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I am hoping to get a eheim 2217 filter and was wondering how often you would need to clean the media, my tank is 48 x 18 x 13in. I have two internal sponge filters in each corner at the moment which I clean every fortnight.

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

I clean my Eheim pro11 2602 monthly and the smaller internal which is in the Betta tank weekly.

Try every two weeks to start of with, if it is not very dirty extend it to three weeks, I certainly would not let it go beyond monthly.

Just remember wash all the filter material in the tank water.

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Keith

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Thanks Keith, so when I clean it do I take all the media out and clean with tank water or only the sponges (actually i'm not sure if it has sponge media in it) ... the lfs told me I wouldnt have to touch the ceramic pieces right at the bottom - does this sound correct???

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

I just thought of another question ... when I do actually connect up the new filter should I leave my old ones running for while so the new filter can build up its good bacteria?

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

I completly clean it all including taking out the impella.
They might have been refering to replacing the ceramic. That is correct but it could require a top up now and then.

Yes certainly leave the old filters running for at least a month this might seem too much but, it is best to be on the safe side.

Also at ever water change I add a measured amount of a "Good Bacteria" As in cycling a new tank. This keeps the good bacteria in its origional state as bacteria has a very short life it mutates its self and in a short time it is nothing like the origional bacteria.

There is an excelent live bacteria being sold inn Aust at the moment dont look for it on the shelves as it is the fridg all the time.

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Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

ceramic pieces being the media in the tray thats used as biomedia. if its a eheim i suspect it will have 2 trays. one will be full of ceramic noodles/pipes about a half inch long. these are used at the bottom to break up large debrie or keep it from going further so it doesnt clog the filter. just gets trapped on the bottom. then there is a course pad which breaks it down more. the next tray will have something looking like lava rock but white. this is your biomedia for your bacteria DONT wash it. just gently rinse in old tank water by dunking the tray in water and might want to run the fingers trhough it just to loses up whatever gunk is trapped. the rest of the filter i usually fully clean in tap. that rock is the stuff you dont want to heavily clean.

just my 2 cents hope it helps