Schedule to cleaning skimmer?

North Borders · May 17, 2016

Hey guys! Just wondering how often one should take their skimmer out and clean the insides? Do you clean it spic and span or just a nice wipe down? I have a Reef Octopus 110SSS.

CodyRVA · May 17, 2016

Depends on your bio load vs skimmer size. A high bio load paired with an undersized skimmer would likely require more cleaning than an oversized skimmer with a smaller bio load. That being said, I clean mine enough to get the majority of the gunk out when the cup is full, but I never scrub it clean. I have in the past and the skimmer essentially has to go through the "break in period" all over again.

luke33 · May 17, 2016

I clean mine when the inside is really gunked up with algae growth or corraline growth. Probably once a year I would imagine. I clean the cup out weekly or as needed when the neck gets gunked up.

Downbeach · May 17, 2016

I would clean mine about every three month's. I would first run it in a bucket of water and vinegar for a couple hours, then take the pump apart and thoroughly clean the insides, i.e. volute, venturi, impeller, etc. run it again in some water/vinegar for another 15 minutes and then reinstall it.

zoomonster · May 17, 2016

Have XP3000int and pull off the neck/cup assembly about once a week and hose it out to get gunk out of neck, cup and lid. It really accumulates sludge and sometimes I clean more often if it starts reeking bad. As far as the body that's never been cleaned.

R_C · May 17, 2016

Have a Reef Octopus 150 and clean it about every 6 months. I clean the cup about every 3-5 days.

North Borders · May 17, 2016

Yeah, I've been cleaning the cup by scrubbing it whenever I dump it. I've heard from a couple places not to clean the walls of the skimmer as that makes you have to break it in again, but there's some gunk build up on the walls of it now after having it in for 4 months.

cloak · May 17, 2016

Being that I keep my sumps dark, I've gone years without ever cleaning the chamber of my skimmers. No problem.
I usually clean the collection cup about twice a week though.

mushroomrob · May 17, 2016

You can tell when it needs cleaning, at least in my experience. It either:

-sounds different
-has a lower flow rate
-doesn't produce as much skimmate
-visible gunk in the reaction body
-visible gunk in the tubing

I have multiple Reef Octopus skimmers, and I find that I clean them about every 3 months, but then again, I'm a clean freak and I have a moderate bioload in my tanks. I suggest you look for these pointers and also just do a cleaning if you've had it running to see how much gunk has formed, so you can get an idea of how fast the crap builds in your skimmer.

North Borders · May 18, 2016

Thanks for the replies, everyone! I think I'll give the skimmer a bath this weekend

mushroomrob · May 18, 2016

Let us know how it goes! It could help out another.

SPSReeferMI · Dec 19, 2021

This is an old thread, but for those still reading it, I’d say this. My Reef Octopus 200INT requires to be taken out and cleaned thoroughly every 3-4 months. I have a high bio load. I notice that the varios 4s pump impeller picks up EVERYTHING. A couple of random chaeto strands, baby snails, gunk. My biggest observation is that after a month, I see fewer bubbles in the reaction chamber. I love the skimmer, but at the same time, I feel like every 3-4 months is required. I wish it were 12!