Do you clean your skimmer? If so, how often?

[KingRicky]

I have noticed that my skimmer bubles aren't allways small and I don't get skimmate all the time. I have a used ETS Reef Devil and I have had it for about 1 year.

Sometimes when I look under the stand, it is bubbling like crazy and others it has very few, very large bubbles. I have noticed this in the last couple of months. Is this normal or should I clean it out to make it function properly?

 

[I-K@ndY]

Since I am home I do it every 3 days.. I have 4 skimmers to clean lol..

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

I clean my skimmer cup at least bi-weekly, and do a "full cleaning" on the skimmer once a year.

You can try cleaning it for better function, but I've not experienced inconsistant skimming due to dirty skimmer, just reduced skimmate. If it's inconsistant I'd make ensure nothing is clogging the pump intake, or airline. Do you use ATO? Where does the ATO inlet dump into the sump (is it by the skimemr pumps inlet)?

 

[AZDesertRat]

If its a venturi type skimmer then the venturi tube will need cleaning at times. I have a Turboflotor recirculating type skimmer and the air intake nipple scales over with salt or calcium so needs cleaning/reaming out with a small drill bit about once a week. I clean the skimmer cup about twice a week and totally dismantle and clean the entire skimmer two or three times a year.

 

[NC Health]

Every 3 days on my H & S skimmer.

 

[MikeB]

We have a Euro Reef RS100 ever time we clean the collection cup we clean the skimmer

 

[EliteReefs]

clean ours all the time. a clean skimmer works FAR better then a dirty one

 

[gparr]

Cups/throats on both of mine are cleaned twice a week. Pump and air-intake system get a thorough cleaning monthly. Keep 'em clean, they pull more gunk.
Gary

 

[Reef Pets]

I clean mine about once a month. In that months time it needs a cleaning for sure. I only do it about once a month because I have not noticed any difference it performance from a dirty skimmer to a clean skimmer. But, this is only my experience and everyones equipment works a little different.

 

[H@rry]

I clean the cup and throat once a week. If your skimmer has a small tube that draws air it might be getting clogged with salt. The way I keep mine clean is every day when I'm topping off I pour a cup of RO/DI water over the intake of the tube while it's running. This will help to keep it flushed out. As mentioned above, it may clog to the point that you'll have to take it out and clean it manually, My turbofloter has some small holes in the end of the air intake tube and I clean them with a toothpick.

I would think inconsistent skimming probably would be pump related because when they clog up that usually won't unclog by themselves. I'd take the pump apart and see if the impeller needs cleaning.

HTH.

 

[Paul_N]

I clean the cup when I empty it about once or twice a week and clean the body and skimmer pump every two months.

 

[Poseidon]

I clean the cup and neck once a week at least, the skimmer body I usually wipe down every other week. (I may change this soon though, as I have moved my lights in the sump, and now the skimmer gets some light causing algae to grow in the body.)

 

[KingRicky]

I am emptying the cup weekly and I clean it at this time. I wipe down the outside when I empty the cup. I just cleaned the pump out on monday and it didn't seem to make a differance. I checked the air tube and it is clear of debris so I guess that I will be cleaning the entire skimmer this weekend. Thanks for the info.

 

[frank a]

I clean the cup once a week and the BK skimmer twice a year.