How often U clear the skimmer collection cup?

[zephyros]

Hi,

Just like to share some observation.

I'm using HnS skimmer, and does not re-direct waste to another

collection cup.

I observed that if the skimmate collected is X in 2 days, it will

not become 2X in 4days. That is to say, the perfomance of the skimmer is

not proportional to the time it runs.

Howerver, using the above eg, if I clear the cup on the 2nd day, I am still

able to get X skimmate in day 4.

Hence, I think it is important to find the day that u shld clean/clear the cup

to optimise the performance of ur skimmer.

I've spoken to several fellow HnS users and we find that clearing the cup

every 2-3 days had the best effect for HnS skimmer.

Not sure abt other brand of skimmer. Maybe fellow reefers would like to share.

This is not a thread of which skimmer is better than which skimmer ok

so pls keep to the topic

cheers

[weileong]

The neck would get dirty after few days and skimming efficiency will be affected.

If you tune the skimmate slightly more wet that will help to prevent this problem.

[zephyros]

yup, HnS cup is part of the neck. hence, had to clean both at the

same time

[weileong]

I also facing the same problem but mine only happens after 4-5days as I tune my skimmer to skim more wet. Not going for mud type of skimmate but just dark brown tea only.

Maybe in-future when I got the money, I get a bigger deltec skimmer with the self-cleaning head so the maintenance interval can be extended to 2weeks or longer.

[zephyros]

self cleaning head??? den when "self cleaning" where did all the waste

go to .. interesting feature ... must go readup more

[VILLAIN]

Sorry guys, can I ask a suaku question pls? I got myself a H&S but haven't set up yet and didn't really give it a thought until I came across this thread....

When cleaning the cup do we have to off the power? I think should be yes right? If not maybe will overflow? My concern is if turning it on & off every 2 days dunno will shorten the pump life or not. Thanks.

[zephyros]

external or internal? for me, i close the g-clamp so no air goes in

and thus the water lvl drop to below the neck, den remove cup.

hence dun need to off power

[FuEl]

Omg..I'm the only diligent one who cleans the cup everyday. Maybe I got an addiction towards skimmate. If I clean daily....I get X amount of skimmate to clear daily. If I clean every 2 days, I get less than 2X amount of skimmate to clear. That's why I clean daily.

[zephyros]

wow ... bros ur skimmer wat huh?

after cleaning, it takes abt 2 days for my skimmer to get the dark

copi mud/water again leh ... so i dun find the need to clean everyday.

oso, notice that after cleaning, the foam do not reach the top of the cup

immediately, it takes abt 1 hr for it to "re-kick" in again.

[FuEl]

Mine after cleaning works already. Within minutes you see the foam rising to the top again. Mine's a weipro 2012.

[zephyros]

steady

actually use to clean alternate days ... but abit lazy that's y change

to 2 times a week.

[Ah-lim]

Me every 2 days.

I placed a tooth brush beside the skimmer, every time juz take the brush, 1 round ard the cup can liao...

1 min job, including rinsing the brush.

I find that it improve the performance.

[newmarine]

am using a aquamedic shorty, clean only once a month.. looking at the thread and how often u guys clean it make me paiseh..

Bro Ah-Lim, you only use the brush to clean the neck of the cup?

[raymus]

once a week for me. using tooth brush and warm water

[tunicate]

I use a milk bottle brush on my Weipro collection cup. (. . . and no, there're no babies in my family who's sharing this brush )

I will trim the bristle down a little so that it fits the neck just nicely for that weekly task.