cleaning of the skimmer

[WarOrks15]

ok so i have been cleaning my skimmer about once a month but i do not know if i have been doing it the best way. all the brown/green stuff i wipe out with a rag and then clean all the pips and stuff. i try to get it as new as i can. am i doing more harm then good? do i want all of the slim building up on the wall?

[reefrunner69]

I do mine twice or 3 times per year

[WarOrks15]

but then do you make it look just like new? takeing out all of the sluge that has stayed there.

[reefrunner69]

Yes, I actually soak it in a bleach and water solution, then rinse it and soak it in a vinegar and water solution, then rinse it again and put it back into use

[MrWrasse]

I have prism skimmer and I clean it once a week. Since I take it off to dump the crud I figure why not rinse all of it. My theory behind was that the crud collects in the chamber, and I was thinking some of it might get back into the water. Should I not clean the chamber so often? Its seems as soon as I clean it I get alot more junk out quicker. Is this just a coincidence? Am I actually hindering my skimmers abilities to remove the nastys? lol

Scott

[reefrunner69]

I think your seeing the benefits of cleaning the skimmer cup more than anything, I don't think there is any harm in dumping the crud, but I wouldn't "clean" the skimmer body, it's not that it does anything bad, it simply means a small break in period each time you do it. If it works for you...keep doing it

[WarOrks15]

i jut take out all of the thick crud. i do not clean the part that sit in water al all times. only the part that is above the water surface.