Skimmer maintenance Poll.

[Gareth elliott]

How does everyone clean their skimmer? How often? Any tools you use to make easier? Is there a schedule you use, ie clean this after x, this after y, deep clean every z days?

Ill add a poll once there is some responses to make sure i cover most people.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Once every year or 2. I run filter socks so my sump is pretty clean. I just need to break it down to get to the wheel. Usually very little junk in it.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Once every year or 2. I run filter socks so my sump is pretty clean. I just need to break it down to get to the wheel. Usually very little junk in it.

Do you clean the neck more often?

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Good point. Every 3-4 week maybe. I hate scraping out all that poo. I do drain weekly or when gets to high.

I am in the belief less fiddling better. Never had a problem and never noticed a measurable loss of performance.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Good point. Every 3-4 week maybe. I hate scraping out all that poo. I do drain weekly or when gets to high.

I am in the belief less fiddling better. Never had a problem and never noticed a measurable loss of performance.

They really need to make a tool for this that isnt a 150-200 anc.

Unless there is and google has failed me [emoji23]

 

[lolgranny]

Get a automatic neck cleaner. Thank me later lol!

I have 2 skimmers on my system. 1 with the neck cleaner. It’s a in sump, runs wonders, I don’t clean it unless it’s acting up. I take the whole head off of it maybe once every few months to get that sludge on the top of the lip.

The other skimmer I just take the lid off occasionally and use some paper towels to clean the inside neck off. Beats pulling it off and using the sink a lot of times.

In the end everyone should have a auto neck cleaner and a collection cup with a check valve.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Get a automatic neck cleaner. Thank me later lol!

I have 2 skimmers on my system. 1 with the neck cleaner. It’s a in sump, runs wonders, I don’t clean it unless it’s acting up. I take the whole head off of it maybe once every few months to get that sludge on the top of the lip.

The other skimmer I just take the lid off occasionally and use some paper towels to clean the inside neck off. Beats pulling it off and using the sink a lot of times.

In the end everyone should have a auto neck cleaner and a collection cup with a check valve.

I have thought about but always worried i will have measured wrong and the one i buy will not fit. Not that i have inquired to see if this is even an issue [emoji23]

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Get a automatic neck cleaner. Thank me later lol!

I think those are cool, just not for me. When avast came out I thought about it.

But,I am the original “if it will go wrong, it will go wrong for me”. I figured just one more thing I would be worried it would break. And if I barely clean it on my own, why pay $$$ for something else to do it for me.;Woot

 

[lolgranny]

I think those are cool, just not for me. When avast came out I thought about it.

But,I am the original “if it will go wrong, it will go wrong for me”. I figured just one more thing I would be worried it would break. And if I barely clean it on my own, why pay $$$ for something else to do it for me.;Woot

I’m in 100% agreement with you about it not being if it goes wrong, but when will it go wrong.

The neck cleaner is a good investment imo, the collection cup you can skip. Either way, if it’s working for you why fix it? I think there is a saying like that

 

[lapin]

I just cleaned the lid today. Its been running a year. Had about 1/2" of scum stuck to the inside of the lid. Never really thought about cleaning it. It drains into a 5 gallon container. I just dump that when full. I wonder if the cup will come off anymore?

 

[MrObscura]

I have a reef glass in my nuvo 10. The collection cup is external and you can use whatever you want. Mines big, so I dump it whenever I feel like it.

As for the skimmer itself... When it looks dirty enough, which is probably every 2 weeks or so.

 

[A sea K]

My skimmer is first in line in the sump so it gets access to everything, usually clean the cup every 3 days as the build up in the neck gets pretty bad. I clean the pump only as needed (notice the performance falling off) which is usually 2x a year.

 

[homer1475]

Clean mine like once a year(good deep cleaning). The cup/neck gets cleaned once a week during weekly maintenance. Skimmate goes into its own collection container which gets dumped about once a month, and man does it stink!!

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I do not run filter socks, as I struggle to keep NO3 and PO4 even detectable, my skimmer is after my fuge, and does get some bleed through of light from the 150-900w "tomato grow lights" (multiple tanks all sumps setup the same and all on same maintenance schedule)

Once a week: Empty cup, use toilet brush (never been in an actual toilet, but skimmate is worse lol) to clean the neck, place cup back on skimmer, dump again in 15 minutes when skimmer calms down from the gunk being kicked loose.

Every 6 months: Clean pump (if its needed, as cheato sometimes get through), vinegar bath (dang coralline), rodi rinse and back in it goes.

Every now and again, I notice that it just is not pulling like it should, and I have to take the pump off, clean the needle wheel, and put back together (cheato lol).

 

[homer1475]

Saying what skimmer your using would help with knowing why each individual is choosing when to clean each skimmer their using. No?

 

[cracker]

I cleean the neck & cup. not as often as I should.

 

[Pntbll687]

Usually once every 2 weeks or so I clean the cup and neck of the skimmer. If I let it build up too much I noticed the foam will collapse when it reaches the gunk on the neck.

As far as the pump goes, every 6 months if I remember.

 

[ca1ore]

I use a neck cleaner, so the neck and head only needs washing down about every 3 months. Mine is a mazzei-based unit, so I do occasionally have to clean debris from the injector.

 

[lolgranny]

Saying what skimmer your using would help with knowing why each individual is choosing when to clean each skimmer their using. No?

Shouldn’t matter which skimmer as there are a lot of variables involved. Tank size, bioload, how much you’re feeding, how much the skimmer is rated at.

In the end I think everyone cleans theirs about the same it looks like.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Shouldn’t matter which skimmer as there are a lot of variables involved. Tank size, bioload, how much you’re feeding, how much the skimmer is rated at.

In the end I think everyone cleans theirs about the same it looks like.

It really does [emoji23]
I was really hoping there a magical tool better than a toilet brush or and less expensive than a an auto neck cleaner lol.

Those with neck cleaners how did you measure to get the right one? Those that dont use a reef octopus or vertex skimmer as that seems plug and play.