A Lesson in Equipment Maintenance: Clean Your Skimmer!

[Klyle]

I’m going to keep this short and to the point…maybe it will help SOME people save SOME money. I’ve had my Apex for less than a month and I’m already loving it, even though this is not what this is about. I’ve been dealing with chronically low pH. After coming to the conclusion it was partially due to excess co2, i bought a co2 scrubber and installed it on the evening of June 13th. It did help some. But today, i finally got off my butt and cleaned my skimmer for the first time in 8 months…boy was it dirty! I’ve almost hit 8.3 for the first time ever, since i installed the Apex. You can clearly see the results immediately after i reinstalled the freshly cleaned skimmer. I know I’m like ten years late to the Apex party but i thought Id post the results anyways…super cool.

 

[exnisstech]

This is interesting. I just replied to a post that stated a skimmer can boost pH. I just tested pH on three of my tanks last Sunday and two were 8.2 and one 8.3 and only one has a skimmer and it was one of the ones at 8.2. Just trying to figure out why a skimmer doesn't seem to effect pH for me. Granted the house is all opened up so maybe it would make a difference durring winter when the house is closed up

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I don't understand how this helped with pH unless the airline was clogged

 

[RSNJReef]

What I’ve been noticing on every skimmer i have (Red Sea, bubble magus, and reef octopus) is that the air inlet (the hole on the plastic nozzle at the inlet of the skimmer pump) will partially clog with salt or calcium buildup over a month or so. The clogged line reduces the amount of air which goes to the skimmer, so, every month and a half or so I will pull out those nozzles and scrape off the salt calcium buildup and that’ll put the skimmer right again.

 

[Klyle]

I don't understand how this helped with pH unless the airline was clogged

The skimmer body / pump was super clogged with sponges and other reef gunk…the oxygenation of the water is noticeably better. It 100% helped with the pH. I have a 40 cube with not the greatest surface agitation…definitely an excess buildup of co2

 

[Klyle]

What I’ve been noticing on every skimmer i have (Red Sea, bubble magus, and reef octopus) is that the air inlet (the hole on the plastic nozzle at the inlet of the skimmer pump) will partially clog with salt or calcium buildup over a month or so. The clogged line reduces the amount of air which goes to the skimmer, so, every month and a half or so I will pull out those nozzles and scrape off the salt calcium buildup and that’ll put the skimmer right again.

I’ve had this same problem. That was not the case with this skimmer. (Aquamaxx HOB 1.5) The entire body was clogged with gunk and organisms. Cleaning it helped my pH tremendously

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Cleaning also helps a lot to return the skimmer to proper function. Sometimes people buy a whole new skimmer because they thought the old one went bad.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Reason I clean mine weekly, empty skimmer cup and clean neck

 

[19Mateo83]

I clean mine every time I do a water change which is every two weeks.

 

[Klyle]

I clean mine every time I do a water change which is every two weeks.

You’re talking about the skimmer cup not the entire skimmer right? I would quit reefing if i had to clean my whole skimmer every two weeks

 

[19Mateo83]

You’re talking about the skimmer cup not the entire skimmer right? I would quit reefing if i had to clean my whole skimmer every two weeks

Yea, the cup and the neck. It’s easy enough as my skimmer is tiny.

 

[revenant]

Yea, the cup and the neck. It’s easy enough as my skimmer is tiny.

I love doing that so I can tune it again.. otherwise very hard to see the bubble head.

 

[Klyle]

I didn’t even fall below 8 last night…that has not happened since i installed the Apex.