How do you clean your skimmer?

[AydenLincoln]

My skimmer is so disgusting and that’s good it’s doing it’s job. And I use vinegar for my powerhead maybe I’ll use it on my skimmer too? How do you clean yours?

 

[Thunder_reef]

I usually pull mine out once a week or so and scrub the neck with a tooth brush and rinse it out. Same with the cup but on an as needed basis. Every few weeks I do a total breakdown and clean the pump , impeller etc.

 

[Mikedawg]

Rinse out, toothbrush, wipe down skimmer cup and neck every water change. I also use citric acid and an old credit card to remove the build up of spirorbid worms and any other gunk about every six months; works well

 

[RSnodgrass]

Savagely with a bare hand and Julian Bread.

 

[legionofdoon]

I use a lifereef I wipe the neck about once a month pull the pump every three and clean the cup whenever it slows down. I don't use vinegar for the pump a tooth brush will do. The body is full of Coraline and Jeff has said don't worry about it so I don't. BTW that guy will answer any question you ask him, one of the most underappreciated manufactures in this market.

 

[design.maddie]

I have a toilet bowl cleaner that I just jam down the neck of the skimmer. do a few spiny spins and pull it out. The cup drains into something that gets dumped outside. I will rinse down the pump once every 6-12 months. I used RO/DI water and a scrubby pad.

 

[RSnodgrass]

In case you haven't seen the bread reference.

I prefer my hand or any brush that has non flinging bristles... nothing worse than flying poo from a springing bristle.

 

[AydenLincoln]

In case you haven't seen the bread reference.

I prefer my hand or any brush that has non flinging bristles... nothing worse than flying poo from a springing bristle.

Yeah well I had that happen lol haha it got on my bathrooms walls haha.

 

[Dburr1014]

In case you haven't seen the bread reference.

I prefer my hand or any brush that has non flinging bristles... nothing worse than flying poo from a springing bristle.

lol!

 

[sfin52]

My skimmer is so disgusting and that’s good it’s doing it’s job. And I use vinegar for my powerhead maybe I’ll use it on my skimmer too? How do you clean yours?

Strongly recommend citric acid to clean pumps and such. Vinegar will cause magnets to rust.

 

[Waters]

I simply remove the cup weekly, rinse out, and wipe with paper towel. The pump and body is cleaned roughly once a year in citric acid.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Strongly recommend citric acid to clean pumps and such. Vinegar will cause magnets to rust.

I don’t put the magnet it it! Just the pump.

 

[Rob.In.AZ]

Dump and clean the cup weekly. Scrub the neck if needed.
3 or 4 times a year pull the pump (probably could do it more often, but it kind of PITA to pull).
Once a year pull the whole thing and give it a good cleaning (whether it needs it or not).

Just a note if you are using a toothbrush - you want to make sure you are using you wife/husband’s or you kid’s toothbrush and not your own.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Dump and clean the cup weekly. Scrub the neck if needed.
3 or 4 times a year pull the pump (probably could do it more often, but it kind of PITA to pull).
Once a year pull the whole thing and give it a good cleaning (whether it needs it or not).

Just a note if you are using a toothbrush - you want to make sure you are using you wife/husband’s or you kid’s toothbrush and not your own.

Oh I definitely do lol!

 

[Jedi1199]

I dump the cup as needed.. usually about the time when I change filter socks. I leave the main body alone till it starts to REALLY get bad then it's time for a full service. For the cup, I use a plain old bottle brush, works well and fast, The sprayer of the sink faucet also blasts off most of the gunk easily.

 

[Uncle99]

Just the cup for me.
When bubbles DIminsh then the needle wheel, about 3-4 months.
Once a year the body.

 

[Rovert]

Strongly recommend citric acid to clean pumps and such. Vinegar will cause magnets to rust.

THIS

I just use warm water and my hand. Nothing remotely abrasive, not even a toothbrush.

 

[ChiCity]

Strongly recommend citric acid to clean pumps and such. Vinegar will cause magnets to rust.

I don’t put the magnet it it! Just the pump.

the pump is a magnet, it’s how the impeller spins

 

[HBtank]

A pair of nitrile gloves and some toilet paper to clean the cup, neck and lid every few weeks. I re-built it with a DC pump and it allows me to extend cleanings by ramping up the bubbles/air as the neck gets dirtier.

Maybe every 6-12 months remove it and clean the full body and pump.

 

[SPS2020]

Strongly recommend citric acid to clean pumps and such. Vinegar will cause magnets to rust.

^^THIS^^