Skimmers - How often do you clean them?

[emerald crab]

Originally Posted by Enigma

I should note that my collection drains into a separate container. Hence my laziness when it comes to cleaning it.

With that setup you're looking for trouble. Think about skimmer going crazy, overflowing. That's scary.

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by emerald crab

With that setup you're looking for trouble. Think about skimmer going crazy, overflowing. That's scary.

When the height of the fluid in the collection container (a four litre milk jug) gets to a certain point (about an inch below the opening) the flow stops from the skimmer cup and the skimmer cup overflows into the sump.

I have no idea what aligned so perfectly to allow this to happen. I didn't plan it, and I couldn't ever repeat it if I tried.

[fishytime]

the cup and neck should be cleaned more often then once a month....the crud that collects in the neck cause the bubbles to burst prematurely, making the skimmer less effective....a clean skimmer skims better.....

I have my skimmer set so that it needs to be cleaned every three days or so(whether I like or not).....the pump and skimmer body get cleaned once or twice a year....

[monocus]

once a week

[MKLKT]

2-3 days, full clean of the neck/cup.

[ZOOCRAZY]

i clean mine about once every week. (Collection cup) but i could do it more often thats for sure.

[Aquattro]

once a week. As Doug stated, a clean skimmer skims better than a dirty one.