Eheim 2028 filter

[Litespeed]

How often should this filter be taken apart and filter's changed etc.?
The manufacturer said it only needs to be done every 6 months.

[cocoa_pleco]

ideally it should be every couple of months but i never clean or remove my filter media, its just a thing that works for me. i get 0 ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites

[sailor]

It depends on bio load, feeding, water changes ets and size of tank it is going on. If this is your only filter that you will be using that sounds about right. I clean my larger cannister filters maybe once a year unless output is dramatically redused. I usually use 2 filters per tank on my 3 larger aquariums. I alternate the cleaning of each filter filter so there is always a good bioload going in the filters.

[Fishalicious]

With the Eheim 2028 there is a reader at the top which let's you know when it is time to give it a little clean (a small glass window where the tubes are inserted with ruler lines on it)... I usually just change the white filter top layer every few months and only every 8-9 months does the filter let me know it's needing a clean.

[Fishguy2727]

Every filter, regardless of brand, needs to be cleaned every month. The filter collects debris for you to remove. If left in too long it can breakdown, eventually into nitrates. My Fluval FX5 was left for about 8 months and maintained a nitrate concentration of 40ppm at that point. After I cleaned it the nitrate concentration was only 10ppm.

[Fishalicious]

I guess it depends on feeding etc... check your nitrates every month and if they are getting high clean the filter.... Even after 8 months I have problems getting my nitrates above 0 which I need for the plants as well so I have to actually add it. I also use the Eheim 2028