How Often To Clean Filter

[discus dreamer]

Hi
can anyone give me advice on how often and how I should clean and external filter? I have a 220L tank with a canister filter. It has been set up for two months with fish added a month ago. I have done one partial water change but now the outlet pipe is looking quite dirty and I wondered if this meant it was time to clean out the filter. I don't want to switch it off and disconnect pipes etc. more often than necessary and advice on the web seems to vary between every two weeks and every three months!
thanks

 

[furryrabbit]

i clean my filter sponges every two weeks in tank water

 

[Tolak]

It depends on the make & model of filter, as well as the stocking of the tank. Posting this information will help.

 

[discus dreamer]

It depends on the make & model of filter, as well as the stocking of the tank. Posting this information will help.

It's an Aqua One CF 1000 for a 220L tank
the tank has 2 gouramis, 2 silver sharks, 1 betta, 6 neon tetras, 3 loaches, 3 glass catfish, 1 gibbicepts (sp?) all are quite small at the moment, e.g., gouramis too young to see if its a pair and silver sharks about 3 ". I have bog wood, a lot of plants, and a subtrate of sand then gravel
hope that helps