Note to others....clean your skimmers!!!

[Stanley-Reefer]

I called myself cleaning my skimmers every 6 mos. Pull them out of the sumps, run the pump in vinegar water about 2-3 hours, clean out the body to where it's like new.

I never have disassmebled the pump or scrubbed out the needle wheel/impeller till last weekend.

I only thought my tanks were clean, but my rs250 in my 175 has filled the cup with opaque crud 3 times this week. My corals are really appreciating it too with deeper colors and growth tips on corals that have been dormant for a while!

 

[vitodog]

Good advise. I clean my entire skimmer every 3 mos. and like you, I see the benefit immediately.

 

[goochesfish]

does it have to break in again each time the skimmer is scrubbed out?

 

[firereef]

+5!!!!!!


I have a backup asm g3 skimmer so when I clean the main skimmer I put the backup in. That way my tank continues to get skimmed while the main skimmer is being cleaned. I can also soak my main skimmer for 24 hrs in vinegar this way.

 

[outy]

cups should be cleaned weekly to bi-weekly I do monthly lol

I do my pumps I think every 6 months

 

[mullinsd2]

i dont care to do it, but it should be done no doubt

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

no re-break in here...just surprised at the increased amount being pulled out and I was happy with my tank!!! It's been 2 years without cleaning the impeller and needle wheel and I though this thing pulled nog before!!!!

Just as reference I cleaned the cup again around 6pm yesterday and it's 1/2 full of opaque crud right now!!!!

 

[mander]

Pardon my neophyte question, but how exactly do ya'll clean your pumps? I have neglected mine and it's not working properly right now (skimmer ain't skimming a thing), so I need to pull it out and have long since lost the manual. I was just going to run it with vinegar and then see what parts I could pry apart. Stanley-Reefer, did you do more than that?

 

[tahiriqbal]

Leaving skimmer off for few hours while cleaning would not do any ill effects to your tank but backup is not such a bad idea as you never know when the main skimmer would fail.....

 

[spollock818]

I just broke down my coralife 220 super skimmer for cleaning. After reading a lot of postings about vinegar, and muratic acid, I decided to go with the acid. I have to say I am now a fan of it. I did a 3/4 cup of muratic acid to every gallon used. I went to the local pool shop and bought 2 gallons for $12.00. The skimmer was really clogged up, and there was a piece of a crab in the bottom. Now, its like it is brand new.

Here are a few helpfull hints that I followed and would recommend if you are thinking about the acid wash.

1. Do it outdoors because the fumes are very toxic.
2. Never do it on concrete that you care about because the acid will etch the concrete.
3. Always poor the acid into the water, and never water into the acid.

I used a 5 gallon bucket filled up, and submerged the skimmer, let it run for 20 minutes recycling the water. Then I flushed out the skimmer with a hose, and cleaned the bucket. I then filled it up with clean water, resubmerged the skimmer and put the hose in the bucket on medium. I ran the skimmer for another 20 minutes or so, rinsed it off, and wham!! New skimmer in an hour

 

[scubasteve06]

I clean my skimmer neck every 2-3 days. It takes around 4 days to fill all the way up since I skim fairly dry. I clean the cup everytime I empty it. I clean the body once a month. I've had this particular skimmer almost 3 months now and I think it's about time to clean the pump and pvc elbow out soon.

 

[EddieJ]

I just broke down my coralife 220 super skimmer for cleaning. After reading a lot of postings about vinegar, and muratic acid, I decided to go with the acid. I have to say I am now a fan of it. I did a 3/4 cup of muratic acid to every gallon used. I went to the local pool shop and bought 2 gallons for $12.00. The skimmer was really clogged up, and there was a piece of a crab in the bottom. Now, its like it is brand new.

Here are a few helpfull hints that I followed and would recommend if you are thinking about the acid wash.

1. Do it outdoors because the fumes are very toxic.
2. Never do it on concrete that you care about because the acid will etch the concrete.
3. Always poor the acid into the water, and never water into the acid.

I used a 5 gallon bucket filled up, and submerged the skimmer, let it run for 20 minutes recycling the water. Then I flushed out the skimmer with a hose, and cleaned the bucket. I then filled it up with clean water, resubmerged the skimmer and put the hose in the bucket on medium. I ran the skimmer for another 20 minutes or so, rinsed it off, and wham!! New skimmer in an hour

+1 on the Muratic

 

[Original Fin]

CPR Aeroforce cleaning

CPR Aeroforce cleaning

I imagine different types/makes of skimmers have totally different maintenance interval requirements...not to mention the difference in bio loads.

My skimmer is a HOB CPR Aeroforce. I like it, however; it requires a lot of attention to keep it skimming well. The biggest PITA is salt creep in the air breather. If I don't remove the filter sponge and clean it every two days, it cruds over and bubble production suffers for it. Both pumps are subject to major flow restrictions if I don't take them apart at least every 6 weeks for a thorough cleaning of the impeller bodies...especially the aerator disk. The pumps are tiny to begin with, so it really doesn't take much to plug them up.
For new users of this model, my best piece of advice is to make note of the max water collumn hight in the mixing chamber when new, or after a cleaning. Mark it with something. When the water level drops from this point, it's time to clean again. It will still skim at the lower levels, but it will be a very wet skim. You can only hope to get a semi dry skim with this unit when everything is perfectly clean. The best skimmate I've pulled off with this unit is dark green to light brown, but it's usually phyto green in color. I consider this a weak point in my system and I'd like to upgrade eventually.

 

[mchud]

I clean my skimmer pump once a month and when im cleaning it i also clean my return pump and power heads. I just use a bucket with vinegar mix. probably a little over kill but it works.

 

[joebo1717]

After watching some videos on automatic neck cleaners I've realized how much a difference it makes to keep the neck clear of the buildup that results from the bubbles climbing up it. Every 2 to 3 days i use a pad to wipe down the inside of the neck while the skimmer is operation, it's amazing how much better the performance is and I don't have to take the cup off every time, only when it's getting full.

I'm also in support of running the skimmer in a vinegar bath every few months to keep it working like new

 

[gp2]

GREAT idea! Honestly I am not sure I would have even thought to do this unless I had a problem. Add a chore to the list for the weekend lol!!!
Thanks everyone!

 

[freezetyle]

After watching some videos on automatic neck cleaners I've realized how much a difference it makes to keep the neck clear of the buildup that results from the bubbles climbing up it. Every 2 to 3 days i use a pad to wipe down the inside of the neck while the skimmer is operation, it's amazing how much better the performance is and I don't have to take the cup off every time, only when it's getting full.

I'm also in support of running the skimmer in a vinegar bath every few months to keep it working like new

i agreed. I bought a used system that came with an avast marine works swabbie running on a bubble king mini 160. Initially i though he was just lazy and debated selling it. gave it a chance and so far its awesome. have the profilux set to clean the neck 6 times a day. all i have to do is empty the collection bucket once every week or two.

 

[travis32]

I know on my bak pak 2 HOB skimmer, really green reeky gunky builds up in the neck and shaft where the bubbles come up. I take a knife and wipe out the whole shaft every couple of weeks. IT's a solid mass of junk. and then it starts skimming really good then. I do have the issue where salt and minerals clog the air intake and the pump. I have to pull the skimmer then and use a fork or something pointy to drill out all the connections to release the minerals. Then it works like brand new. I've never actually soaked the skimmer pump though.

Now with no fish in that tank I still skim just to assist in filtration and airation, but, there's nothing but corals in that tank.

In my 125's in sump skimmer. Yeah I can imagine needing to clean that out really good. I have nothing but rock in that tank so far and the entire skimmer just reaks. It was cleaned for me like brand new and in under a week has a horrible smell (I consider the level of horrible ness to the smell to be equal to skimming power. hehe.. )

 

[travis32]

I know on my bak pak 2 HOB skimmer, really green reeky gunky builds up in the neck and shaft where the bubbles come up. I take a knife and wipe out the whole shaft every couple of weeks. IT's a solid mass of junk. and then it starts skimming really good then. I do have the issue where salt and minerals clog the air intake and the pump. I have to pull the skimmer then and use a fork or something pointy to drill out all the connections to release the minerals. Then it works like brand new. I've never actually soaked the skimmer pump though.

Now with no fish in that tank I still skim just to assist in filtration and airation, but, there's nothing but corals in that tank.

In my 125's in sump skimmer. Yeah I can imagine needing to clean that out really good. I have nothing but rock in that tank so far and the entire skimmer just reaks. It was cleaned for me like brand new and in under a week has a horrible smell (I consider the level of horrible ness to the smell to be equal to skimming power. hehe.. )

 

[zsqure]

does anybody just put their whole skimmer in the vinegar/water mix and leave it run? I cannot get my hand inside the neck of the skimmer to clean the inside b'cause it is too small.