Clean your skimmer pump lately??

[rmalone]

Holy crap I am shocked! It seemed like my ATB medium cone just wasn't really skimming like it used to, I really didn't think much of it because it still skimmed pretty well and my parameters have been excellent. So today I yanked the pump out and let it run, with air, in a bucket of vinegar/ro for about 45min. What a difference, I feel a little ashamed that I let it go that long. I clean the cup on a regular basis but hadn't dealt with the pump for far too long. Next stop will be the return pump, I am sure flow has slowed on that also. Again it hasn't caused any troubles but....

The only point to this thread is this, if your skimmer just doesn't seem to be what it used to be let that pump run in a bucket of vinegar water for awhile, you might be surprised.

[Rabidgoose]

How long has it been since you cleaned it? Yeah, I try to clean the RD every 2-3 months but it is an easy task for me to forget and it does make a difference.....Throw up a couple pictures of the ATB with some nog in it....I like the skimmer pics......:big_grin:

[rmalone]

Your a nasty man lol, sure let it get some nog and I'll shoot some pics out, just cleaned today. UMMM, well it's been about 9 months, and I didn't just admit to that did I?

[ReeferRob]

Not just that, but did you notice a temp decline in the tank? I use temp as a partial indicating tool on when to clean both return and skimmer pumps. I try to do it every other month.

[shovelhead91701]

Funny you should bring this subject up cause I am in the process of cleaning( errrrrr....replacing) my pump right now. when you set one up for a few years then pull it back out of storage into service maybe next time I should take it apart and clean it up better? Mine shelled three nights ago. I was under the stairs checking thing in the sump and all of a sudden it started making really bad noise and finally whammo....... no bubbly in the skimmer at all. too far gone to rebuild even looks like it got scored up really badly from calcium deposits or something. Oh well, you live and learn, but it usually costs me every time.....

[rmalone]

OH NO, temp is no good as an indicator for me, the last 4 days my tank has been in an ambient temp of about 96-98deg F. Its at my greenhouse so just add 5-10deg F to outside temps. I have a chiller and thankfully it has done an excellent job of handling the situation. I stuck my arm in the tank today and I thought it was my beer cooler, coldest spot in the place.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Thanks for the reminder rmalone. A clean pump certainly makes a difference on skimmate production. I'd like to add that keeping the inside of the skimmer body algae and coralline free helps maintain maximum performance too.

Tom

[adalius]

Man I haven't cleaned my skimmer in... oh boy... 4 years?

Oh, that's right, I haven't had one in that long ;D

[Frank143]

I just cleaned my skimmer pump the other day and it made a huge difference. I regularly clean my return pump, but the skimmer pump usually gets ignored.