Cleaning protein skimmer questions

BigBossReefy

BigBossReefy

Member
Hey guys I'm running an SWC 160 cone skimmer. I've had great success with it for the past 4 months but the performance has decreased. I'm thinking its time for a cleaning. I've never had this type of skimmer before and I'm not sure how exactly I should go about cleaning it. I can't find a manual for the skimmer(I bought it used and I can't find one online) so I'm not sure which pieces are supposed to come apart and whatnot. I'm hoping to get some input from someone who is familiar with these skimmers.

I'm planning to dissaemble everything and let it soak in a vinegar bath. I managed to take apart the cone and pump. The pump is completely disassembled. I'm not sure if I need to take apart the tubing for the coarse adjustment and air in take though. Also, is it safe to let the magnetic impellar shaft soak in vinegar? Just making sure.

Thanks!
 
You got it that's the way . You may naturally get less as a tank matures and stabilizes in a natural balance,so less could be normal pending on your fish and feeding regiment . Just add a little chemi clean if you want to see a bunch of foam. Lol just kidding don't do that.
 
Last edited:
I don't think it will hurt. It the smother it spins the better.
I never had to clean any of mine though . They always seemed to run fine.
 
The magnet will be fine. Only ways I think you can kill the magnet is to hit it really hard or if you put it in something hot enough to ruin the uniform polarity alignment.
 
Run some vinegar through the air tubing as that will also help performance. Salt creep clogs the tubing and really messes with how the skimmer is designed to function.
 
I run a SWC 120 cone skimmer for years...and unless there is an extreme amount of gunk build up I do a basis quick cleaning....the most important things to keep clean are the pump/impeller and air way....
I use a toothbrush to clean the pump and impeller, a pipe cleaner to clean the flow adjust pipe and an Eraser pad to clean the cup and body acrylic (Eraser pad is great at not scratching acrylic surfaces:))

no vinegar bath for me unless I get a buildup of coralline algae from my fuge lighting. ;)
 
cet98 said:
I run a SWC 120 cone skimmer for years...and unless there is an extreme amount of gunk build up I do a basis quick cleaning....the most important things to keep clean are the pump/impeller and air way....
I use a toothbrush to clean the pump and impeller, a pipe cleaner to clean the flow adjust pipe and an Eraser pad to clean the cup and body acrylic (Eraser pad is great at not scratching acrylic surfaces:))

no vinegar bath for me unless I get a buildup of coralline algae from my fuge lighting. ;)
Click to expand...


I actually don't have any coraline build up on mine because I dont run a fuge. It just looks kind of dirty and the performance decreased. It did pull out extreme amounts of gunk for the first 3 weeks or so, the skimmate looked like tar haha. I'll make sure to get that impellar clean though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top