how often do you clean the pump on your skimmer?

ryshark · 01/18/2010, 12:18 PM

How often do you clean the pump on your skimmer?

FirstContact · 01/18/2010, 01:36 PM

Every 4-6 months...

Sisterlimonpot · 01/18/2010, 01:47 PM

I do it every 4 months. sometims it needs it and other times it could've gone longer.

ryshark · 01/18/2010, 01:51 PM

For those of you using vinegar to clean the pump, what is the ratio of vinegar to water you use?

cet98 · 01/18/2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryshark

For those of you using vinegar to clean the pump, what is the ratio of vinegar to water you use?

50/50 (sorry, 1:1 ratio

) works for me

jason2459 · 01/18/2010, 04:22 PM

Interesting this poll came up, I brought this up in another thread. Recently I've had to clean my skimmer's pump twice in the past month and once the previous month because of performance loss. The mesh wheel was getting gunked up to much. My beautiful patches of turf algae have been dieing off and seem to be affecting things like that.

Anyone else have more maintenance issues with their mesh wheels compared to having a needle/pin wheel?

FirstContact · 01/19/2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryshark

For those of you using vinegar to clean the pump, what is the ratio of vinegar to water you use?

I use about a 2:3 vinegar to water ratio in a 5g IO bucket. I soak just about everything over a few days. Pumps and needle wheels are the one things I do not soak. I just brush them clean with either the same solution or hot water and wipe them down.

Pipe cleaners, paper towels, and rags help a lot. I always forget to look for cylindrical brushes at the dollar store.

five O · 01/19/2010, 05:09 PM

Every 2-3 months in a nice vinegar soak, then I it scrub with an old toothbrush to really get that impeller clean

arredondojason · 01/19/2010, 05:13 PM

I am running a mag 18 on my skimmer so it is a beast and dosent need to be cleaned as often.

slipknot23 · 01/19/2010, 06:29 PM

Every 2-3 months

felix morales · 01/19/2010, 06:35 PM

6 months

arrowheadpuffer · 01/19/2010, 07:32 PM

Every two months I need to at least clean the venturi on the CSS 220, ran in sump. Dumb thing gets clogged with salt, does this happen on other skimmers often?

View Poll Results: How often do you clean the pump on your skimmer?
monthly	1	1.49%
2-3 months	12	17.91%
4-6 months	24	35.82%
7-8 months	4	5.97%
9-11 month	1	1.49%
once a year	16	23.88%
longer than a year	9	13.43%
Voters: 67. You may not vote on this poll

01/18/2010, 12:18 PM	#1
ryshark Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 2,169	how often do you clean the pump on your skimmer? How often do you clean the pump on your skimmer?

01/18/2010, 01:36 PM	#2
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	Every 4-6 months... __________________ No man is an island entire of itself; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne Current Tank Info: 120g Reef 100g Rubbermaid Sump, 20g Refugium; previous tank: 46g Drilled; Self Plumbed, Birds Nest, Anchor, Xenia, Zoas, Yuma Yuma Ricordea, Chalice, Mushrooms, Brain, Acan, Anenome Plate; Clams, Other Inverts, Fish, Live Rock

01/18/2010, 01:47 PM	#3
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	I do it every 4 months. sometims it needs it and other times it could've gone longer. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

01/18/2010, 04:22 PM	#6
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Interesting this poll came up, I brought this up in another thread. Recently I've had to clean my skimmer's pump twice in the past month and once the previous month because of performance loss. The mesh wheel was getting gunked up to much. My beautiful patches of turf algae have been dieing off and seem to be affecting things like that. Anyone else have more maintenance issues with their mesh wheels compared to having a needle/pin wheel? __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

01/18/2010, 01:51 PM	#4
ryshark Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 2,169	For those of you using vinegar to clean the pump, what is the ratio of vinegar to water you use?

01/19/2010, 05:09 PM	#8
five O Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 152	Every 2-3 months in a nice vinegar soak, then I it scrub with an old toothbrush to really get that impeller clean

01/19/2010, 05:13 PM	#9
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	I am running a mag 18 on my skimmer so it is a beast and dosent need to be cleaned as often.

01/19/2010, 06:29 PM	#10
slipknot23 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: new columbia .pa Posts: 283	Every 2-3 months

01/19/2010, 06:35 PM	#11
felix morales Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: bronx n.y Posts: 83	6 months

01/19/2010, 07:32 PM	#12
arrowheadpuffer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CA Posts: 396	Every two months I need to at least clean the venturi on the CSS 220, ran in sump. Dumb thing gets clogged with salt, does this happen on other skimmers often? __________________ -arrowhead Current Tank Info: 90g