Cleaning Skimmer Cup

LeoLionFish · Feb 5, 2012

Just curious as to how often people clean their skimmer cups?? I bring this up because I notice a heavy layer of sludge on the inside of the cone part when I clean my cup every other weak. If not cleaned regularly will that "leach" back into the water column?? Or am I just over thinking the whole thing??

Travis D.
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gmoney243 · Feb 5, 2012

U should clean any sludge. What kinda skimmer u got? Might need to raise ur water level up.

LeoLionFish · Feb 5, 2012

I got the Coralife 220 in sump. I try and do a dryer skim. But like I said I get a little liquid inside the cup and lots of sludge buildup on cap and neck inside cup.

Travis D.
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Dowtish · Feb 5, 2012

Skimmers have to be cleaned every 30 minutes or your tank will crash, because of the toxicity of poo!

seriously though, clean it weekly and you should be good. the more that builds up in the neck the harder it is for it to make it to the collection cup.

SmyrnaReefer · Feb 5, 2012

If you leave the sludge in there over time it will just not skim as efficiently... That's how I understand it anyways but curious myself to others opinions as I'm sure there will be a few about this....

LeoLionFish · Feb 5, 2012

My cup is covered in sludge in about 2-3 days. But I only clean every week to every other week. My cup is nowhere near full just cant see the bubble line in the neck due to the sludge buildup. The thickness of the sludge is dependant upon how long I go before cleaning it. I am just wondering if I should clean MORE OFTEN or its really of no concern.

Travis D.
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gmoney243 · Feb 5, 2012

With a dry skim ur going to get sludge in cup neck don't think u can avoid that unless you skimm wet.

Reed639 · Feb 5, 2012

Buddy Buddy your over thinking the whole thing just clean the cup when its full if the cup is not cleaned regularly you wont get as good as skimate and if you totally dont clean it will be released back into the water column.

pickupman66 · Feb 5, 2012

Reed639 said:
Buddy Buddy your over thinking the whole thing just clean the cup when its full if the cup is not cleaned regularly you wont get as good as skimate and if you totally dont clean it will be released back into the water column.

Agreed. I do mine every 1 or 2 weeks. Depends on how dirty it is. I have a 5 gallon bucket for skimmate so my cupboard never full. But a clean neck will perform better.

gmoney243 · Feb 5, 2012

pickupman66 said:
Agreed. I do mine every 1 or 2 weeks. Depends on how dirty it is. I have a 5 gallon bucket for skimmate so my cupboard never full. But a clean neck will perform better.

Rofl 5g of black sludge does that not stink up ur fish room? I can just see u gagging all the way to wherever u dump that lol

pickupman66 · Feb 5, 2012

Its in the garage baby.... and it don't stink unless u spill it or stir it up...

LeoLionFish · Feb 5, 2012

Hahahaha or splashes in your mouth!!! Hahahaha

Travis D.
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poolkeeper1 · Feb 6, 2012

Like anything else the more often you clean your skimmer the better it will perform, Keeping the neck clean actually helps it work better. But like anything else there are lots of opinions on this
Bill

LeoLionFish · Feb 6, 2012

I agree Bill. I think Im gonna start cleaning more frequently instead of waiting for the cup to actually fill with skimmate. Thanks everyone for your help!!

Travis D.
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