Skimmer maintenance Poll.

How do you clean your skimmer?

  • Sporadic few tines a year deap clean. With cup and neck cleaned as needed.

    Votes: 13 50.0%
  • Monthly cleaning, less regular pump cleaning.

    Votes: 9 34.6%
  • Automatic neck cleaner.

    Votes: 2 7.7%
  • Use vinegar

    Votes: 8 30.8%
  • Use citric acid.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    26
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.

Use a toothbrush or some paper towels :D

I have one with and one without. The one with is a avast neck cleaner, they had which one I needed. It’s adjustable and all. I’m sure if you sent them a email they could size you up.
 
I empty my Octo once a week and clean the cup/neck/lid with a baby bottle brush. I take it apart about 3 times a year to clean the bubble plate and pump.
 
Collection cup gets emptied and cleaned weekly, the skimmer body gets taken out once a year and soaks and gets a good scrub down. Bottle cleaning brushes are your best friend for these :)
 
Added a poll based on peoples posts thus far. Will add some more choices if needed.
Multiple selections are allowed :)
 
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.

I have used the avast swabbie on three different skimmers (with nary a problem for the ‘go wrong’ guy). They spell out pretty clearly which blade to order based on the diameter and length of your skimmer’s neck. I’d not run a skimmer without one.
 
Clean Skimmer cup once every six months. Bubble Magus with sicce pump and impellers which have never been cleaned in three years.
 
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.
I bought a plastic toilet scrubber and clean the neck with that. I also use a small drill to clean the air intake once a month or it cloggs.

I put my skimmer on a timer a couple months ago and my maintenance got cut in half. Funny thing is, my skimmer seems to work a lot better also. It pulls out more than if I ran it 24/7.
 
I have the older generation of the eshopps s-200, still runs like a champ.

I clean...
  • the cup and lid when I empty it each week
  • the body and pump twice a year.
    • Drop the entire skimmer with cup removed in a big bucket and run it with vinegar for 4 hours or so
    • Wipe down the body with a rag
    • Bottle brush inside the pipes
    • Disassemble and clean the pump with a brush
I notice a huge difference in performance after each cleaning
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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