ceaning skimmer and pumps

sfilipowski · 02/23/2010, 08:06 AM

I was just wondering how often most clean (really clean) skimmers and power heads. I mean take completely out of the tank and make it like new again. I have a sea max 130 and lastnight noticed the skimmer was'nt working like it should after I noticed my tank and water just did'nt look 100%. Then found the skimmer to be going about half ***. I turned it on and off about 4 times and there you have it, it instantly sounded different and began to work properly I'm sure there is crud down there that was clogging it up. My pw heads also lookin like they might produce more flow if they also got cleaned. I always thought that some of this stuff would be benificial as the ocean is not spotless. any thoughts? my tank is about 1 1/2 yrs old and doing fine I just want it to stay that way. thanks

sdc19982002 · 02/23/2010, 09:04 AM

I remove and clean all pumps and skimmer every 6 months,or sooner if needed

mcoomer · 02/23/2010, 09:15 AM

For pumps and powerheads I like to clean every 6 months or so. I will adjust that if I see obvious signs of growth. For my skimmer, I pull the pump every now and then and check the mesh and volute for any problems. Other than that I simply wipe out the neck of the collection cup with a wet paper towel when I dump it and check that the air hose if free from obstruction. Thoroughly cleaning the skimmer means allowing it to break in again and I don't want that so I just wipe off the worst of it and move on.

Mike

orion1 · 02/23/2010, 09:49 AM

I pull my powerheads every 3 months, my main return pump 6 months and I clean out the skimmer every 3 months or sooner if the neck is getting too nasty so far so good

sage_commander · 02/23/2010, 09:55 AM

I used to have a coralife ss65 (hated it). The reaction chamber started to have stuff "growing" in it. I can't imagine that would help the efficiency, but I didn't see any way to get to that part of the skimmer. Also I had to pull it every couple of weeks and clean out the venturi tube, which would get clogged with salt. If you see the unit slowing down in terms of foam production, that's the first thing I would check.

IslandCrow · 02/23/2010, 10:20 AM

Most all of my equipment is on a 6 month cleaning schedule, from powerheads to pumps to skimmer to chiller. For the skimmer, it's mainly the pump that I'm concerned with, though I'd usually fill the skimmer itself with some diluted muriatic acid as well to get rid of some of the gunk.

sfilipowski · 02/23/2010, 11:38 AM

thanks everyone sounds like I need to get busy, I always clean the neck and the cup wipe it out good but have yet to clean it all, I'm sure its overdue and thats why foam production has gone down.

sfilipowski · 02/23/2010, 11:42 AM

sorry about the A word, but the other day some were calling thier purple psuedochromis a lot worse than that I know cause i have one and he is a real

02/23/2010, 08:06 AM	#1
sfilipowski Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 174	ceaning skimmer and pumps I was just wondering how often most clean (really clean) skimmers and power heads. I mean take completely out of the tank and make it like new again. I have a sea max 130 and lastnight noticed the skimmer was'nt working like it should after I noticed my tank and water just did'nt look 100%. Then found the skimmer to be going about half ***. I turned it on and off about 4 times and there you have it, it instantly sounded different and began to work properly I'm sure there is crud down there that was clogging it up. My pw heads also lookin like they might produce more flow if they also got cleaned. I always thought that some of this stuff would be benificial as the ocean is not spotless. any thoughts? my tank is about 1 1/2 yrs old and doing fine I just want it to stay that way. thanks

02/23/2010, 09:15 AM	#3
mcoomer Rat Bastard! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 1,487	For pumps and powerheads I like to clean every 6 months or so. I will adjust that if I see obvious signs of growth. For my skimmer, I pull the pump every now and then and check the mesh and volute for any problems. Other than that I simply wipe out the neck of the collection cup with a wet paper towel when I dump it and check that the air hose if free from obstruction. Thoroughly cleaning the skimmer means allowing it to break in again and I don't want that so I just wipe off the worst of it and move on. Mike __________________ Spending exorbitant amounts of money on this hobby since 1998! My wife thought the tank would be cheaper and easier to keep than a dog...no seriously! Current Tank Info: 180 gallon mixed reef; Reeflo Barracuda, Tunze 6105 (X3), 250W Radiums with dual HQI Blue Wave 7, Reefkeeper Elite controller, custom sump with ASM G4, carbon and GFO reactors

02/23/2010, 10:20 AM	#6
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Most all of my equipment is on a 6 month cleaning schedule, from powerheads to pumps to skimmer to chiller. For the skimmer, it's mainly the pump that I'm concerned with, though I'd usually fill the skimmer itself with some diluted muriatic acid as well to get rid of some of the gunk. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

02/23/2010, 09:04 AM	#2
sdc19982002 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wills Point,Texas Posts: 925	I remove and clean all pumps and skimmer every 6 months,or sooner if needed

02/23/2010, 09:49 AM	#4
orion1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 54	I pull my powerheads every 3 months, my main return pump 6 months and I clean out the skimmer every 3 months or sooner if the neck is getting too nasty so far so good

02/23/2010, 09:55 AM	#5
sage_commander Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 646	I used to have a coralife ss65 (hated it). The reaction chamber started to have stuff "growing" in it. I can't imagine that would help the efficiency, but I didn't see any way to get to that part of the skimmer. Also I had to pull it every couple of weeks and clean out the venturi tube, which would get clogged with salt. If you see the unit slowing down in terms of foam production, that's the first thing I would check.

02/23/2010, 11:38 AM	#7
sfilipowski Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 174	thanks everyone sounds like I need to get busy, I always clean the neck and the cup wipe it out good but have yet to clean it all, I'm sure its overdue and thats why foam production has gone down.

02/23/2010, 11:42 AM	#8
sfilipowski Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 174	sorry about the A word, but the other day some were calling thier purple psuedochromis a lot worse than that I know cause i have one and he is a real