I have "crazing" on my used skimmer!

[Swingline77]

I bought a used protein skimmer online. It has some crazing on the main body. It doesn't look too bad. It's my understanding that crazing is damage that occurs along the paths of stress. I guess if it's mild it should be OK, but if it gets severe enough, it can cause failure. That's according to Coralife, anyway (link at end).

According to the link at the end, this can develop in response to harsh cleaning chemicals. Is it something that will also develop naturally over time? If so, how long does it take to develop?

Most importantly, do you think I should return the skimmer, or keep it?

https://www.coralvue.com/support/693667-Acrylic-crazing-or-cracking

 

[Antics]

I don't see a photo of the skimmer you bought?

 

[Flippers4pups]

My 10 year old reef octopus skimmer has some on it. Been that way for years and years.

Should be fine.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Yes cleaning agents and some types of lighting can also cause crazing.. shouldn’t be a problem with structural integrity just an aesthetic issue.

 

[Swingline77]

Here are the crazing pics. I guess I'll keep it though, since it doesn't seem to be a problem:

 

[Swingline77]

 

[Swingline77]

 

[Swingline77]

I had some problems uploading images, but you get the idea. It's really hard to show the nature of the problem with still photos, as the cracks catch the light.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Shouldn't be a problem. Just aesthetic.

 

[Swingline77]

Great! Time to get it working!