Canister filters: nitrate factory? ammonia bomb? How often to clean them

See what my Fluval FX6 canister filter and Fluval 407 canister filter look like after a year of muck buidup, and how I clean them. Technically, I can go a full year without maintaining my canister filters. Should everyone wait that long? What bad things can happen in an aquarium if you don't clean your filters often enough? How do you know when it's time to clean your filter?

Join us Friday evenings at 8:30pm Central Time for a fun hangout with aquarium hobbyists, and Monday afternoons at 4:00pm Central Time to answer your aquatic plant questions. We're here to interact with chat, answer questions, play some games, make you laugh, and give something back to the Fishfam.

“What the Fish” SECOND Edition merch and MORE now available! https://Awkwardics.com

------------------------
Stay in the know about the Fishkeeping Community and events. Visit and bookmark https://www.fishfam.link for the full livestream schedule of aquatic YouTubers, local events, giveaways, fishfam directory, news, social media links, and more. Subscribe to the @FishFamLink YouTube channel for regular giveaways.
------------------------
Here's some stuff I like, that maybe you would also like (no sponsors, but the Amazon links are affiliate links):
My first stop for buying fish: https://dansfish.com
headphones: https://amzn.to/3txMAAN
green screen: https://amzn.to/3Ii9KPx
lighting for streaming: https://amzn.to/3qA9l5g
Video editing software: https://www.cyberlink.com/products/po...
Use your smartphone as a webcam on your computer: https://reincubate.com/camo
My macro lens attachment: https://amzn.to/3fFMrmt
Use a heater controller! https://amzn.to/3qyLDX0
Favorite HOB filter https://amzn.to/3ruZ0Xh
Test strips https://amzn.to/3qD7kFk
Fertilizer: https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
#aquarium #aquariumfish #fishfam