The forum recommends flame cleaning every 30-60 minutes. A lighter will not do. A gas torch or gas stove is needed. You can alternate your anodes between cleaning to keep the run going and others have posted doing so.
I'm not deliberately turning the bar. I also don't have it immersed all the way, maybe a 1/4 to 1/2 inch. This gets me to higher voltages and persuades the anode to erode from the bottom up.
Good luck and let us know how your first run goes.