Is my skimmer too dirty?

bmackcw · 01/24/2015, 12:18 PM

I'm about three months in. Reed tank stocked and happy. pH is just under 8, but I'm working in that. My skimmer has gone from spotted green algae to a solid blackish goo. I haven't ever tried to clean it out. Wondering if I shoukd. It's only at the top.

Advice please! And thanks!

Sk8r · 01/24/2015, 12:25 PM

Your skimmer will work better if you keep neck and throat clean, but if it is producing black skimmate it's doing a pretty good job as is. I clean mine about every 3 weeks.

rfgonzo · 01/24/2015, 01:41 PM

3 months is a long time to go without cleaning, I clean mine once a week and clean air inlet. Then every 6 months I will take the skimmer apart and clean the whole thing.

gone fishin · 01/24/2015, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfgonzo

3 months is a long time to go without cleaning, I clean mine once a week and clean air inlet. Then every 6 months I will take the skimmer apart and clean the whole thing.

That mirrors my schedule as well.

lllesley · 01/24/2015, 02:46 PM

I clean head and neck (top section) every 2-3 days, but I don't seem to get that sludge build up lower down where the bubbles EG. below the top blue line in his photo, only the top half of the neck. Is something wrong with my skimmer ?

hogfanreefer · 01/24/2015, 03:20 PM

Do you have a refugium/light under the stand? If you can keep the light from spilling into the skimmer chamber it would help. It's weird but I actually have coralline growing on the wall of the skimmer chamber but never any on the skimmer itself.

rfgonzo · 01/24/2015, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lllesley

I clean head and neck (top section) every 2-3 days, but I don't seem to get that sludge build up lower down where the bubbles EG. below the top blue line in his photo, only the top half of the neck. Is something wrong with my skimmer ?

More than likely because you keep yours clean you won't get that lower buildup. If you're pulling out nasty stuff then your skimmers working fine, if not than something's not working properly.

lllesley · 01/24/2015, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfgonzo

More than likely because you keep yours clean you won't get that lower buildup. If you're pulling out nasty stuff then your skimmers working fine, if not than something's not working properly.

yes it pulls out lots of dirty crap but I must just clean it to often, I always thought that a clean neck means better skimming ? Can you confirm this for me.

rfgonzo · 01/24/2015, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lllesley

yes it pulls out lots of dirty crap but I must just clean it to often, I always thought that a clean neck means better skimming ? Can you confirm this for me.

I would agree, that is why I clean my skimmer cup, neck and body every Thursday.

lespaul339 · 01/24/2015, 09:57 PM

I tear down my skimmer and clean it once a month. I do that with my return pump and circulation pumps as well. A clean pump works at its best!

whosurcaddie · 01/24/2015, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lllesley

yes it pulls out lots of dirty crap but I must just clean it to often, I always thought that a clean neck means better skimming ? Can you confirm this for me.

If your water line in the neck of the skimmer is high then you wont get the sludge in the bottom of the neck and you will produce a wet skimmate. Nothing wrong with that though.

01/24/2015, 12:25 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Your skimmer will work better if you keep neck and throat clean, but if it is producing black skimmate it's doing a pretty good job as is. I clean mine about every 3 weeks. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/24/2015, 01:41 PM	#3
rfgonzo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,280	3 months is a long time to go without cleaning, I clean mine once a week and clean air inlet. Then every 6 months I will take the skimmer apart and clean the whole thing. __________________ 210 gal reef, 75 gal Refuge with 55 Gal sump mixed reef 100 gal Reef, 75 gal Refuge with 55 gal sump. SPS/LPS & 100 gal Japanese Dragon Moray eel tank with 40 gal sump 75 gal Brazilian Dragon Mor

01/24/2015, 03:20 PM	#6
hogfanreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 2,117	Do you have a refugium/light under the stand? If you can keep the light from spilling into the skimmer chamber it would help. It's weird but I actually have coralline growing on the wall of the skimmer chamber but never any on the skimmer itself. __________________ DSA 155,Custom Trigger 42" sump/refugium, MP40 X2, MP 10 X 2, AI Hydra 52 X3, Apex controller, Tunze ATO Current Tank Info: DSA 155 gallon, mixed reef, SPS and wrasse dominant

01/24/2015, 02:46 PM	#5
lllesley Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 336	I clean head and neck (top section) every 2-3 days, but I don't seem to get that sludge build up lower down where the bubbles EG. below the top blue line in his photo, only the top half of the neck. Is something wrong with my skimmer ?

01/24/2015, 09:57 PM	#10
lespaul339 Reefer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 903	I tear down my skimmer and clean it once a month. I do that with my return pump and circulation pumps as well. A clean pump works at its best!