How do you clean your skimmer?

[gbru316]

Empty/clean collection cup (all surfaces) weekly, scrub inside body with toilet brush and clean pump monthly.

Any stubborn calcium deposits/worms get dissolved with muriatic acid on a yearly basis.

 

[Dburr1014]

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

The problem is the vinagar gets past the plastics/seals. Degrades over time then you can have water intrusion.

 

[RedoubtReef]

In case you haven't seen the bread reference.

Bill Gates bought the company, hence the new 'formula'. Seems very healthy.

 

[Kraig]

It's a quick wipe down of the cup when I empty it about once a week. Reading the responses makes me think I need to re-think the way I clean the skimmer.

 

[AydenLincoln]

The problem is the vinagar gets past the plastics/seals. Degrades over time then you can have water intrusion.

Oh okay interesting. I did just scrub my skimmer clean with a toothbrush and that worked so no vinegar and I used vinegar on my powerhead maybe once or twice. But it makes sense not to use it. It’s always recommended though by lots of people and does a fairly good job.

 

[Dburr1014]

Oh okay interesting. I did just scrub my skimmer clean with a toothbrush and that worked so no vinegar and I used vinegar on my powerhead maybe once or twice. But it makes sense not to use it. It’s always recommended though by lots of people and does a fairly good job.

Long, but a good read on how vinagar kills pumps.

Beware of Vinegar - The Pump Killer

I have posted bits and piece of my vinegar story over the past three years, and I thought it would be beneficial if one post contained all that I've learn. You'll be surprised! This story will contain three parts; my history with vinegar, the cause and simplified chemistry what's happening...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Empty/clean collection cup (all surfaces) weekly, scrub inside body with toilet brush and clean pump monthly.

Any stubborn calcium deposits/worms get dissolved with muriatic acid on a yearly basis.

Another one that uses a toilet brush!!!!! Yes. Same here. empty skim locker when full, clean skimmer using all plastic toilet brush from the DG once a month, then after that gunk goes into cup, dump cup.

Once a year, I give it an 8 hour, citric acid/water bath (while running), then hit with toilet brush, rinse real quick in tap and then all is good.

 

[gbru316]

Another one that uses a toilet brush!!!!!

Take the cup off and shove the brush inside the skimmer body, give it a few twists/plunges, clean the cup, and you're done. Don't even need to remove the skimmer, or turn it off, for that matter.

My mentality is that the easier it is to do something, the more likely I am to do it. Toilet brush makes skimmer body cleaning easy.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Take the cup off and shove the brush inside the skimmer body, give it a few twists/plunges, clean the cup, and you're done. Don't even need to remove the skimmer, or turn it off, for that matter.

My mentality is that the easier it is to do something, the more likely I am to do it. Toilet brush makes skimmer body cleaning easy.

Same here and it works very well lol.

 

[Dburr1014]

Take the cup off and shove the brush inside the skimmer body, give it a few twists/plunges, clean the cup, and you're done. Don't even need to remove the skimmer, or turn it off, for that matter.

My mentality is that the easier it is to do something, the more likely I am to do it. Toilet brush makes skimmer body cleaning easy.

My thought exactly. I use Mr. Clean toilet brush.
I do once a year take it all apart for a good deep clean.