External Filter Cleaning

[peteus2002]

On the 20th of January 2010 it will be exactly a year since I set up my 20gal. It also means that my external (Eheim Ecco Pro 200?) hasn't been cleaned in a year. Currently, water stats and fish health are status-quo.

Should I clean it? Or should I adopt the mantra: "if it aint broke don't fix it"?

FYI, my stocking is as follows:
8 Neon Tetra
5 Emperor Tetra
3 Black Skirt Tetra
2 Otocinclus
Tank is moderatly planted with 1 Amazon Sword and 3 Anubias barteri v. barteri (frequently flowering).

I gravel-vac and do a 40-50% water change (using 'Aquasafe') once a week, and I periodically check my water stats with an API freshwater master test kit.

 

[Squid]

If it has the white filter in it like my eheim, that will be pretty much shot to bits after few months. I would recommend changing that bit and giving the media baskets a dunking in a bucket of tank water.

Although your stats might be fine, you may find the water quality and clarity to be better doing this. i.e. crystal clear ;-)

Squid

 

[Harlequins]

I agree with squid,i quick dunk of media in tank water wouldn't do any harm