How/how often to clean Protien Skimmer?

[LDMF]

I have Precision Marine Bullet III skimmer. It is a very large skimmer with a Iwaki 55 pump, something like 1200gph. Tank is 220, with a 90 sump and 55 fuge.

Anyway, I know that having a nice slime coating on the inside of the skimmer really helps out the bubbling/skimming process. Mine builds up a nice slime that you can not see through in a couple of weeks. I like to be able to see what is going on so I clean the inside with my hands scrapping the slime off.

What do you guys do? More often, less often, not at all, tear the whole thing down and scrub it once a _____?

 

[Aqua-World PITT]

Every few months we clean our E.T.S.S. but the other skimmers none.

 

[Stray32]

I clean on every other water change (twice a month give or take). It may be overkill, but I do my water changes through my sump, so my reactors, skimmer, and pumps get scrubbed.

 

[raynist]

Never have cleaned mine, going on 1.5 years with my EuroReef's.

 

[cloakerpoked]

Are you talking about the inside of the reaction chamber, or the neck above the waterline?

 

[raynist]

I am pretty sure he is talking about teh reaction chamber.

 

[cloakerpoked]

Oh, mine's completely encrusted in coraline at this point because it's in the fuge with the macro under a 2x65w PC light I keep thinking about cleaning it out.

 

[LDMF]

Yes, I was talking about the neck down, reaction chamber. When I had a 75 with a HOBS it became coralined and tube worm infested. This big one actually gets sludge/slime one the walls. When I clean it out the "paste" is like a fine creamy mud. At Aqua World there big skimmer on the prop tank had the same gunk, which made me not worry about it. Also my nitrates and nitrites are zero.

Thanks for the replies, once again I think that I worry too much.

 

[miatawnt2b]

Yep, I never clean the reaction chamber.
-J

 

[LDMF]

Now that I obsessed about it

Now that I obsessed about it

Everything is all nice and sparkly clean. It is better to leave things alone but once I get focused on something......:smokin:

 

[Aqua-World PITT]

We only clean the ETSS so we can keep an eye on the water level inside

 

[LeviChar1]

Try using a plant light in your refugium. It can't support coralline which impedes your skimmer's performance (as do all those little feather dusters.

Eventually you will have to clean out animals that make their home in the reaction chamber. I'd guess once in 3-4 years.....

Good luck cleaning out coralline from the inside.....brutal. do the plant light now before its too late.

 

[superstein61]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14936463#post14936463 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LeviChar1
Good luck cleaning out coralline from the inside.....brutal.

Actually pretty easy - get large bucket - big enough to hold skimmer and pump. Fill with vinegar and run for a day (no collection container on top of skimmer)

Rinse well. Works every time for me

 

[acer]

awesome idea- I have coralline in mine and was wondering how to get rid of it.

 

[Raptor 90]

try skimming a little wetter i have the same exact skimmer and had to skim a little wetter to keep it clean

 

[LeviChar1]

yeah, vinegar will work although it may take longer than expected. Make sure you flush well before putting it back into service. GL