Cleaning Protein Skimmer

EasyEd77 · 07/10/2014, 07:41 AM

Good morning fellow reefers. My aquarium has been up and running for over 3 years now and I have never removed and completely cleaned my protein skimmer. I clean the neck and empty the skimate regularly, but I never thoroughly clean out the whole unit.

What do you do if anything at all? If you do clean it out, how often do you do it and what is your process?

kope1078 · 07/10/2014, 07:49 AM

In the four years I've had my swc 160 I've only cleaned the cup and neck also. Runs like the day I got it.

Lincutis · 07/10/2014, 07:51 AM

A couple of times a year. Give it a vinegar soak for a day or so, spray it out with a hose of use a small brush and rinse with R.O. Thanks for the post, I think it is time for another cleaning. LOL

Sugar Magnolia · 07/10/2014, 07:57 AM

Yes. I clean mine 2x/yr. Mine's an HOB skimmer with the pump inside the tank. I remove it and soak the body and pump in vinegar overnight then rinse really well. I also take the pump apart and clean the impeller and shaft.

kope1078 · 07/10/2014, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

Yes. I clean mine 2x/yr. Mine's an HOB skimmer with the pump inside the tank. I remove it and soak the body and pump in vinegar overnight then rinse really well. I also take the pump apart and clean the impeller and shaft.

Does soaking it in vinegar cause your skimmer to go thru a break in period again? I had serious microbubbles on mine for first week and a HF breaking it in. Would hate to ho thru that again

milto29 · 07/10/2014, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kope1078

Does soaking it in vinegar cause your skimmer to go thru a break in period again? I had serious microbubbles on mine for first week and a HF breaking it in. Would hate to ho thru that again

Yes that is correct. Every time you thoroughly clean a Protein Skimmer. You would have to wait until it breaks in again. I usually only clean the cup and pump. I never clean the inside of the body.

kope1078 · 07/10/2014, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milto29

Yes that is correct. Every time you thoroughly clean a Protein Skimmer. You would have to wait until it breaks in again. I usually only clean the cup and pump. I never clean the inside of the body.

If he were to remove the pump and soak it in vinegar by itself would that still cause a breakin period?

firemountain · 07/10/2014, 08:33 AM

Tagging along....I am interested as well.

milto29 · 07/10/2014, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kope1078

If he were to remove the pump and soak it in vinegar by itself would that still cause a breakin period?

I have never used Vinegar in none of my tanks. I just take it apart and start cleaning it with a brush. And every time I do clean my skimmer, I have to wait a couple of days until its ready to get some good skimmate. Sometimes they will produce micro bubbles while it’s in its break in period.

gcarroll · 07/10/2014, 08:53 AM

Any break-in will be much less time than when new due to the absence of manufactuing residue found on new skimmers. I typically just used a high pressure hose and brush to clean mine but vinegar will work better overall.

EasyEd77 · 07/10/2014, 09:28 AM

Thanks for the input everyone, I was thinking a vinegar soak would be the best option as well.

07/10/2014, 07:41 AM	#1
EasyEd77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Ramon Posts: 437	Cleaning Protein Skimmer Good morning fellow reefers. My aquarium has been up and running for over 3 years now and I have never removed and completely cleaned my protein skimmer. I clean the neck and empty the skimate regularly, but I never thoroughly clean out the whole unit. What do you do if anything at all? If you do clean it out, how often do you do it and what is your process? __________________ 75 gallon AGA with Lifereef compact refugium 2 sump, 2 T5 HO w/individual reflector and 2 175 watt MH canopy retrofit kit, GEO 612 calcium reactor with masterflex, and litermeter 3 water exchange system.

07/10/2014, 07:51 AM	#3
Lincutis Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Columbus Posts: 1,911	A couple of times a year. Give it a vinegar soak for a day or so, spray it out with a hose of use a small brush and rinse with R.O. Thanks for the post, I think it is time for another cleaning. LOL __________________ Lindsey ( That's Mr. Smith to you ) . Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder with 20 gallon sump./Apex, AI Sol Blue, In Sump Skimmer, Geo Calcium Reactor, WP-25 Wave Pump, Tunze Nano ATO, Carbon/GFO Reactors

07/10/2014, 07:57 AM	#4
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Yes. I clean mine 2x/yr. Mine's an HOB skimmer with the pump inside the tank. I remove it and soak the body and pump in vinegar overnight then rinse really well. I also take the pump apart and clean the impeller and shaft. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

07/10/2014, 08:53 AM	#10
gcarroll Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 9,666	Any break-in will be much less time than when new due to the absence of manufactuing residue found on new skimmers. I typically just used a high pressure hose and brush to clean mine but vinegar will work better overall. __________________ Greg Carroll I will be at REEF-A-PALOOZA! SPS = Stability Promotes Success Be wary of advice coming from those who will not show you the fruits of their success! Current Tank Info: building: 250g AGE Euro tank, Abyzz A200, Vertex Supra-G filtration, Ecotech Radion Pro LEDs, ...

07/10/2014, 09:28 AM	#11
EasyEd77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Ramon Posts: 437	Thanks for the input everyone, I was thinking a vinegar soak would be the best option as well. __________________ 75 gallon AGA with Lifereef compact refugium 2 sump, 2 T5 HO w/individual reflector and 2 175 watt MH canopy retrofit kit, GEO 612 calcium reactor with masterflex, and litermeter 3 water exchange system.

07/10/2014, 07:49 AM	#2
kope1078 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sylvania, Ohio Posts: 64	In the four years I've had my swc 160 I've only cleaned the cup and neck also. Runs like the day I got it.

07/10/2014, 08:33 AM	#8
firemountain Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 1,033	Tagging along....I am interested as well.