Help Cleaning cannister filter...

**MrDrums** · 08-23-2008, 04:14 AM

Well, tomorrow morning I am going to try and clean out my filter - the Eheim 2215. there are no baskets in this filter, so I am going to have to empty the whole thing out. I have only had it for about a year now - first cannitser I have used. Do I need to replace any of the media in it at all, or just rinse it in tank water? I'll replace the white pad and maybe the blue one if it looks bad...just not sure about the media itself.

Also - I know the outflow tube is probably a bit too long....do I need to cut it some to shorten it, or just leave it a little long. It works fine....it is not kinking up, but there is a curve - does not go straight up to the tank.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks all.

**Algenco** · 08-23-2008, 04:17 AM

just rinse everything in some tank water, if it's working ok I wouldn't worry about the tube

**tanks4thememories** · 08-23-2008, 04:23 AM

Originally Posted by Algenco

just rinse everything in some tank water, if it's working ok I wouldn't worry about the tube

ditto

**doug z** · 08-23-2008, 04:40 AM

Don't get rid of the sponge!

That's where most of your nitrifying bacteria is in cannister is..

Just give it a decent squeeze in some tank water..
If it's in really rough shape, just put the new sponge in over the old one..

After a month go ahead and throw the old one away.

**gm72** · 08-23-2008, 04:47 AM

Good answers to all! Completely agreed.

**xximanoobxx** · 08-23-2008, 06:06 AM

Yep....
got nothing to add to that...

**toddnbecka** · 08-23-2008, 06:45 AM

Other than using a sponge of some sort to cover the intake. The sponge will need to be rinsed in tank water with each partial water change, but will keep the filter media much cleaner. The downside is that it may reduce the pickup of debris, but that's mainly a matter of circulation patterns.

**gm72** · 08-23-2008, 11:23 AM

As many of you have read in previous posts, I use sponge prefilters on all of my filters, whether HOB or canister. Literally never have to clean out the insides of the filters.

**Halelorf** · 08-23-2008, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by gm72

As many of you have read in previous posts, I use sponge prefilters on all of my filters, whether HOB or canister. Literally never have to clean out the insides of the filters.

Me too and they work awesome. Almost never even have to open my canisters.

**MrDrums** · 08-23-2008, 05:45 PM

I am going to order the prefilter. Sounds like a great idea. I cleaned my filter this morning...mot too bad. Blue coarse sponge was in good shape, just rinsed it out. Emptied some of the shmutz inside the cannister, replaced the white pad and removed the carbon pad that was sitting in there for too long.

Filled it with tank water and away she went....slightly better flow. Did a nice water change and the fish look nice and happy. The 2215 is kind of a pain to clean as it has no baskets, but it did not take long to do. I was planning on upgrading, but I see no need to ruch out and o it now. The tank stays nice and clean, this filter seems to be doing the job well, even with the cichlids. When they grow a bit more, in the next year or two, maybe then I'll upgrade.

My pleco seems to be growing anyway, so sooner or later I'll take him back and get a smaller one - at that time I'll swap filters. Thanks for the advice, all!!