Does anybody make an automatic cleaning skimmer

Mark Bianco · 10/28/2012, 03:21 PM

Here is my problem.

I am away for my job and only home every other weekend. My son comes over everyday to feed but will not clean the skimmer. He says I could not pay him enough!

I have seen some skimmers with a water spray or wipers, but doesn"t that just knock down the skimate back into the skimmer chamber? I currently use a EV240 and what I see after about two to three days it is just not functioning anymore due to the amount of skimate in the chamber...

Thanks in advance
Mark

beachbreak · 10/28/2012, 03:39 PM

Once you get a neck cleaner you'll never see how you lived without it. Probably the single most useful item I've ever put on my tank.

I got mine from Avast marine. I use the "swabbie" and the "Davey Jones locker" and with these two I don't have to clean my skimmer for 2-3 weeks. I do have to empty the "locker" every week or so but it makes life a LOT easier.

No, it doesn't just knock the skimmate back into the chamber; it never has a chance to form. You use a controller to run the neck cleaner every 4 hours so no sludge builds up on the neck. Sludge does accumulate in the inside top of the lid and on the cleaner itself but it doesn't effect the skimmers performance.

Mark Bianco · 10/28/2012, 03:59 PM

Very cool! Thanks for the information... I hope they make one that will fit my skimmer This is a must have for me.

brettinteriors · 10/28/2012, 04:18 PM

Huh, that is something. I have always wanted the reef octo cleaner for my skimmer but it was to high to fit under my tank. This may work.

DHyslop · 10/28/2012, 05:53 PM

I don't know if the Reef Octopus wiper will fit on an AquaC skimmer, but Avast sells a retrofit kit. You basically drill a hole in your existing skimmer's lid and use acrylic cement to attach the motor unit with the wiper shaft coming down through the hole you made.

They have an extra long shaft and double wiper for AquaC skimmers (cone skimmers usually only need one wiper on the neck), but you'll want to measure everything to make sure their parts are big enough.

madean · 10/28/2012, 06:58 PM

like a previous poster said, avast marine sells the swabbie and davey jones locker for their skimmer. You should contact avast and tell them which skimmer you have. If memory serves me right, on their website is a list of skimmers that their swabbies will fit on. Im sure they can make one for you as well. But as far as getting the skimmate out of the collection cup the davey jones locker is there for that. A hole needs to be added, if one is not present, to your collection cup that is below the lid. Then a hose needs to be attached to the collection cup and then to the davey jones locker or another container of some type. This is done by gravity so the container inlet needs to be lower than the skimmer collection cup in order to work. Also the container needs to be large enough to handle more than a week or two worth of skimmate if thats how long you plan on emtying it.

Ok on to some bells and whistles. If you put this container in your sump than this does not apply. If you put this extra container, davey jones locker or other, outside the sump than its a good idea to have some way to shut off the skimmer pump. A simple float switch in the container is a great way to help prevent water spillage from an overactive skimmer. You can use a controller and accomplish this or just use the float circuit in series with the skimmer pump. Either way redundency is a good thing and planning for the worst is a good idea.

Either way good luck with your problem and show what you did so others may learn from you.

Mark Bianco · 10/28/2012, 09:35 PM

Thanks to all. I did go to their website and Aqua C skimmers were not listed. I did send them an email and request any infor they have. So hopfully that problem will be taken care of. Since the sump is in the basement in its own room I just use a 5gl bucket for overflow, but I do have a couple of extra inputs on the Apex and a spare float just in case.

38bill · 10/29/2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Bianco

Thanks to all. I did go to their website and Aqua C skimmers were not listed. I did send them an email and request any infor they have. So hopfully that problem will be taken care of. Since the sump is in the basement in its own room I just use a 5gl bucket for overflow, but I do have a couple of extra inputs on the Apex and a spare float just in case.

Avast is great. They will retro fit your existing skimmer top or supply you with a new one.

You really need to have a shut off float switch hooked up on the remote skimmer bucket. If the skimmer goes nuts and starts to overflow it could drain down your tank. You may want to pick up a carbon air filter too as that bucket is going to stink!

beachbreak · 10/29/2012, 10:16 AM

If you go with Avast and the davey jones locker it will have an outlet you plug your skimmer in to. This in turn will be connected to a suction valve in the locker which when activated will turn off the skimmer. This valve has saved me from a nasty mess on more than one occasion.

It also has a built in carbon air filter too. Nice piece of equipment.

10/28/2012, 03:21 PM	#1
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	Does anybody make an automatic cleaning skimmer Here is my problem. I am away for my job and only home every other weekend. My son comes over everyday to feed but will not clean the skimmer. He says I could not pay him enough! I have seen some skimmers with a water spray or wipers, but doesn"t that just knock down the skimate back into the skimmer chamber? I currently use a EV240 and what I see after about two to three days it is just not functioning anymore due to the amount of skimate in the chamber... Thanks in advance Mark

10/28/2012, 04:18 PM	#4
brettinteriors Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tucson Posts: 1,106	Huh, that is something. I have always wanted the reef octo cleaner for my skimmer but it was to high to fit under my tank. This may work. __________________ Tucson Reefaholics anonymous meetings are every Friday 6pm behind Gary's fishorama 140 gallon half round mixed reef, 28 gallon Cardiff.

10/28/2012, 03:39 PM	#2
beachbreak Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: TX Posts: 284	Once you get a neck cleaner you'll never see how you lived without it. Probably the single most useful item I've ever put on my tank. I got mine from Avast marine. I use the "swabbie" and the "Davey Jones locker" and with these two I don't have to clean my skimmer for 2-3 weeks. I do have to empty the "locker" every week or so but it makes life a LOT easier. No, it doesn't just knock the skimmate back into the chamber; it never has a chance to form. You use a controller to run the neck cleaner every 4 hours so no sludge builds up on the neck. Sludge does accumulate in the inside top of the lid and on the cleaner itself but it doesn't effect the skimmers performance.

10/28/2012, 03:59 PM	#3
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	Very cool! Thanks for the information... I hope they make one that will fit my skimmer This is a must have for me.

10/28/2012, 05:53 PM	#5
DHyslop Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,085	I don't know if the Reef Octopus wiper will fit on an AquaC skimmer, but Avast sells a retrofit kit. You basically drill a hole in your existing skimmer's lid and use acrylic cement to attach the motor unit with the wiper shaft coming down through the hole you made. They have an extra long shaft and double wiper for AquaC skimmers (cone skimmers usually only need one wiper on the neck), but you'll want to measure everything to make sure their parts are big enough.

10/28/2012, 06:58 PM	#6
madean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 994	like a previous poster said, avast marine sells the swabbie and davey jones locker for their skimmer. You should contact avast and tell them which skimmer you have. If memory serves me right, on their website is a list of skimmers that their swabbies will fit on. Im sure they can make one for you as well. But as far as getting the skimmate out of the collection cup the davey jones locker is there for that. A hole needs to be added, if one is not present, to your collection cup that is below the lid. Then a hose needs to be attached to the collection cup and then to the davey jones locker or another container of some type. This is done by gravity so the container inlet needs to be lower than the skimmer collection cup in order to work. Also the container needs to be large enough to handle more than a week or two worth of skimmate if thats how long you plan on emtying it. Ok on to some bells and whistles. If you put this container in your sump than this does not apply. If you put this extra container, davey jones locker or other, outside the sump than its a good idea to have some way to shut off the skimmer pump. A simple float switch in the container is a great way to help prevent water spillage from an overactive skimmer. You can use a controller and accomplish this or just use the float circuit in series with the skimmer pump. Either way redundency is a good thing and planning for the worst is a good idea. Either way good luck with your problem and show what you did so others may learn from you.

10/28/2012, 09:35 PM	#7
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	Thanks to all. I did go to their website and Aqua C skimmers were not listed. I did send them an email and request any infor they have. So hopfully that problem will be taken care of. Since the sump is in the basement in its own room I just use a 5gl bucket for overflow, but I do have a couple of extra inputs on the Apex and a spare float just in case.

10/29/2012, 10:16 AM	#9
beachbreak Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: TX Posts: 284	If you go with Avast and the davey jones locker it will have an outlet you plug your skimmer in to. This in turn will be connected to a suction valve in the locker which when activated will turn off the skimmer. This valve has saved me from a nasty mess on more than one occasion. It also has a built in carbon air filter too. Nice piece of equipment.