Cleaning Skimmer

[dzovi]

Do protein skimmers need to be cleaned like HOB filters? I've read that some skimmers benefit from being cleaned while others benefit from the bacteria that live in the skimmer. I know to empty and rinse the cup but what about the rest of the unit? Also if it has a sponge pre-filter on the power head, how often or should I even clean it? Thanks for your time.

[sruiz]

I noticed nobody has replied.
So I guess it doesn't hurt to give the whole skimmer a clean every month.

[cw150]

I've owned mine for a year now and have only cleaned the cup and very top of the neck. I doubt you'll get a consensus on this question.

[dzovi]

I'm thinking that cleaning the sponge and the water lines would be mandatory but the unit itself I'm thinking would be optional.

[®eefer]

Clean that sponge as often as possible as all it's doing is collecting large detrius. All skimmers are a little different but my experience has been that they all seem to work better after being dirty. I mostly just empty my cup. When there is much buildup on the cup's stem, I will clean it. The main chamber never gets cleaned. The chamber stem (where the bubbles meet the cup) gets cleaned about once a month just for detrius removal.

[dzovi]

Thank you.

[Inferno]

I would disagree with leaving the skimmer completely dirty. Any dirt that is lowering the flow rate or making it inconsitent would have negative affects on skimmate production. Keeping the pump, venturi and air intake clean is necessary to have the skimmer running at its potential.

[®eefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7082653#post7082653 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Inferno
I would disagree with leaving the skimmer completely dirty. Any dirt that is lowering the flow rate or making it inconsitent would have negative affects on skimmate production. Keeping the pump, venturi and air intake clean is necessary to have the skimmer running at its potential.

I meant the internal unit itself. Obviously maximum flow rate is desired. If your pump of supply lines are dirty, they should be cleaned and kept at the highest flow rate possible.

[jdieck]

Skimmer cup and riser neck shall be cleaned at least once or twice a week as well as any filter in powerheads. Also airline inlets shall be checked and washed from any salt creep reducing the air at the powerhead, pump or ventury suction at least once a week.
Column skimmers based on airstones (Normally wood stones) shall have the stones replaced every two to three months.
The whole skimmer inside box, body and main riser shall be cleaned at least once a year. If you have a hang on the back and is exposed to the light it shall be cleaned from algae at least once a month.
Finally, if your skimmer is a downdraft and uses bio balls the balls shall be replaced once a year.

From Anthony Calfo " Book of Coral Propagation" P-114
"The dirty buildup on the interior surface of the neck is ironically necessary to assist in the collection of foam after a cleaning (or upon start-up), yet inhibiting to foam production after a couple of days. The collection cup and neck should be cleaned, on average, two to three times weekly for optimum performance"

Fom Julian Sprung "The Reef Aquarium Science, Art and Technology" Vol 3 p-326
In order for your skimmer to keep working at peak efficiency, it must be kept clean. Every few days or about once a week, depending on how quickly scum accumulates, the foam collection tube should be scrubbed clean. Every three or four months the main body tube may require some scrubbing. A bottle brush works fine for the main and foam collection tubes while a coffe percolator brush works great on smaller tubes. The inside of the skimmer must be kept clear of algae and any build-up of organic material on the sides. For transparent skimmers, algae growth can be impeded by covering the main body with some opaque material."

[dzovi]

Great response. Thanks for adding this to the post.

[jdieck]

Enjoy! :thumbsup: