed?
>
> take it out and see? if it looks bad, wash it, if not, wait another
> couple/few weeks and see..

The Eheim names for their media never made much sense to me but I have
a Classic 2213 and I clean it once a month. Cleaning meaning I rinse
the sponge and the first stage (Ehfisubstrat ??) in tank water. And
no, you don't need to ever change the first stage. It's only purpose
is to spread the circulation of the water out so you don't get any
bypass. As far as changing the sponge, change it when it gets really
dirty and doesn't return to some semblance of clean when you rinse it.
I know that's not very scientific but all you're concerned about is
the water passing through a sponge that is not toally clogged.

I love my Eheim and I suspect you will too. They're a little pricey
but IMHO you can't buy a better filter!
 >> Stay informed about: How often should I clean my filter? 

"fisherman" <dlcoggin.TakeThisOut@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:46dd02ec.0307011734.3c6d7e14@posting.google.com...
> "RedForeman" <not.TakeThisOut@thisaddress.com> wrote in message
news:<vg3srbos53fd71.TakeThisOut@corp.supernews.com>...
> > > I don't have a tremendous bio-load in my tank, but I was wondering how
> > > often I need to clean/change the media? Will I be ok if I rinse out
> > > the Ehfimech? And does the Ehfisubstrat really need to be changed?
> >
> The Eheim names for their media never made much sense to me but I have
> a Classic 2213 and I clean it once a month. Cleaning meaning I rinse
> the sponge and the first stage (Ehfisubstrat ??) in tank water. And
> no, you don't need to ever change the first stage. It's only purpose
> is to spread the circulation of the water out so you don't get any
> bypass. As far as changing the sponge, change it when it gets really
> dirty and doesn't return to some semblance of clean when you rinse it.
> I know that's not very scientific but all you're concerned about is
> the water passing through a sponge that is not toally clogged.

If you mean the little Ceramic tubes in the first stage then that's the
Ehfimech. You never need to change the Ehfimech. To clean it I just submerge
the basket of Ehfimech in a bucket of tank water & give it a good shake from
side to side & then lift it out the bucket 2 or 3 times so the water drains
back down through the media - same with the EhfiSubstrat. Ehfisubstrat is
the large granules of what is basically Sintered glass. Its porous & so
increases the surface area in which bacteria can grow - the say 400 Sq Mtrs
in 1 Kilo. Its probably worth changing half of it once every 9-12 months.

Get some replacement white pads - these seem to fall apart & don't take
kindly to being rinsed out - iits easier to replace them every 2-3 months.
Rinse everything in tank water. The blue sponges are much more resillient to
being cleaned.

Its adviseable to clean the pipework out every 6-9 months - the flow can be
restricted a lot by dirty pipes.


> I love my Eheim and I suspect you will too. They're a little pricey
> but IMHO you can't buy a better filter!

Indeed!


I.
 >> Stay informed about: How often should I clean my filter? 

"fisherman" <dlcoggin.RemoveThis@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:46dd02ec.0307011734.3c6d7e14@posting.google.com...
> "RedForeman" <not.RemoveThis@thisaddress.com> wrote in message
news:<vg3srbos53fd71.RemoveThis@corp.supernews.com>...

> > take it out and see? if it looks bad, wash it, if not, wait another
> > couple/few weeks and see..
>
> The Eheim names for their media never made much sense to me but I have
> a Classic 2213 and I clean it once a month. Cleaning meaning I rinse

That's because it's Eheim-crafted words from german.<g>

FWIW, I have a 2026 myself on a 45 gallon planted, light load. I cleaned it
after a month, more out of curiosity at how it was performing than anything.
I cleaning it again today, out of boredom. The first cleaning (rinse sponges
and dump gorp from bottom of canister)was over 3 months ago. I have no
carbon in it, so I just decided to let it go unless the flow was decreased.
It never did. The Eheim cannisters spread the waste so evenly and
efficiently.....amazing. I'll never buy another brand of canister again.
 >> Stay informed about: How often should I clean my filter? 

Excellent.

Thank's for the replies everyone.

So far I've been very happy with my Eheim. Originally, I was going to
buy a Fluval 304, and a Coralife 4x TurboTwist Sterilizer (see my post
from a few months back).

I ended up choosing the Eheim, because I read posts from several
people who had problems with the Fluval. I think looked into
FilStar's cannisters, but there seemed to be problems with those too.
While I don't doubt that either of those two brands are bad, I didn't
see any negative posts about the Eheims, so I figured that it'd be
best just to spend the extra cash. I must admit that their hose
removal fitting is very ingenious, and the prime button is pretty
slick as well.

For those of you wondering, I went with the Custom Sealife UV
Sterilizer because it looked like I'd have an easier time finding
replacement bulbs for it.

My next project will be plants/CO2. FYI - The "Encyclopedia of
Aquarium Plants" by Peter Hiscock is an incredible plant book!

"Iain Miller" <donot DeleteThis @spam.me> wrote in message news:<iAwMa.1521$nP.287@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net>...
> "fisherman" <dlcoggin DeleteThis @earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:46dd02ec.0307011734.3c6d7e14@posting.google.com...
> > "RedForeman" <not DeleteThis @thisaddress.com> wrote in message
> news:<vg3srbos53fd71 DeleteThis @corp.supernews.com>...
> > > > I don't have a tremendous bio-load in my tank, but I was wondering how
> > > > often I need to clean/change the media? Will I be ok if I rinse out
> > > > the Ehfimech? And does the Ehfisubstrat really need to be changed?
> > >
> > The Eheim names for their media never made much sense to me but I have
> > a Classic 2213 and I clean it once a month. Cleaning meaning I rinse
> > the sponge and the first stage (Ehfisubstrat ??) in tank water. And
> > no, you don't need to ever change the first stage. It's only purpose
> > is to spread the circulation of the water out so you don't get any
> > bypass. As far as changing the sponge, change it when it gets really
> > dirty and doesn't return to some semblance of clean when you rinse it.
> > I know that's not very scientific but all you're concerned about is
> > the water passing through a sponge that is not toally clogged.
>
> If you mean the little Ceramic tubes in the first stage then that's the
> Ehfimech. You never need to change the Ehfimech. To clean it I just submerge
> the basket of Ehfimech in a bucket of tank water & give it a good shake from
> side to side & then lift it out the bucket 2 or 3 times so the water drains
> back down through the media - same with the EhfiSubstrat. Ehfisubstrat is
> the large granules of what is basically Sintered glass. Its porous & so
> increases the surface area in which bacteria can grow - the say 400 Sq Mtrs
> in 1 Kilo. Its probably worth changing half of it once every 9-12 months.
>
> Get some replacement white pads - these seem to fall apart & don't take
> kindly to being rinsed out - iits easier to replace them every 2-3 months.
> Rinse everything in tank water. The blue sponges are much more resillient to
> being cleaned.
>
> Its adviseable to clean the pipework out every 6-9 months - the flow can be
> restricted a lot by dirty pipes.
>
>
> > I love my Eheim and I suspect you will too. They're a little pricey
> > but IMHO you can't buy a better filter!
>
> Indeed!
>
>
> I.
 >> Stay informed about: How often should I clean my filter? 

"Iain Miller" <donot.DeleteThis@spam.me> wrote in message
news:iAwMa.1521$nP.287@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
>
> If you mean the little Ceramic tubes in the first stage then that's the
> Ehfimech. You never need to change the Ehfimech. To clean it I just
submerge
> the basket of Ehfimech in a bucket of tank water & give it a good shake
from
> side to side & then lift it out the bucket 2 or 3 times so the water
drains
> back down through the media -

Agreed, the sole purpose of this media is to create an even flow through the
rest of the filter. It does build up some bacterial colonies, but cleaning
is as simple as you've stated.

> same with the EhfiSubstrat. Ehfisubstrat is
> the large granules of what is basically Sintered glass. Its porous & so
> increases the surface area in which bacteria can grow - the say 400 Sq
Mtrs
> in 1 Kilo. Its probably worth changing half of it once every 9-12 months.

This substrate does tend to get clogged, especially if you use any
medications or additives that provide coatings. I tend to change half every
18 months or so. I've never seen it fail to provide a suitable substrate
for bacteria.

> Get some replacement white pads - these seem to fall apart & don't take
> kindly to being rinsed out - iits easier to replace them every 2-3 months.

The white pads cost around $30 for a package of two here in Australia. I
gave up using the official filter material a few years ago. These days I
just use standard filter pad material (at around $1 per square metre). One
square metre is good for around 20 pads.

The blue pads I just rinse out - the current one is 5 years old and shows no
sign of deterioration.


Graham.
 >> Stay informed about: How often should I clean my filter?