new tank filter cleaning

[deepseadennis]

Hi all,i was just wondering how long should i leave it until i need to clean my filter? The tank is 40 gallons running a eheim classic cannister filter (3 or 4 mesh pads 1 wool and 1 carbon inserts) My tank is halfway through its 4th week now,i set it up and waited a week until adding 6 zebra danios,waited another week then added 6 red phantom tetras another week then 2 dwarf gouramis.There are quite a few plants in the tank which are all growing nicely and the fish are all happy. I did a 20% water change end of week 3 the nitrate reads approx 0-10mg/l nitrite 0 ph 7.6 i am only using test strips so not too sure about any other readings and not too sure when i should clean my filter as if its not properly mature i dont want to kill all the good guys .....any advice would be greatly appreciated
Regards
Lee

 

[Menagerie]

WELCOME
Don't clean it for a long time! Let the tank get established--weeks, months! I clean canister filters when the water flow is weak. Others clean more often, but I don't.

 

[deepseadennis]

Thanks for that, i really wasnt sure what to do or how long to leave it, the flow is fine so i will leave well alone...."if it aint broke dont fix it" as someone once said )
Regards
Lee