How long can you go without cleaning skimmer?

[Lester Verano]

I have an amazing reef octopus HOB skimmer that does such a good job on my 55 gallon tank the neck is constantly caked with brown crud. I have it set to a dry skim, and I always have success with this skimmer taking out the crud, but once my neck is caked with the crud is the skimmer still proficient?

I assume I can let this go as long as I like as long as the cup isn't filled, and the bubbles will just keep pushing little bits of crud up the tube and into my cup a little at a time indefinitely, or until the cup actually fills, which would take virtually forever.

I attached a pic of my skimmer. It only takes like 5 days for this much crud to collect in the neck. I am tired of cleaning it. I'd like to set it and forget it for a month or two and see what the cup looks like then. What are your thoughts?

 

[Peace River]

You should be fine as long as the bubbles still carrying skimmate up into the top cup. I would still empty the cup every week just to keep the smell down.

 

[Lester Verano]

You should be fine as long as the bubbles still carrying skimmate up into the top cup. I would still empty the cup every week just to keep the smell down.

Thanks! I appreciate the reply.

 

[AdamNC]

If I can smell it standing near the tank it’s getting cleaned.

 

[Lester Verano]

If I can smell it standing near the tank it’s getting cleaned.

Agreed.