Protien skimmer cleaning...

[ReefFan]

Sorry for the abuse of the emergency tag. Im just in the middle of dismantling and cleaning my large downdraft style skimmer. I took the pump apart too and soaked/cleaned that impeller parts with vinigar.

Now after cleaning out the collection cup and riser tube, im with the downdraft tube, bottom box and inner plumbing in my bathtub. Theres some crud in there but I was wondering can i just take some straight up shower water, maybe some hot water to the whole darn thing? Bio balls and all?

There is something thats been making this skimmer work less n less as the months have gone by. Yesterday it got to the point where it was plain water and no bubbles in the reaction chamber. And this was after I cleaned the airinlet with boiling RO water. So i broke the whole thing down, pump inerds were a lil scummy but thats all been dissolved and spic n span.

Im just trying to find the problem in the inside of the skimmer. The bio balls get dirty? pipes down there get clogged? im just gonna flush it all out and reconnect 'er.

If anyone has any other ideas about this inefficient micro bubble production please let me know. Thanks MR!

-Jay

 

[greg 45]

If this is a ETSS they recomend new bio balls every 6 months.
I also think pumps get weak as time goes by.
My blue line pumps seem to get weak.
I ordered a Iwaki this time around.
Hope this helps.

 

[NYreefNoob]

+1 on the bioballs, you can also run reg water with vinegar through it to clean some of the calcium deposits, also which model and what pump are you using

 

[ReefFan]

awesome guys thanks. What about mini-bioballs? I had them mixed in with my LArge ones and it seems to increase the contact surface area. I have fresh never used, clean mini bioballs. But even so not enough to fill the bio ball tower. So Ill 86 the old balls and add brand new minis and some dry regular sized balls that honestly arnt spotlessly clean. I could throw a bunch in the washing machine though. MAybe clean off what ever died up sediment thats on them?

I think it was the pump. The slime and grime that was cleaned out of there couldve been enough to decrease the power of the pump. Without a strong pump it couldnt pull enough air in with it.

With everything clean and new bio balls, im hoping to see a noticeable difference. Then again anything would be an improvement lol. PRior to breaking it down to day there was nothing but clear water and some large bubbles in the reaction chamber.

back to it, thanks guys..

 

[ReefFan]

OMG what a frikkin difference. Brand new clean bio balls in the tower and the 6 month cleaning on sump and skimmer/pump = ultrafine bubbles skimming like crazy. I cant believe the difference. I highly recommend putting any large SKimmer in the bathtub and nuking it with scalding-ass water from a remote shower head. The vinager treatment on pump parts is also no joke.

I wll definetly be doing this every 6 months.

Also, I did a large water change, removing sump-water only. I basically took all the LR i had in there and put it in a large can with a liner. Pumped about 30 gallons of water off the surface of my MT, to keep the rock submerged and then got rid of the remaining water in the sump. I used a Rio 2500 to blast the sediment off the sump floor while another 2500 pumped the water-bourne crud into the washing machine lol. Where it got pumped outside.

I got all but a cup of narsty sediment-water out of my sump before it was gradually replaced with the rock's holding tank water and about 20 gallons of RO/DI + TM Pro Reef. The difference already is amazing.

And the skimmer is truley a madman again. All that work paid off ) now its after 4am, glad i dont have work tomorrow.

 

[ReefFan]

my back is history though.

 

[artie1209]

Cleaning the bio balls in a bleach solution will remove the built up Bio film. Make sure your air intake is clean as well can be prone to to salt creep and/or calcium buildup. Muriatic acid works much better than vinegar, be careful not to breath in the fumes. Also be careful of putting any acrylic assembled parts in extreme temperatures ... different materials change temp at different rates and you can pop a seam. An overall cleaning as per ReefFan is also a great suggestion.

 

[ReefFan]

Cleaning the bio balls in a bleach solution will remove the built up Bio film. Make sure your air intake is clean as well can be prone to to salt creep and/or calcium buildup. Muriatic acid works much better than vinegar, be careful not to breath in the fumes. Also be careful of putting any acrylic assembled parts in extreme temperatures ... different materials change temp at different rates and you can pop a seam. An overall cleaning as per ReefFan is also a great suggestion.

Thanks for the heads up, I hadnt considered the acrylic/temperature factor. That skimmers been through alot before I got it, many repairs done but still cranks with no leaks. Didnt realize til now how important super clean bio balls were. If there were a way to prefilter the skimmers intake without decreasing its output that would probably help keep the balls cleaner for longer. But i suspect a thin layer of slime might accumulate over time no matter what. After all its organic laden water that has to pass through them in order to extract skimmate.

Ill get myself some of that muriatic acid though. I see how beneficial it is to keep impellers and housings slime free. I got alot more production out of my Mags and powerheads after the bath as well. This whole reefkeeping biz seems to be msotly about staying on a dedicated schudule for things so When i get a chance Ill make up a weekly/monthly/yearly maintenance program. ITs pretty much essential.

 

[ReefFan]

Good choice, i hear good things. Ill also be getting an Iwaki for the 240 if I ever get it polished. I bought a brand new Coralife high pressure pump for the skimmer about 3 months ago. The LFS promised they make a good pump and I should be ok for 2 years+. But the big difference was cleaning out the impeller and housing. Over just those 3 months i was suprised to find the slimey film on everything in there.

If this is a ETSS they recomend new bio balls every 6 months.
I also think pumps get weak as time goes by.
My blue line pumps seem to get weak.
I ordered a Iwaki this time around.
Hope this helps.

 

[cmor1701d]

Read and heed the warnings on the muriatic acid. I haven't found a part that an overnight soak in white vinegar and some elbow grease dosen't work on.
Keep up that cleaning regimen and you won't be sorry. Glad my skimmer doesn't rely on bioballs, but I do need to clear out the air intake every couple of months from buildup.

 

[NYreefNoob]

agreed, on the acid, just use vinegar

 

[ReefFan]

K, why risk it if theres no need. Vinegar is cheap, effective and readily available by the gallon. As a tasteless side note lol.. looking at the stuff the vinegar dissolves i now have a better understanding of how n why "Massengill vinegar and water" is so useful. ..Always wondered about that as a kid.