How often do you clean a canister?

[Lardeelion]

Just got my first canister about a month ago. I ran both it and the HOB together for a week and then the HOB died, so I stuffed the biowheels into the canister. Everything has been hunky dory, no spikes or anything. Is it safe to clean it now?

Since it's my first canister I have no idea how often it's supposed to be cleaned. I assume I just rinse the heavy crud off the filter media in tank water? I don't use the carbon.

Thanks.

 

[blert]

I clean mine once a month.
Bio-media gets rinsed in old tank water.
Mechanical media gets rinsed in tap or replaced. (Not recommended unless your tank is well established. If not just rinse in old tank water.)
Plastic bits get a scrub under tap water.