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RE: how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

gpodio — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:17:56 GMT

Well carbon and other chemical filtration media do have a limited lifespan and most people who run carbon change it out every one or two months. But these kinds of media are in most cases only used occasionally or when there is a need to do so. Polishing media such as floss, micron pads and similar have a tendency to clog quickly, if you use these you may very well need to clean or replace them frequently. I don't use either personally, I'm sure that accounts for much of the longevity between servicings. I have a couple "quick filters" and Magnum canisters I use when carbon or micron filtering is required...

RE: how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

DC_APEX — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:35:08 GMT

Thanks for the info. Giancarlo Podio, on the Fluval 405 I put pre-filter ceramic discs on the bottom, carbon on 2 & 3 plus polishing pad, and BioMax on the top tray, most of the media are fairly clean when I cleaned it in six week, but the Fluval manual recommended replace carbon every month, BioMax every three months, I normally clean it once or twice before I replace the carbon media and a little longer on the BioMax, I think Fluval want me to spend my money on their media, I think I will start checking the water condition closer to find out maybe I don't need to clean my filter that often.

RE: how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

gpodio — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:30:48 GMT

Absolutely, this will happen to any filter. It really all depends on how much debris your tank generates and the size of the canister in relationship to the tank's size. However Eheim's placement of media also helps greatly. By using ceramic discs as the first mechanical media, they trap large particles without clogging as much as a sponge block would. I can tell the difference when I setup any other filter, Eheim included, with different media placement or more traditional Sponge block as first media. Where I use a pre-filter I wash it at every water change and can run the canister for about a year between servicing.

Keep in mind that the rate of flow you see when the canister is very clean is not the "ideal" rate of flow for the filter, they are actually at their best when a little dirty and the rate slows down a little.

Take a look at the Eheim site and their suggested order of media, then try to do something similar in your canister... it works very well.

Hope that helps

RE: how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

DC_APEX — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:14:23 GMT

Wow, I know the Eheim is one of the best canister filters, but I didn’t know you don’t have to change anything for 4-6 mos.; I use a Fluval 405 on my 100 gal. tank, and I do water change every 3 week and filter cleaning every 6 week, it be great if I can skip that to every 4 mos., but I notices that the water flow is the strongest right after a filter cleaning and slow down the longer I wait to clean it, can this happen to the Eheim too?

RE: how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

gpodio — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:13:02 GMT

Besides the carbon pad that I don't use, my Eheim media (ceramic, glass and sponge pads) are over 6 years old... I clean them every 4-6 months and only replace the finer pads on top which I cut from a roll of filter material... I use the classic 2217 canisters on 55-120g tanks. Smaller canisters would require more frequent servicing but most of the media should last a very long time. Using a pre-filter greatly reduces the frequency of such cleanings too!

Hope that helps

RE: how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

argi — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:24:33 GMT

Which Eheim filter do you have and what media are you using?

RE: how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

rcyphermd — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:56:09 GMT

All went well. I switched to a Eheim cansiter filter. The instructions with the unit say I do not need to change anything in the cansiter for 4-6 MONTHS!! Is that right?

RE: how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

argi — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 04:32:17 GMT

It is possible, but the longer you keep the two filters going the less chance of that happening. If possible you might even try slowly turning down the flow from your return pump so less and less water goes to the biowheel. That way the canister filters biological filter will become more and more active. Very light feedings and some small water changes once the biowheel goes off line for about 2 weeks should help minimize the chances.

RE: how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

rcyphermd — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:17:00 GMT

do you think I will get a ammonia spike?

RE: how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

argi — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:44:02 GMT

Yes I would run both filters at the same time for at least a couple of weeks (I personally would go about 4-6 weeks) and then once you get rid of the biowheel sump, feed lightly and do some small frequent water changes just in case.

HTH,

how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

rcyphermd — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:12:53 GMT

I currently have a 45 gallon tank with a sump, using a biowheel. I am changing it to a canister filter. It has been running well for over a year with huge cardinals that I do NOT want to lose! Should I just run both filter simultaneously for a while? Will there be another ammonia spike? (ugh!!) Suggestions?

Thanks!