How often do you empty your protein skimmer cup?

[Dragon52]

I've had my Nyos 160 setup since Feb & cleaned the entire unit once. Cup is cleaned 1-2 times a wk but after noticing the gallon jug idea here might go with that at least on Vacation.

 

[TheKyle]

The gallon jug idea is great if you have your skimmer setting dialed in. If not you can get a small flood in your stand if you’re skimming too wet and your skimmer starts to overflows. I know from experience. After this happened I bought a zaya sos. It will shut off the skimmer and beep if either the skimmer cup/jug get too full or if the sump level rises. Saved my bacon a few times when I forget to empty the jug. Worth every penny ($49). Highly recommended for anyone using a jug for skimmate

 

[rkpetersen]

I empty it every day or two, whatever level it's at. Rarely above 20% full, and I generally skim wet. Remove and clean the cup assembly once a week, and the skimmer body once a month. I'll probably get tired of all this eventually but right now I don't feel that it's much of an inconvenience tbh. The only thing I don't like is my wife making a face as I walk by her on the way to the sink.

 

[Mark Gray]

My current skimmer hold a lot I dump it maybe 1 time a week at most

 

[Daltrey]

Here’s
the real question. Reply one sums up quantity of skimmate. Emptying the cup up to individual.
My question is how often do hobbiests pull the skimmer out to clean up a quarter inch of accumulated slime from the neck end upper collecting chamber???

My next purchase will be an automatic skimmer neck cleaner. I clean it once a month now with water changes.

 

[Daltrey]

The gallon jug idea is great if you have your skimmer setting dialed in. If not you can get a small flood in your stand if you’re skimming too wet and your skimmer starts to overflows. I know from experience. After this happened I bought a zaya sos. It will shut off the skimmer and beep if either the skimmer cup/jug get too full or if the sump level rises. Saved my bacon a few times when I forget to empty the jug. Worth every penny ($49). Highly recommended for anyone using a jug for skimmate

I also had this happen once. For now I have a cheap ball valve that I leave closed and just open it so the skimmer cup can drain into a gallon jug once a week.

 

[Rob Rowe]

Here’s
the real question. Reply one sums up quantity of skimmate. Emptying the cup up to individual.
My question is how often do hobbiests pull the skimmer out to clean up a quarter inch of accumulated slime from the neck end upper collecting chamber???

Once a week or earlier if needed.

 

[Idoc]

Mine fills up every 2-3 days! Skinning wet on a new tank.

 

[Coralfuture]

1 I empty once a week and the other I have fed into my sewage drain in my basement so I only ever clean it and have no real idea how much it skims but phos/nitrate 0 so not worried about it.

 

[chefjpaul]

My question is how often do hobbiests pull the skimmer out to clean up a quarter inch of accumulated slime from the neck end upper collecting chamber???

I just wipe it out every time I clean the cup. Paper towel.
Total clean..... barely, hate breaking it in

 

[Caliguy1983]

Nyos Quantum 160 on a 120 gal mixed reef...I empty mine every 2-3 days and take off the cup and clean the neck once a week.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I also had this happen once. For now I have a cheap ball valve that I leave closed and just open it so the skimmer cup can drain into a gallon jug once a week.

+1

 

[hubble]

Once or twice a week for me. It needs a good neck cleaning and performs better when clean.

 

[Rjmul]

Twice a week empty and clean neck

 

[rkpetersen]

I still empty it twice a week routinely.
Also now have a sensor in it which shuts the skimmer off and sends me a notification if it gets full unexpectedly.

 

[Adamantium]

Skimming moderately dry, once a week.

 

[WVNed]

I empty about 2-3 gallons every 3 days. Mine goes into a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[Kayanarka]

This is a few days worth here, I am guessing I could safely go every two weeks, especially since it has a safety shut of float valve. I will probably go every week with weekly water changes for now.

It is a relatively new tank and the skimmer I have only had about a week. I drained it a few times when I was skimming wet and still learning how to set it. Now I have a nice dry skim.

I am wondering does anyone raise the level to pre clean the neck before taking the skim cup off, and does anyone leave the bubbles running and just lower the level so you can take the skim cup off without letting the skimmer drain?

 

[Sebastiancrab]

This is a few days worth here, I am guessing I could safely go every two weeks, especially since it has a safety shut of float valve. I will probably go every week with weekly water changes for now.

It is a relatively new tank and the skimmer I have only had about a week. I drained it a few times when I was skimming wet and still learning how to set it. Now I have a nice dry skim.

I am wondering does anyone raise the level to pre clean the neck before taking the skim cup off, and does anyone leave the bubbles running and just lower the level so you can take the skim cup off without letting the skimmer drain?

I lower the bubbles.

 

[Sherman]

I skim wet so need to empty every 3 to 4 days