Should I be cleaning my protein Skimmer?

Newbie alert :)
I've searched the forums and can't find the answer.
Should I empty my protein skimmer when it fills with foam?
It has what looks like an over-flow tube, but the foam appears to just sit in the cylinder.
Any help would be much appreciated.
 

eugenecjr

Member
It depends on the type of skimmer you have. Some of the larger ones will have an over flow. If you do not have one then you will just have to clean it when it gets full of fluid. You do not have to worry about the foam, the foam is going to settle into the liquid. The foam is what carries the goodies into the skimmer. Let me know if you have any additional questions.
 
So just to be completely clear...
My protein skimmer (don't know the name brand) does have an over-flow tube that runs into a recepticle that can be emptied. With this setup, I am good to go?
Currently there is foam inside of the top of the skimmer, but there is no liquid at the bottom of the cylinder. I am getting from the last post that this area will eventually fill up with liquid from the foam and then drain out. Am I understanding?
 

eugenecjr

Member
You are correct. The foam will turn into water so to speak. I would take the time to clean the collection cup every now and then and as far as the method of collection. It really depends on how much space you have, but a gallon jug seems to work fine most of the time. I have a 3 gallon bucket on my 150 gallon aquarium.
 

ophiura

Active Member
I disagree. All skimmers should be cleaned, even if they have an overflow hose. The whole concept of an 'over flow' is if you don't have time to clean it and it needs a place to go. But the dirtier a skimmer gets, the less effective it becomes over time. So, IMO, it should be cleaned, and I have often suggested people tie the overflow off so that they remember they have to clean it! This doesn't work for everyone though :D
 

kpogue

Member
AGREED - You should clean your skimmer cup on a regular basis. I have a seaclone 100 and a Kent Naut. - I clean the cup on the seaclone once a week and on the kent every other week. AND I do a complete cleaning of the entire skimmer every other month whether they need it or not. Usually they do!
 

eugenecjr

Member
Just to make sure that you guys understand what I was saying. I do agree with cleaning the skimmer. I just think that if he is new to the skimming process that he may be jumping the gun. Everything that you guys have said is correct. It needs to be cleaned because the extra buildup will cause the system to not work correctly.
 
Does anyone see a problem with cleaning the cylinder every couple of days? Would this help, harm, or do nothing?
Also, when talking about cleaning, is only the cylinder of interest, or should the entire apparatus be cleaned also?
 

scotts

Active Member
LP,
Not sure what type of skimmer you have, but let me tell you about mine. Mine has a cup at the top, actually a rectangle but that is beside the point. The foam will go up to the top of the cup. Then as more foam gets up there the bubbles start to break and for the nice liquid that settles in the cup. It is amazing to think that stuff came out of clear water. :eek: When the cup gets partially full I empty it. Then there is a slime that is in the cup. I get out as much as I can and also get the slime out of the tube that is in the cup. I just wipe it out with my finger, under water of course. Then put the cup back onto the skimmer. As stated above, about every 2 months I take the skimmer and power head apart and give it as good of a cleaning as I can. There are places I can't reach.
Hope this helps, welcome to the board.
Scott
 

aileena

Member
I clean my collection cup once every two weeks and I take the skimmer off the tank and clean the whole thing with a toothbrush about everyother month.
 

timo

Member
It gives me great satisfaction to easily remove and dump a green puddle everyday, just to keep a daily check on what comes out and to justify the expense of it!
Oh yea, I run my fingers over the plastic to wipe off stuck on stuff, just like Scotts.
 
J

jpucci1

Guest
i clean mine daily to every other day. I like it nice and clean. It seems to catch better as everyone as already said. If you use hot water to clean it, you hardly have to touch the Yukky stuff.
:cool:
 
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