Best way to clean/maintain a skimmer

[tony_caliente]

Hi Folks:

I haven't cleaned my skimmer in two years and was wondering the best way to do it.

It's an in-the-sump Euro-Reef. I do have a clean 40 gallon Rubbermaid pail to place it in while cleaning it.

Please tell me what you think, include how much cleaner (e.g. vinegar, if vinegar, what type?) to freshwater and proper rinsing.

Thank you very much and enjoy The Great Thaw

Tony

 

[eric b]

I would put it in a 10% muratic acid solution in that Rubbermaid pail. Let it sit in there for a while and it should be mostly clean and anything still on it will probably wash right off with a garden hose. If going this route always do this outside and also add the acid to the water in the pail. You can get the acid at HD.

 

[dball711]

I have always used a 50/50 vinegar & water for skimmers, pumps...followed by a thorough rinsing in fresh water. I ususlly buy the store brand of vinegar.

 

[tony_caliente]

Thank you both!

 

[heathlindner25]

Eric B;935511 wrote: I would put it in a 10% muratic acid solution in that Rubbermaid pail. Let it sit in there for a while and it should be mostly clean and anything still on it will probably wash right off with a garden hose. If going this route always do this outside and also add the acid to the water in the pail. You can get the acid at HD.

muratic acid sometimes does funny things to certain plastics..... I would use vinegar

 

[markl]

dball711;935516 wrote: i have always used a 50/50 vinegar & water for skimmers, pumps...followed by a thorough rinsing in fresh water. I ususlly buy the store brand of vinegar.

+1

 

[eric b]

heathlindner25;935543 wrote: muratic acid sometimes does funny things to certain plastics..... I would use vinegar

I clean everything in it and have never had anything happen and it removes all calcium deposits and algae quicker than vinegar.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[heathlindner25]

I know it works very well on a lot of things, I also know older tunze impellers will melt when you put them in it.
and I don't know what else it will melt so I usually stick with vinegar.

 

[picoreefguy]

you can also use magiklean by hydor its made to be non corrosive and works very well at removing coraline and other calcium based build up

 

[jdavid]

heathlindner25;935552 wrote: I know it works very well on a lot of things, I also know older tunze impellers will melt when you put them in it.
and I don't know what else it will melt so I usually stick with vinegar.

Also bleach will warp/distort o-rings and gaskets.

Vinegar on equipment. anywhere from 1:10 parts water:vinegar to straight vinegar undiluted

 

[tony_caliente]

Thank you for the ideas.

 

[jdavid]

JDavid;935640 wrote: Also bleach will warp/distort o-rings and gaskets.

Vinegar on equipment. anywhere from 1:10 parts water:vinegar to straight vinegar undiluted

Sorry said that backwards-

Meant to say anywhere from 1:10 parts vinegar:water, not the other way around

 

[giulianom]

JDavid;935707 wrote: Sorry said that backwards-





Meant to say anywhere from 1:10 parts vinegar:water, not the other way around

Is further dilution even necessary?



I used 1-gallon bottles of cheap distilled white vinegar to clean my skimmer.



That stuff is already diluted to about a 3% solution, if I remember correctly.

 

[jdavid]

No it's not necessary for cleaning equipment to dilute. But it's also not necessary to spend $20 to fill up a 5 gal bucket with vinegar.

Typical cleaning solution for around the house is 1:10 but distilled white vinegar straight out of the bottle is fine for cleaning aquarium equipment as well.

I just cleaned a really dirty skimmer. Let it soak in a 5 gal bucket with 1 gal vinegar and the rest fille up with water and it worked well. So it does work fine diluted past 1:1, may require a longer soak.

There was a lot of those little round snails and dried on skimmate. It dissolved all calcium and removed all skimmate within 24 hrs

Edit: So really you're looking at like over $20 just to clean your skimmer without diluting it, and I would say that is not necessary. Also not really important but it's typically 5-8% acetic acid in water according to Wikipedia (was curious)

 

[picoreefguy]

GiulianoM;935716 wrote: Is further dilution even necessary?



I used 1-gallon bottles of cheap distilled white vinegar to clean my skimmer.



That stuff is already diluted to about a 3% solution, if I remember correctly.

i believe vinegar is actually 5% acetic acid. you may be thinking of peroxide which is commonly diluted to 3%

 

[giulianom]

Picoreefguy;935800 wrote: i believe vinegar is actually 5% acetic acid. you may be thinking of peroxide which is commonly diluted to 3%

Close enough.



I would say cutting it 1:1 with water would be fine for filling a bucket...



That's about 2.5%.. 1:5 ratio at 1%... 1:10 would be like 0.5%.

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

I've got a 20 gallon tote. I usually put my skimmer in there, pour 1 gallon of cleaning vinegar in it, and top it off with about 10 gallons of water. Place it in my tub, and turn the skimmer on. Just make sure to cover the collection cup...

I let mine run over night, dump the vinegar/water solution, and fill with freshwater for about 2 hours. Skimmer is squeaky clean without any elbow grease at all...